UNESCOs Approaches to the Information and Communication Technology ICT Movement

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• UNESCOs Approaches to the Information and
  Communication Technology (ICT) Movement
• Dr. Susanne Ornager
• UNESCO Adviser for Communication and Information
  (CI) in Asia
• s.ornager_at_unesco.org

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Content

• Introduction
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• In developing countries
• Programmes and services
• MCTs and CMCs
• Conclusions

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Introduction

• Internet is widely viewed as the prototype
  technology of the information era
• Internet and CD-ROMs have great potential to
  reinforce educational reform, due to their
  flexibility and potential for interactivity

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ICT in Asia

• Problems
• Certain groups are prevented from benefiting from
  the advances of ICT. Reasons
• Isolation
• Lack of means
• Insufficient infrastructure
• Cultural factors
• Cost barrier

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ICT in Asia

• Areas
• Rural
• Remote
• Needs
• Information
• Education and training
• Employment opportunities
• Public services

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ICT in Asia

• Suggestion
• Sustainable, cost-effective, shared community
  facility
• Servicing most of the requirements of the local
  population
• Multipurpose, shared facility
• Community Multimedia Center (CMC) and
• Multipurpose Community Telecentre (MCT)

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ICT in Asia

• MCTs and CMCs can be
• Community owned
• Operated as a franchise or
• Sponsored by an entity such as
• Regional Development
• State or Central Government or
• An international organization such as UNESCO
• CMCs can offer
• Radio

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ICT in Asia

• What do people think a MCT/CMC are?
• Phone services only, or
• Phone services plus email/Internet, or
• All of the above plus fax and photocopier or
• All of the above plus a wide range of services
  and programs or
• All of the above plus local radio.

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ICT in Asia

• What basic services can MCTs/CMCs offer?
• Email, Internet
• Computer use
• Photocopying
• Scanning
• Printing
• Telephone Access

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What programs services can MCTs/CMCs offer?

• Government forms information
• On-Line Market prices
• Youth Club
• Computer Club
• Business Club
• Seniors Club
• Arts/Craft Club

• Disabled Persons support
• Meeting facilities
• Office space for daily rental

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Programs and Services continued

• Toy Library
• Book Exchange
• Video Library
• Interpreting services
• Community Information Board
• Local Events promotion

• Labor Market information
• Small Jobs information Board
• Passport Photos
• Photo restoration

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Programs and Services continued

• Job application assistance
• Computer training
• Internet training
• Exam supervision
• First Aid training
• Emergency training

• Secretarial services
• Word processing
• Tourist information produced
• Minutes/Agendas
• Bookkeeping
• Phone answering
• Printing/Publishing books, papers

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MCTs/CMCs collocation with

• Libraries
• Technical training
  education groups
• Agriculture
• Post Office

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Community Input is required

• The community can help the project by
• Finding a rent free/or cheap
  rental building
• Providing Volunteers to
  assist in the Center
• Becoming members
  and helping with other needs
  as and when required

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Radio and ICT

• Radio Browsing of the Internet
• Response to listeners needs
• Answers from reliable sites on the Internet, on
  CD-ROMs or other digital resources
• The presenter visits these pages of information
  on the computer screen together with a local
  expert
• The information is given in the languages used by
  the community

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Conclusions

• Progress has been pronounced in Asia with
  substantial levels of international support
• The applications which are identified are often
  in the pilot or planning stage
• The greatest problem encountered by application
  developers and users in developing countries is
  limited availability and high costs of access to
  the Internet, particularly in smaller,
  disadvantaged and rural communities.

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Conclusions

• MCT's and CMCs represent two approaches which
  are very promising models
• The international community has a continuing,
  important responsibility, in collaboration with
  Asian governments and civil society
  organizations
• to promote innovative MCT and CMC at the
  community level,
• to share successful approaches in community
  empowerment and development.

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