Title: ICT for higher education: an overview of case studies from the Asia and Pacific region
Pages: 171 pp.
ISBN: 978-92-9223-384-6
e-ISBN: 978-92-9223-385-3
Publisher: UNESCO Bangkok, Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education
Date (published): 30/11/2011
Date (accessed): 12/12/2011
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
„UNESCO Bangkok coordinated a research study to document the use of ICT for higher education in the Asia and Pacific region in 2009 with the support of the Japanese Funds-in-Trust. Targeted at Ministry of Education officials and specialists responsible for higher education, administrators and faculty members of HEIs, and higher education and ICT providers, the objective of the study was to increase understanding of how ICT can be used to:
* design and develop curricular contents;
* deliver higher education programmes and courses;
* enhance the learning process; and
* increase the efficiency of the administration and management of educational systems.
Seven case studies from Australia, Hong Kong-Special Administrative Region of China, India, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea and Singapore were commissioned to focus on three main areas: open and distance learning; blended learning; and administration and management.
…
In all the cases discussed in this publication, ICT is used not only for the delivery of lectures and materials, but also for administration and management purposes. It is clear that administrative functions such as student registration, grades, course schedules and even staffing evaluation, have benefitted from the use of ICT. The chapters on the Hong Kong University and the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, focused specifically on administration and management issues, albeit under highly different conditions and perspectives. They provide an interesting contrast but also reveal several areas of similarity regardless of their starting points or resources available.

By all accounts, the outcomes of utilizing technology for higher education have been very encouraging. The collective wisdom of countless professors and experts collaborating online, not bound by time and space, has contributed to the production of high quality teaching and learning resources. Innovative tools and technology, coupled with animated, interactive contents and activities have increased students’ attention and interests.

Notwithstanding the positive feedback, some issues and challenges have emerged that should be considered by other institutions when designing and implementing their own ICT for higher education plans, such as:
* Lack of support from management;
* Unclear division of function and power;
* Uncoordinated planning and implementation;
* Question of ownership;
* Shortage of trained staff to cope with the diversity of responsibilities and tasks;
* Resistance from staff and reluctance to be re-trained; and
* Insufficient funds for developing, purchasing and implementing ICT.
...
Contents:
Use of ICT for higher education: An overview of case studies from the Asia and Pacific region ………..1
ICT for distance learning: Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, India………………………………… 7
Distance education in Shanghai Television University, People’s Republic of China………………………26
ICT for open and distance learning: Korea National Open University, Republic of Korea……………… 51
ICT for blended learning: Queensland University of Technology, Australia……………………………… 78
Highly Engaging Learning Pedagogy (HELP) blended learning model of
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore………………………………………………………………...103
The use of ICT for administration and management at the University of Hong Kong……………………122
The adoption and use of ICT in management and technical education in Indian
Institute of Management, Calcutta, India……………………………………………………………………… 142”

See also: ICT for higher education: an overview of case studies from the Asia and Pacific region

Title: Asia Pacific Mobile Observatory 2011 : Driving Economic and Social Development through Mobile Services
Authors: Naveen Menon, Christopher Firth, Samantha Lim
Pages: 96 pp.
Publisher: GSM Association
Date (published): 14/11/2011
Date (accessed): 17/11/2011
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
"Asia Pacific is the largest mobile market in the world, and is continuing to show strong growth.
Asia Pacific accounts for half of the total mobile connections in the world, with 3 billion lines. Looking ahead, the region is expected to continue its strong growth, adding a further 1.5 billion connections between 2010 and 2015 – similar in scale to the achievements of the last five years when 1.7 billion new connections were added. This growth and scale is encouraging for consumers and investors alike, as the industry has shown resilience through the global economic crisis by continuing to invest funds to improve the quality of mobile services across the region.
...
Mobile broadband and data services are transforming the landscape.
By 2015 Asia Pacific is expected to account for 40% of global data traffic. Mobile broadband is booming across
the Asia Pacific region, increasingly becoming the standard conduit to access the Internet, partly driven by rapid 3G network rollouts. In all developed Asian markets mobile service coverage now stands at over 95% while the likes of Malaysia and Indonesia have also achieved population coverage of over 80% – especially impressive given the topography of these countries. As a result, the breadth of applications and services delivered over mobile networks is booming. For example, by 2020 there will be an estimated 5.3 billion M2M connections in Asia Pacific.

The inaugural Mobile Broadband Readiness Index (MBRI) indicates that countries creating an ecosystem conducive to growth in mobile data services have the potential to make rapid leaps ahead of their peers. In 2011 we saw Japan rise up to the top of the index above Singapore, driven by its early 4G rollout and its pro-innovation environment. Hong Kong and Vietnam also jumped ahead, demonstrating their strong commitment to fostering a succesfull broadband landscape. Different stages of market evolution will require different strategies to ensure that growth can be sustained.
…
The mobile sector is having a transformational impact on society. As well as the social, environmental and charitable initiatives led by mobile operators, the industry is making a profound collateral impact on society by creating efficiencies in everyday communication, productivity and knowledge. Communication is more efficient than ever before, with mobile platforms providing a basis for instant social and professional connections. Productivity efficiencies come from data-enabled mobile devices providing greater flexibility in where we process information, allowing us to lead more productive lives and businesses to be more efficient in their delivery of goods and services. Knowledge efficiencies have enabled markets to function more efficiently and the unprecedented ability of consumers to access any information, anytime, anywhere and can provide a deep social, intellectual and financial advantage."

Title: ICTD Briefing Note Series
Publisher: United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT)
Date (published): 23/06/2010
Date (accessed): 23/07/2010
Type of information: briefing note
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML and pdf)
Abstract:
Each Briefing Note of the Series provides concise, detailed policy reports and recommendations on ICT topics and related issues. The Briefing Note Series is intended to help policymakers and development stakeholders obtain a better awareness of ICT for development issues and provide them with insight to the ways ICT can be leveraged to facilitate the impact of socio-economic development in their countries.
Briefing Note 1, The Linkage between ICT Applications and Meaningful Development, explores the various dimensions of applications in key sectors of development in Asia Pacific countries. The Briefing Note also highlights key issues and decision points, from policy to implementation, in the use of ICTs to meet development needs.
ICT for Development Policy, Process and Governance, is the title of Briefing Note 2 and focuses on ICTD policy-making and governance, and provides critical information about aspects of national policies, strategies and frameworks that promote ICTD. It discusses key ICTD policy and governance issues, and shows how governments can measure their progress and benchmark that progress against those of other countries.
Briefing Note 3, e-Government Applications provides an overview of e-government, including key elements and concepts, principles and types of applications. It discusses how an e-government system is built by providing detailed analysis of exemplar systems and identifying design considerations.
Providing insight into current ICT trends, Briefing Note 4, ICT Trends for Government Leaders, discusses some of the key technical and policy considerations when making decisions for ICT development in the local and regional context.
Briefing Note 5, Internet Governance, explores the challenges faces by policymakers in developing international policies and procedures to govern the use and operation of the Internet. The Briefing Note pays particular attention to Asia-Pacific region, noting that emerging economies need to understand these challenges if they are to have a voice in the global information network.
Titled Network and Information Security and Privacy, Briefing Note 6 looks at what information security is and how to take action against information leakage and infringement. It provides an overview of the need for information security, information security issues and trends, and the process of formulating an information security strategy.
Briefing Notes 7, ICT Project Management in Theory and Practice, provides an introduction to basic project management concepts that are relevant in ICTD projects, and introduces methods, processes and project management disciplines commonly used by development and ICT service management practitioners.
Briefing Note 8, Options for Funding ICT for Development, notes the financial and technical limitations of funding government plans and projects to deliver public services through the use of ICTs, and explores the ways public-private partnerships (PPP) can help deliver the highest level of public service at a reasonable cost. The Briefing Note discusses these alternative funding options for ICT for development (ICTD) and e-government projects.

Title: Background Paper for Identifying the Best Practice of ICT Implementations in Asia and the Pacific
Pages: 36 pp.
Publisher: UNESCAP
Date (published): 16/10/2009
Date (accessed): 10/12/2009
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
This 36-page paper describes and assesses major and strategic information and communication technology (ICT) projects that have been undertaken in Asia and the Pacific with a view to expanding ICT access. It emerges from an October 19-20 2009 meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)'s Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD). The "Sub-regional Workshop on Strengthening ICT Policies and Applications to Achieve MDGs and WSIS goals in South-East Asia and the Pacific" presented the findings of the in-depth research and analysis on the current status of ICT access in the region and examined policy options at the national level, taking into account new and emerging technologies.

The paper is a desk study and literature review of ICT projects in Asia and the Pacific based on project reports, annual reports, research papers, and case studies, with a focus on materials published from 2004 through to July 2009. The specific emphasis is on ICT connectivity as a foundation of an inclusive information society.

Recognising the digital divide as a criterion to measure the level of a country's readiness to take advantages of ICT for socio-economic development, a core section of the document examines ICT penetration in this region, using data from 2003 and 2008; the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is applied in each category for the 5-year period.

See also:
Sub-regional Workshop on Strengthening ICT Policies and Applications to Achieve MDGs and WSIS Goals in South-East Asia and the Pacific, 19-20 October 2009, Bangkok
presentations, documents, programme

Title: Digital Review of Asia Pacific 2009–2010
Editors: Shahid Akhtar and Patricia Arinto
Pages: 382 pp.
ISBN: 978-81-321-0084-3
e-ISBN 978-1-52550-456-7
Publisher: Sage, ICDR, Orbicom
Date (published): 2009
Date (accessed): 13/06/2009
Type of information: research publication
Language: English
On-line access: yes
Abstract:
The biennial Digital Review of Asia Pacific is a comprehensive guide to the state-of-practice and trends in information and communication technologies for development (ICTD) in Asia Pacific.

This fourth edition (2009–2010) features 30 economies and four subregional groupings. The chapters provide updated information on ICT infrastructure, industries, content and services, key initiatives, enabling policies, regulation, education and capacity building, open source and R&D initiatives, as well as key ICTD challenges in each of the economies covered. The common framework that underpins these reports allows readers to undertake a comparative analysis and assess progress across the region.

In addition, regional overviews provide a synthesis of ICTD trends, regulatory issues, and lessons for managing innovation in the network economy. The thematic chapters focus on issues in ICT in education, a key area in ICTD.

The authors are drawn from government, academe, industry and civil society, providing a broad perspective on the use of ICTs for human development.