The Impact of Information and Communication Technology on Life Expectancy in the Middle East

Perception of Ultimate Utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as an Impetus in Enhancing Employee Performance in a Few Selected Municipalities in the Eastern Cape of South Africa

Protocol for a Systematic Review: Provision of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for Improving Academic Achievement and School Engagement in Students Aged 4‐18

The paper focuses on the topic of the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on the international migration phenomenon According to the discussed literature, there is an impression that ICTs change the essence of migration and monitoring of migration flows. It also suggests that migration and migrants? needs shape the development of ICT services intended to them, but they also shape the content of social media. The impact of new technologies on international migration (before migration, during migration and upon arrival in the country of destination) has been discussed through an overview of empirical research findings in Serbia and other countries. In this context, the ICT users relevant to the migration process (individuals and interest groups) have been more closely determined and discussed, the aspects of the relations between ICTs and migration have been highlighted, as well as their implications for individuals and society. The considered aspects of relations of ICTs and international migration at different stages of the migration process and their severe implications for individuals and society, in our opinion, point to the need for cooperation of users of information and communication technologies relevant to the migration process in different domains ? the spheres of influence of ICTs. We believe that is how the potential of ICTs will be exploited in an adequate way, for benefit of both ? migrants and other relevant interested parties. While widely accepted by individuals, information and communication technologies have just begun to be recognized as important for migration policy in Serbia and generally, in terms of their opportunities and challenges. In Serbia, only recently (as of the 2011 Census) there has been data available on the use of ICTs by certain migrant groups (long-term settled refugees from former Yugoslav republics). Also, the qualitative surveys on the use of ICTs during the migration by transit asylum seekers have recently started. That can also be said for the research, where ICTs serve for gaining knowledge on migrants and attitudes towards immigrants. Although not voluminous, academic literature on the use and implications of ICTs use in the migration process in Serbia points to greater use of ICTs by certain groups of migrants (long-term settled refugees from former Yugoslavia) in relation to the local population. There are also generational and gender differences in the use of ICTs by migrants. When it comes to transit asylum seekers in Serbia, the use of ICTs at various stages of migration and for various purposes (among them are the selection of the country of destination, the route of movement, but also contact with other migrants and smugglers) is observed.

Extended Abstract 1. INTRODUCTION Today a major part of the world's population lives in rural areas and to provide welfare and poverty alleviation in these communities, rural sustainability and maintenance is considered as one of the rural development goals in recent decades. Therefore, to achieve dynamicity and welfare in villages, new technologies should be addressed in the rural communities. At present, information and communication technology (ICT) is growing worldwide and the effects of applying this technology in various fields, especially small businesses has been revealed more than past. Furthermore, access and use of new technologies, especially information and communication technologies should be seriously considered for a better rural life. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of information and communication technologies in industrial units located in rural areas of Hamadan city. 2. METHODOLOGY The present study is an applied research which is done by a descriptive-surveying method. The most important independent variables in this study were industrial units' access to ICT in rural areas, the rural business type, discipline, education, participation in training courses related to ICT, and the familiarity to the software. Meanwhile, the dependent variables were economic impacts, social impacts, training-skill effects, customer satisfaction, and marketing. The research population included all 205 active units located in rural areas of Hamadan city in 2014. Sample selection was done through Cochran's formula and a number of 125 samples were calculated. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by specialists. Its reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. In order to analyze the data, one sample t-test, F test, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used. 3. DISCUSSION Results about the extent of ICT's impact on industrial units in rural areas showed that the highest rate of ICT impacts were related to the variables like optimum use from time, reducing administrative costs, reducing the human costs, better data processing and financial transactions. The results about barriers to ICT use showed that lack of managers' computer experience and knowledge, people and officials' unfamiliarity with ICT functions, lack of managers' knowledge about modern technologies, lack of training courses about ICT issues for staff were the most important obstacles for using ICT in industrial units of rural areas. Findings revealed that the highest impacts of ICT in industrial units have been regarded as increasing revenue and marketing while the social and customer satisfaction impacts of ICT were relatively lower than other variables. The results showed a significant relationship between the ICT's knowledge of employees with and the amount of ICT usage in these units. The results also showed a significant relationship between both employees' education and their participation in training courses with use of ICT in industrial units, but there was no significant relationship between the use of ICT and some independent variables such as age, experience, and discipline. 4. CONCLUSION The results show that the use of ICT has been effective in increasing income and reducing small businesses' costs. Therefore, it is recommended, to better produce and better compete in industrial units, more attention should be given and more measures should be developed for using the ICTs. Based on the results of the present study, the use of ICT has been effective on customer satisfaction as well as small businesses marketing. It is therefore recommended that to make these units more active with each other and strengthen their interaction with customers, necessary financial support and facilities should be available to improve information and communication infrastructures. The results showed that people who participated in training courses used and addressed ICT more than other employees. Therefore, it is recommended that the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, as well as all other relevant institutes encourage more training courses related to information and communication technologies for both managers and employees in rural industrial units. Despite the importance of the industrial units in the rural areas, the use of ICTs, how to use these technologies and their effects on the industrial units have not been considered and studied in Iran, yet. The originality of this research is to find answers to such questions as what effects the use of ICT have on reducing costs, increasing revenue, improving marketing, and purchasing industrial products. The results of this research may be used by authorities and policy-makers on rural development and ICT both in Iran and other nations that have similar situations.

PurposeWill the information and communications technology (ICT) prevail over the market and agglomeration forces in inducing a negative demand in office space? The evidence of long‐term impact of ICT use is not conclusive at this stage. This study aims to empirically test whether space reduction effects of ICT are significant in the office market in Singapore. The study also seeks to examine variations in firms' responses, and how increasing use of ICT will impact on firms' operational and activities that include productivity, staffing structure and requirements, adoption of working practices, quality of customer service, and importance of a central meeting place.Design/methodology/approachThe primary data were collected in a mailed questionnaire survey conducted in July and August 2002, which involved a sample of 2,049 firms randomly selected from 121 office buildings located in the CBD and other key office submarkets in the fringe of CBD in Singapore. The firms' perception of ICT impact on real estate space needs was asked in the survey, and the variations in their responses were empirically tested with respect to factors like business types, firms' attitude towards ICT use, and their ICT strategies. Two different statistical tests are used in the tests, which include a non‐parametric chi‐square analysis and a logistic regression model. The chi‐square analysis examines different treatment effects of sample firms on the response variables. The logistic regression model jointly tests relationships between the respondent firms' binary choice of ICT impact on office demand and firm business types and views towards ICT and NWPs.FindingsBased on a mailed questionnaire survey conducted on office occupiers in CBD of Singapore, 79 percent of the respondent firms felt that there is no negative impact of an increase use of ICT on the office space; 63 percent of the respondent firms, however, agree that ICT‐enabled changes to working practices were more important in affecting real estate space changes of firms. In the logistic regressions, the results showed that four variables that represent firm characteristics and their attitude towards ICT use were significant in explaining the variations in the firms' perception of no significant impact of ICT use on office space demand. Market rent factor was found to have no influence on the perception of a negative ICT‐office space relationship by the sample firms.Originality/valueImpact of ICT use on firms' office space needs have not been as pervasive as expected in office markets. There are frictions and resistance by firms and their employees against the adoption of ICT in the office place in many countries. The study based on a random sample of office occupiers in Singapore's CBD and fringe submarkets supports the observation. Only 21 percent of the respondents felt that they can reduce office space with more ICT use. However, more sample firms (63 percent) felt that ICT will enable flexible workflows, which in turn will change the way corporate real estate strategies are designed. Firm characteristics and their attitude towards ICT are factors in determining firms' perception towards ICT use in offices.

The use of information and communication technology (ICT) has become most influential and swift segment in library and information services. This study outlines the use of ICT by medical students and find out the significance of latest technology in central library. Presently, uses of electronic media and technologies are increased notably in healthcare profession, education and research. Medical students are often using ICT for an access to the library resources and online databases. In this study determine the requirements and use of the various tools and technique of ICT by healthcare students. Throughout, the study makes an effort to examine the use of ICT service by medical students at central library of C.U.Shah Medical College and Hospital, Gujarat. In this research apply different parameters like the purpose and frequency of visit, internet access and use of e-resource, attitude of medical students towards ICT, use of ICT for access resources, effectiveness of ICT on medical education and research, impact of ICT on library services and view related to its troubles and level of satisfaction of usage of ICT. Keywords : Information t echnology, communication technology, electronic technology, ICT, internet, library services, online access, healthcare professional, medical students, CUSMCH, Gujarat.

Information professionals in a globalized world: Digital inclusion initiatives in Brazil: Improving education and information seeking behavior through government‐academic partnerships

When ICTs (Information and Communications Technologies) are combined with healthcare, they can make a key contribution to gradually improve national health outcomes. The global outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 further highlighted the important role of e-Health and m-Health service modes. This research structures a mediated effect model to explore dynamic relationships between ICT factors, ICT impacts, and national health outcomes, among which ICT factors are independent variables; ICT impacts are mediating variables, and national health outcome indicators selected from United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and World Development Indicators are dependent variables. The fixed effect model is used to process a set of 141 countries' panel data from 2012 to 2016 from World Bank and World Economic Forum, while the classical three-step test method and Sobel test combined with fixed effects are used to test the mediated effects of the panel data. The results show that there are significant associations between ICT factors and national health outcome indicators, while only some of the partial mediated effects are proved. ICT environment and ICT usage can influence both the under-five mortality rate and adolescent fertility rate via ICT social impact. However, the mediated effect of ICT social impact on maternal mortality ratio and life expectancy at birth has not been confirmed. Meanwhile, the mediated effect of ICT economic impact has not been proven. This research is an interdisciplinary research in the field of information and communication technology and public health and reveals the path and mechanism whereby ICT factors improve national health outcomes, which can help global policymakers drive the next phase of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and continue to improve the overall health at the national level.

The role of ICT self-efficacy for students' ICT use and their achievement in a computer and information literacy test

Pre-primary teachers’ preparedness in integrating information and communication technology in teaching and learning in Tanzania

This study is a survey research on Acceptance Analysis of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Extension Workers in Agricultural Extension Activities. The research objective was to determine the effect of variable Perceived Ease of Use of ICTs on Perceived Usefulness use of ICT, the influence of Perceived Ease of Use of ICTs on Intensity Behaviour Using ICT, influence perception Usefulness use of ICT to the intensity of Behaviour Using ICT, and the influence of Intensities Behaviour Using ICT to the use of ICT in Currents. This type of research is explanatory research by using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and involve agricultural extension workers as respondents. Data were collected using questionnaires and then analysed by quantitative descriptive and hypothesis testing and regression analysis. The results of the study are (1) the results of descriptive analysis of the four variables are variables Perceived Ease of Use of ICT, variable Perceived Usefulness use of ICT, variable intensity Behaviour use of ICT, and variable use of ICT In Currents has an average category High, (2) Test Results Hypothesis analysis simple linear regression, namely: (a) for the variable Perceived Ease of Use ICTs to variable Perceived Usefulness use of ICT, and variable Perceived Ease of Use ICTs to variable intensity of the use of ICT has a significant influence (b) While the variable Perceived Usefulness Using ICT to variable intensity Behaviour of Use ICT, and the variable intensity of Behaviour Using ICT to variable use of ICT in Currents not significant. The implication of this research is very necessary in their outreach activities using ICTs to improve the success of the field of education, and what is important is the use of ICT must be effective and efficient. Keywords: Information and Communication Technology, Technology Acceptance Model

The study aims to study the perception of Sr. Sec. School Teachers’ towards extensive utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The Objectives of the study were: O to study the perception of Sr. Sec. School Teachers towards utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT); O to compare the perception of Sr. Sec. School Teachers towards utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in relation to gender; O to compare the perception of Sr. Sec. School Teachers of different age groups towards utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT); O to compare the perception of urban and rural Sr. Sec. School Teachers towards utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT); O to compare the perception of Sr. Sec. School Teachers to different level of qualification towards utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT); (vi) to suggest guidance for effective utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Sr. Sec. Schools. It was decided to select the sample from Sr. Sec. School teachers of Faridabad District of Haryana. In the present study 100 Sr. Sec. school teachers of Faridabad district of Haryana were selected through simple random sampling technique. Tools: Questionnaire for Teachers’ Perception towards Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This questionnaire was developed by investigator and finalized with its face validity. As findings can be declare that: O There is no significant difference between the urban Sr. Sec. School teachers’ perception and their counter part i.e. rural Sr. Sec. School teachers towards utilization of ICT. O There is no significant difference between the urban male and rural male Sr. Sec. School teachers perception did not differ significant on utilization of ICT. O There is no significant difference between urban and rural female Sr. Sec. School teachers perception towards utilization of ICT. It reflected that urban and rural female teachers were not differs in view on utilization of ICT.

The problem motivating this research is the rapid introduction of educational technologies and the strong push to use new technologies in technical and vocational training in China coupled with varied responses and uneven adoption of new tools on the part of practitioners. This study investigated the factors that influence technical and vocational college teachers' adoption and appreciation of information and communication technology (ICT) in China using the technology adoption and gratification (TAG) model. At total of 535 teachers from public technical and vocational colleges were surveyed using a purposive sampling procedure. The survey data were analyzed through structural equation modeling. Findings suggest that the use of ICT had three primary determinants: teaching purpose, research purpose and academic purpose. Technical and vocational college teachers' technology adoption and gratification was directly and indirectly predicted by their computer self‐efficacy, intention to use, perceived ease of use and usefulness of ICT. Most importantly, the TAG model accounted for 77% of the variance in teachers' gratification using those predictive variables. This research successfully applied the TAG model and it further fosters recommendations for future investigations. This study contributes to theoretical, methodical and practical understandings of the use of ICT in technical and vocational education, which has been much less explored than in K‐12 education and university settings. Practitioner Notes What is already known about this topic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) helps explain teacher acceptance. Investigations have revealed that many gaps exist in identifying ICT facilities, access, skills and usage in technical and vocational education. Studies have suggested that ICT development requires significant training on the part of teachers and creates new demands for students. What this article adds This research exhibited that vocational and technical college teachers’ use of ICT had three primary determinants: teaching purpose, research purpose and academic purpose. Chinese technical and vocational college teachers’ adoption and gratification in new technologies were directly and indirectly predicted by their computer self‐efficacy, intention to use, perceived ease of use and usefulness of ICT. The findings of this study recommend that the quality of teaching, learning and research in vocational and technical education could be enhanced through the application of emerging ICT. Implications for practice and/or policy The larger goal is to use the results as a basis for future studies in the relatively unexplored area of ICT use and adoption in teaching and training in developing countries. By conducting cross‐cultural studies, researchers could be able to comprehend the overall scenarios of ICT in vocational and technical education as proposed. This study contributes to theoretical, methodical and practical understandings of the use of ICT in technical and vocational education, which has been much less explored than in K‐12 education and university settings. Teachers' skills to use ICT should be enhanced through ongoing training programs offered by the authorities of technical education.

Current literature on economic growth and development uniformly affirms the consensus that Information and Communication Technology ICTs (here defined as the composite index using 11 indicators as developed by (ITU)) is indispensable for economic growth and enhancing a wide range of development indices. It is common knowledge today that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) -whether embodied in human skills, capital goods, practices and organizations—are the key drivers of economic growth and sustainable development of nations and regions. The integration, growth and competitiveness of the economies of the East African Community (EAC) depend on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and innovation.
 This paper examines the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use on economic growth using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator within the framework of a dynamic panel data approach and applies it to five East Africa community Countries (EAC) countries over the period 2000 to 2018.The results indicate that there is a positive relationship between real GDP Growth and ICT Development index (as a composite index measured by the number of indicators which are, ICT readiness reflecting the level of network infrastructure and access to ICTs, ICT intensity reflecting the level of use of ICT in the society and ICT (skills) impact reflecting the result/outcome of efficient and effective ICT user). This implies that if these countries seek to enhance their economic growth, they need to implement specific policies that facilitate ICT development.
 The five Partner countries of the EAC should make closer cooperation strategies, systematic and significant regional integration arrangements in the generate and application of new knowledge and technological innovations, their ambitions to grow their economies, achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets, deepen economic and political integration and attain sustainable development.

The integration of information technology in education has, in the last thirty years, changed from being non-existent to being a fundamental part of a developed education system. A successful School Library Media Centre (SLMC) is central to education. A typical SLMC aims to provide a broad range of printed and nonprinted resources. The technology phenomenon has a new, dynamic role in supporting the learning environment in the SLMC. Schools and school library media centres in developed countries have evolved widely and have an advanced level of ICT integration. On the other hand, educational organisations in Kuwait have, to date, failed to realise their ICT potential. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the provision and use of information and communication technology (ICT) applications and services in secondary schools, and especially in SLMCs, in Kuwait. The study focuses on the school community (teachers and pupils) and their skill with, and knowledge of, ICT. There has been no previous research that has investigated the availability and use of ICT in secondary schools in Kuwait, so this study aims to fill this gap. In order to thoroughly understand the phenomenon, an interpretive case study approach has been adopted and, therefore, multiple data gathering techniques have been utilised. In order to research the subject within its proper context, two bodies of pertinent literature were reviewed, from both developed and developing countries. The data gathering instruments showed remarkable findings. The research argues that the SLMCs were maintained as mere storehouses with meagre ICT integration. Overall, the results indicated there was a significant lack of ICT related services in Kuwaiti schools. Most of the teachers and pupils showed a reasonable knowledge of ICT. The results also showed that integration of ICT services into SLMCs was strongly advocated by headmasters, teachers and pupils alike. To conclude, the results highlight the need to better understand the importance of new environments in education. The research argues the need for Kuwaiti policymakers to provide a groundbreaking policy to improve the current situation. Although the research is limited to Kuwaiti secondary education, the study may be equally applicable to other educational organisations in many analogous developing countries.