Information And Communication Technology Capacity Research Articles

Bridging Distances: The Impact of ICT on Diaspora Connectivity and Cultural Exchange

This paper examines the transformative role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in enhancing diaspora connectivity, cultural preservation, and economic contributions to homelands. Through quantitative and qualitative analyses, it delves into various ICT toolsincluding social media platforms, mobile applications, online forums, and virtual cultural festivalsand their pivotal role in sustaining and strengthening the ties of diaspora communities with their countries of origin. It also explores the revolutionized remittance landscape, crowdfunding for development projects, and the facilitation of diaspora entrepreneurship and investment through digital platforms. Employing models like the Network Analysis Model, Remittance Flow Model, and Event Participation Model, the study provides insights into the increased frequency and depth of communication, significant reductions in remittance transaction costs and times, and the enhanced engagement in cultural and economic activities. The findings highlight ICT's capacity not only to maintain but also to enrich the cultural, social, and economic fabric of diaspora communities, underscoring its vital role in promoting global connectivity, cultural exchange, and economic development.

The Influence of Gender and Training Sector on the ICT Competency of Pre-Service Teachers in Vietnam: Using the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework

Information and communication technology (ICT) is a powerful educational change and reform tool. Teachers are a direct subject in promoting the application of information technology (IT), and the ability to integrate technology into teaching affects the application of IT in teaching. Integrating ICT into education requires teachers to be competent in using ICT. In other words, teachers are required to have sufficient ICT competence to use ICT for education. Faced with this requirement, teacher training schools have made positive changes to improve the ICT capacity of pedagogy students and prepare graduates to perform their duties in the context of digital transformation in education today. This study collected information on pre-service teachers’ competency in using ICT as future teachers in Vietnam. Using the ICT competency framework of UNESCO, the research surveyed 1698 fourth year teaching students (pre-service teachers) from 10 provinces in 3 regions of Vietnam. The results indicate that although pre-service teachers in Vietnam are well educated on ICT policy issues in education, for the issue of ICT exploitation to support curriculum implementation and assessment, they still need ICT skills to support effective teaching and learning methods. In addition, there are significant differences in gender and training specialization in some aspects, such as the application of digital skills and the use of ICT in organization and administration. These results are the basis for in-depth research into establishing influencing factors and measures to improve the ICT application competency of pre-service teachers, contributing to ensuring the quality of education in Vietnam.

Librarians’ ICT skills and service delivery in private universities in Nigeria

This paper examined the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills of librarians for service delivery in private universities with particular reference to Southern Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research method. Forty-five (45) private university libraries in Southern Nigeria and their librarians constituted the sample size for the study. The study’s samples consisted of 181 librarians in the private universities, hence, total enumeration was adopted. Questionnaire was used for data collection from the respondents. Out of the 181 copies of the questionnaire distributed, 173 were returned and found valid for analysis. Data gathered was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21 and the results were presented in frequency count, percentage, mean and chart. Findings of the study revealed that librarians in private universities in Southern Nigeria delivered various library services to their users. The librarians have acquired basic ICT skills and were versatile in its application for Internet searches, information retrieval, social communication and Microsoft-office related activities with the exception of programming skills. Majority of the librarians acquired their ICT skills through self-learning. The finding revealed that the acquisition of ICT skills by librarians in Southern Nigeria private universities is relevant to their delivery of improved library services. The paper recommended that regular acquisition of relevant ICT skills is essential for librarians and university management should support librarians’ ICT capacity development at national and international levels as this would enhance their relevance and get them abreast of the latest development for effective service delivery.

Co-Creating ICT Risk Strategies with Older Australians: A Workshop Model.

As digital inclusion becomes a growing indicator of wellbeing in later life, the ability to understand older adults' preferences for information and communication technologies (ICTs) and develop strategies to support their digital literacy is critical. The barriers older adults face include their perceived ICT risks and capacity to learn. Complexities, including ICT environmental stressors and societal norms, may require concerted engagement with older adults to achieve higher digital literacy competencies. This article describes the results of a series of co-design workshops to develop strategies for increased ICT competencies and reduced perceived risks among older adults. Engaging older Australians in three in-person workshops (each workshop consisting of 15 people), this study adapted the "Scenario Personarrative Method" to illustrate the experiences of people with technology and rich pictures of the strategies seniors employ. Through the enrichment of low-to-high-digital-literacy personas and mapping workshop participant responses to several scenarios, the workshops contextualized the different opportunities and barriers seniors may face, offering a useful approach toward collaborative strategy development. We argued that in using co-designed persona methods, scholars can develop more nuance in generating ICT risk strategies that are built with and for older adults. By allowing risks to be contextualized through this approach, we illustrated the novelty of adapting the Scenario Personarrative Method to provide insights into perceived barriers and to build skills, motivations, and strategies toward enhancing digital literacy.

Influence of Information and Communication Technology on Teaching and Learning. A Case of Rwanda Polytechnic-IPRC Tumba

The advancement and the rapid growth of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have facilitated teaching and learning effectively. Practicing ICT plays a big role in the facilitation, improvement of pedagogy and content knowledge. This study investigates the influence of ICT on teaching and learning in Rwanda polytechnics a case of Rwanda Polytechnic-IPRC-Tumba. The study used mixed methods approach research design and targeted 682 respondents that included 643 students and 39 lecturers. A sample size of 88 respondents of target population was sampled using simple random sampling method. Stratified sampling technique was used to identify students and lecturers. A questionnaire instrument was used to collect data from both students and lecturers. Gathered data were coded and processed by mean of SPSS. Quantitative data was analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and regression analysis, such as percentages, Durbin-Watson, tolerance, and VIF. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically harmonized with the objectives of the study. The study findings were reported in summary form using tables. About the findings, Durbin-Watson on ICT resources availability, ICT resources usage, and users ICT support on teaching and learning was 1.731 and ICT resources scored tolerance of 0.735 and VIF of 1.360, ICT resources usage scored tolerance of 0.533 and VIF of 1.878 and users ICT support scored tolerance of 0.531and VIF of 1.883. The study finally concluded ICT had a significant influence on ICT capacity in Rwanda polytechnic- IPRC Tumba (Rulindo district-Rwanda). Therefore, the ministries of education and Rwanda Polytechnic administrators were recommended to deploy ICT in teaching and learning.   Keywords: Information Technologies (IT), Rwanda Polytechnic (RP), Education Sector, ICT (Information Communication Technology), IPRC Tumba

PHÁT TRIỂN NĂNG LỰC ICT CHO ĐỘI NGŨ GIẢNG VIÊN ĐỂ NÂNG CAO CHẤT LƯỢNG DẠY HỌC Ở TRƯỜNG CAO ĐẲNG KINH TẾ KĨ THUẬT VÀ THỦY SẢN

College of Economics Technology and Fisheries is a vocational education institution. In order to improve the quality of training, the decisive factor is to improve the quality of the teaching staff, in which the capacity to use information and communication technology (ICT) is very important. This article introduces measures to develop ICT capacity for teachers to improve teaching quality at the College of Economics Technology and Fisheries. Four measures have been taken, including: Raising awareness for lecturers about the importance of ICT, promoting scientific research, professional activities, and Developing ICT capacity for lecturers through training online and developing shared learning materials, Developing ICT capacity for teachers through teaching and learning management activities of the College. The training results are accepted by society as a testament to the strategy of developing ICT capacity for the teaching staff of the College.

Information and Communication Technology Use Capacity Within Extension Networks: Development and Preliminary Validation of an Empirical Scale

Advancing information and communication technologies (ICTs) has become central to international agricultural and extension development efforts. ICTs are crucial in facilitating information transfer, ensuring stakeholder access to information, and increasing the decision-making capacity of smallholder farmers. The research presented here introduces an instrument developed to quantify perceptions of ICT use capacity within international extension networks. The aggregate scale was verified for content validity, response process validity, internal structure validity, and consequential validity informing its use. The instrument was administered to network members (n = 122) associated with the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted with measures of correlation and reliability analyzed. Six factors were extracted and analyzed further. The resulting Perceptions of ICT Use scale and factors can be used as reliable instruments for quantifying perceptions of ICT use capacity, enhancing international extension network needs assessments, and informing policies and practices which maximize ICT capacity.

Information and Communication Technology Use Capacity Within Extension Networks: Development and Preliminary Validation of an Empirical Scale

Advancing information and communication technologies (ICTs) has become central to international agricultural and extension development efforts. ICTs are crucial in facilitating information transfer, ensuring stakeholder access to information, and increasing the decision- making capacity of smallholder farmers. The research presented here introduces an instrument developed to quantify perceptions of ICT use capacity within international extension networks. The aggregate scale was verified for content validity, response process validity, internal structure validity, and consequential validity informing its use. The instrument was administered to network members (n = 122) associated with the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted with measures of correlation and reliability analysed. Six factors were extracted and analysed further. The resulting Perceptions of ICT Use scale and factors can be used as reliable instruments for quantifying perceptions of ICT use capacity, enhancing international extension network needs assessments, and informing policies and practices which maximize ICT capacity. Keywords: information communication technology (ICT); scale development; rural advisory services; international extension; capacity assessment

Cloud-Enabled E-Governance Framework for Citizen Centric Services

In the modern arena, the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been playing a vital role in every walks of our day to day life. In order to enhance the ICT capacity and align with the global technology transformations, the developing countries have started introducing the computerization and automation processes at different levels of the governments. The several research studies revealed that the existing legacy of governance system and their services in current state have several issues and challenges in terms of timeliness, cost of services, delay in service delivery, time-bound availability of services (24/7/365), inefficiency services, ease of service and discomforts, poor service collaboration, absence of responsiveness, and limited security of sensitive information/documents. A significant question is still unanswered that how to bring the Citizens and Government bodies closer for alleviating the aforementioned issues and challenges of existing government system services. This research paper aims to investigate the issues and challenges in the current status of Governance and partial E-Governance systems which encompass the computerization or automation process. The research designs a cloud framework for effective delivery of citizen centric services in general and Ethiopia as a specific case study. After rigorous analysis of prior research efforts, along with primary survey and interview, it was clearly observed that cloud computing can be an alternative instrumental for significant transformation of governmental service delivery. The research paper used a mix of exploratory and constructive research design and methodology with qualitative & quantitative data analysis approach. Finally, a Cloud Based E-Governance (CBEG) Framework is designed for the delivery of Ethiopian Citizen Centric Services. The validation, evaluation and acceptance test of the framework proves that the revealed knowledge can provide a significant transformation towards the betterment of the E Governance Services Delivery Systems.

Utilisation of ICTs as teaching aids in two higher education institutions in Lagos

Modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) are recognised as having enormous potential for improving quality in higher education delivery and, subsequently, contributing to production of graduates who are suited to the needs of the contemporary labour market. This recognition has formed the basis for investment in the development of ICT capacity in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Nigeria. After years of this investment, this study investigated the reach and utilisation of ICT facilities in HEIs .in the country. The findings were that availability of ICT facilities, notably mobile phones and the internet, is widespread. However, these have not been mainstreamed into teaching and learning processes. This is blamed on gaps in funding and training. Recommendations for the better deployment of ICT as an aid in teaching are made. Keywords: ICT; Teaching and learning; Curriculum innovation

ICT as facilitator of internationalisation in small- and medium-sized firms

Based on harmonised and uniquely linked firm-level datasets for a large group of European countries, this study investigates the role of different information and communication technology (ICT) capacities in the internationalisation of small- and medium-sized firms (defined as having 10–249 employees). Both the decision to export and the export intensity are explored in this respect. The different ICT capacities are captured by online presence (having a website), online transactions (e-sales activities) and proportion of employees with broadband internet access or post-upper secondary ICT education. The results show a significant and positive relationship between the ICT capacities and the engagement in exporting activities of small- and medium-sized firms, although the kind of ICT capacity of importance seems to vary across countries. In countries where the ICT usage in firms is less developed, mainly basic capacities such as online presence are related to the decision to export. There are also indications that the export intensity is more strongly related to advanced ICT capacities than the pure decision to export.

Information systems to support sustainable consumption and sustainable supply

Responding to rising concerns about environmental sustainability, governments around the world have committed to the promotion of more sustainable consumption patterns [7]. Mainstream approaches to promoting sustainable consumption often involve government interventions to correct prices, and to provide regulatory frameworks to influence producers to become more eco-efficient [17]. Unfortunately, the success of these actions is frequently limited by information barriers. Consumers have limited information about the social and environmental impacts of products, and have long relied instead on price information as well as information available on the product package in making their buying decisions [15]. This lack of information creates difficulties for consumers when assessing and understanding the implications of their choices. Similarly, lack of integrated information systems that can capture, process and deliver actionable information about environmental impacts to all members in the sustainable supply chain could potentially disrupt the entire chain. These disruptions could, in turn, create higher costs and risks for all actors in the supply chain. Despite the connection between sustainable consumption and sustainable supply chain management, current research shows little integration between these areas. Recent technological developments have the potential to streamline the information flow from producer to consumer within supply chains, helping consumers to make more sustainable buying choices. Ontologies, Linked Data, and Semantic Web technologies can handle the problems that arise when integrating massive amounts of multi-thematic and multi-perspective information from heterogeneous sources to answer complex questions that cut through supply chain domain boundaries. The innovative use of information technologies could reduce the ‘‘information asymmetry’’ that pervades modern supply chains. Reducing barriers to information would benefit not only consumers but also other actors in the supply chain. This special issue focuses on how information and communication technology (ICT) can be leveraged to achieve sustainable consumption and sustainable supply chain management. One of the key objectives is to promote in-depth discussion on the technological, managerial, social, economic, and political implications of developing ICT capacity to support sustainability. In addition, we wish to generate insightful discussions on the connections between sustainable consumption and sustainable supply chain research. In the following section, we start by offering the readers of this special issue a short overview of these two research branches. J. Zhang (&) Graduate School of Management, Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610-1477, USA e-mail: JIZhang@clarku.edu

The influence of telecenters on rural life and their success correlates: Lessons from a case study in Iran

New information and communication technologies (ICTs) are fast becoming an inevitable and necessary part of rural development projects in Asian countries. Since 2004, about 10,000 Rural ICT Offices have been opened in Iran to improve the lives of those living in rural communities. This research aimed at investigating the influence of the Mazijan ICT Office on the lives of villagers and its success correlates. Data was collected through archival records, observations, structured face-to-face interviews with 210 users, semi-structured face-to-face interviews with the office operator, and six local officials and leaders. Findings were contrasted with the literature to provide more generalized lessons. Results revealed that the Mazijan office was successful in some aspects especially in reducing the need for travels, but not successful in creating job opportunities. Significant positive relationships were found between users' ICT literacy, satisfaction with the services and extent of using services with the extent to which their lives were influenced by the office. The main lessons for promoting the success of telecenters included careful considerations to be given to rural ICT capacity building, improvement of rural telecommunication infrastructures, and providing multiple low-cost and financially viable services.

CoCAR: An online synchronous training model for empowering ICT capacity of teachers of Chinese as a foreign language

<span>In response to the need to cultivate pre-service Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) teachers' information and communication technology (ICT) competency in online synchronous environments, this research adopted a three-stage cyclical model named </span><em>cooperation-based cognition, action, and reflection</em><span> (CoCAR). The model was implemented in an 18-week program to prepare pre-service CFL teachers for online synchronous teaching. A qualitative approach was adopted to analyse the collected data. The results demonstrate that the CoCAR model benefits the pedagogical growth of the pre-service CFL teachers, and helps them to make progress in online synchronous teaching activity design and tool usage. The proposed model also creates a positive climate for technological and pedagogic knowledge to overcome some common problems in conventional teacher training programs. The CoCAR model, which emphasises cognition, action, and reflection, is considered suitable for the training of online synchronous teaching skills among CFL teachers, and can be applied to general training programs to enhance the ICT capacity of teachers.</span>

The Causal Relationship Between Information and Communication Technology and Foreign Direct Investment

This paper investigates the simultaneous causal relationship between investments in information and communication technology (ICT) and foreign direct investment (FDI), with reference to its implications on economic growth. For the empirical analysis we use data from 23 major countries with heterogeneous economics development for the period 1976–99. The results of unit roots and Johansen co-integration tests indicate variations in degrees of integration among the sample countries. Our causality test results suggest that there is a causal relationship from ICT to FDI interpreted as the higher level of ICT investment leads to increased inflow of FDI. ICT contributes to economic growth indirectly by attracting more foreign direct investment. In developed countries there already exist a build up ICT capacity which causes inflow of FDI, while in developing countries ICT capacity must be build up to attract FDI. The inflow of FDI causes further increases in ICT investment and capacity.

Introduction: Community Informatics and Community Development

Community informatics, comparatively new discipline, is the study of information and communication technology (ICT) in community development work. Michael Gurstein (2000,p. 1) defines community informatics as a technology strategy or discipline which links economic and social development at the community level emerging opportunities in wide variety of information and communication technology applications. At the same time, Loader, Hague, and Eagle (2000) from the United Kingdom were describing community informatics as an approach that enables the connection of cyberspace to community places, field of investigation regarding the ways in which ICT can be geographically embedded and developed by community groups to support new and existing networks. Earlier, Schuler (1996) had described the social movement termed community networking, tracing the history of freenets, computer-supported community work, and community networks tying the community-based social networks of physical relationships to computer-based technology that permitted enhancement of these networks. This issue of COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Journal of the Community Development Society furthers the exploration of community informatics and community development by providing number of illustrative and challenging articles about both application and critical thinking. This field is one in which the application of technology has provided leadership to thinking about the ways and means of application and the implications for community and technology theory. Through efforts to promote local initiatives and state and federal programs, the number and scope of applications have proliferated. At the same time, efforts to document these applications have been difficult to mobilize--much less organize--for intensive and critical study. Consequently, we know lot more about how than and with what effects. Even so many applications documented, the analysis of what worked and why is limited. In this issue, very modest attempt to catch has been assembled although it should be noted that our efforts are still more documentary than analytical. Nevertheless, it is extremely important to community development that this documentation is done as the rhetoric surrounding ICT developments has been very direct in its implications for improving community well-being. Since ICT represents what numerous observers and policy makers have called transformational the slowness of our efforts to think critically about what we are doing seems strange. Nevertheless, new journals recently emerging and many new books on multitude of related topics, the analytical field is gaining traction in field where technology and its applications changes very rapidly. ICT APPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Since the emergence of the Information Superhighway programs of the Clinton Administration, the United States has witnessed an explosion of ICT applications in many fields. Not to be out done, the European Union created its own supporting programs as did other English-speaking nations like Australia and Canada. In addition, many states, recognizing some limitations in federal programs, created their own initiatives. As multi-lingual capabilities became available in ICT applications, African and Latin American nations joined the movement. All were justified as helping citizens take advantage of ICT's powerful functions and speeding up the deployment of the technology, which had been left primarily to the private sector. In less advantaged countries, the argument was supplemented by the perception that ICT capacity was necessary to support development and participation in the global economy. Although the specific applications are too numerous to discuss here, the areas in which applications have been made cover the spectrum of community development interests. Central, of course, are applications that emphasize community building. …

A Study of the Actual and Potential Usage of Information and Communication Technology at District and Provincial Levels in Mozambique with a Focus on the Health Sector

AbstractThis article presents results from a study on the use and appropriation of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Mozambique with a focus on the health sector. The three provinces of Gaza, Inhambane and Niassa were surveyed and two questionnaires addressing 1) computer users and their ability to manage ICT, and 2) health workers and their handling of health information, were used. Based on this study appropriate strategies for developing an ICT‐infrastructure with the needs of the health sector as points of departure are discussed. The study is born out of a program to strengthen and further develop the health information and management systems at district and provincial levels as part of a process to support decentralisation of the health system in Mozambique. The study shows that computers and Internet are rapidly being spread to the provincial capitals and major districts in Mozambique. A main problem identified is the lack of ICT‐skills and education and poorly developed infrastructure and networks of support. There are very few formal ICT companies providing hardware, and even less, software support. Maintenance and learning about ICT are to a large extent going on within informal networks of computer users in the provinces.A main finding in this study is that development of ICT capacity and information systems at district and provincial levels in Mozambique needs to be an integrated effort across sectors. A district health information system cannot be developed in a void.A general recommendation is to develop educational programmes ranging from training of ICT entrepreneurs and health workers and managers, to Masters and PhD programmes in ICT and health information systems. A specific recommendation related to health information systems development is to focus on the district level and to develop a strategy which encompasses and integrates all districts, both the advanced districts with computers and the majority of the districts where there are no computers.