Role Of ICT Research Articles

Role of ICT & traditional folk media in rural development in India

Role of ICT & traditional folk media in rural development in India

Filling the Niche—A Synthesis of Financial Inclusion among Smallholder Farmers in Africa, the Case for Kenya

This paper makes a synthesis of empirical studies carried out in parts of Africa, and in Kenya to derive lessons on financial inclusion among smallholder farmers in rural and peri-urban areas. The derived lessons point at a steadily growing expansion of financial services to rural/peri-urban poor traditionally characterised by high idiosyncratic risks and huge information asymmetry. This category of households seems to have made the African continent sustain itself in the midst of financial crisis in 2008/09 when the rest of the world including the Asian tigers and the American capitalists faced serious setbacks in their financial sector growth. During this period, Africa experienced steady growth that started in 2000 at below 3% and peaked at about 4.8% by 2009-2015. The contribution of the transformation of the financial sector experienced in Kenya is one of the reasons for this growth. The paper elucidates the key determinants of access to the reformed financial services by the rural poor, access to targeted training on financial services beyond the formal education, participation of female-headed households in collective frameworks and creditworthiness as exhibited by multiple borrowing points. The impact of such inclusion is exhibited by significant changes in purchasing power of households through income and diversified investment in farm assets. In all these successes, ICT through mobile money transfer played a significant role, as exhibited in studies across the region. Despite the successes, the key challenges include high fungibility of targeted funding, showing a need to provide an array of financial services to the poor including credit for consumption, school fees, medical cover and emergency loans found among the savings and credit cooperatives. Also, the inequality and raising the poorest of the poor is still a challenge, one reason being the instrumental role of ICT through mobile money transfer system which some of the poorest farmers have no access to. Mobile banking services such as M-Shwari product is something that extension personnel could take as part of their advice to small farmers in accessing short-term loans and as means of savings funds between USD 1 - 100. These kinds of funds are useful in particular in bridging financial gaps along the agribusiness value chains. The funds can be borrowed to transport produce to the market, and make payments in time to enable farmers to capitalise on their input purchases. On participation of smallholder farmers in mobile banking type, and in particular saving and immediate credit service is still limited. This is an area for immediate uptake by all stakeholders including policymakers and the financial sector.

“On Facebook I met old friends again”: The use of ICTs in the process of reminiscence among older adults

Background: Reminiscence can be beneficial for social and emotional wellbeing at older ages, yet little is known about what this process looks like as well as about Information and Com-munication Technologies’ (ICTs) potentials. Broader understanding would allow us to better tailor interventions and make them more effective using ICTs. Objective: This qualitative study aims to gain insight into the process of recalling memo-ries in daily life among independent older adults, with special attention to the role of ICTs. Method: We used a two-step approach, starting with explorative interviews with older adults (N=20), aged 75 to 95, about their experiences with recalling memories. After this, participants used a diary to track examples of memories over three weeks. We returned to elaborate on the cases described by the participants. Results: Four stages were derived from the data, including the start of a memory; motiva-tions for pursuing or ignoring a memory; engagement with the memory; and next steps. We found that ICTs are used mainly at the beginning of the process as well as in the stage of engaging with the memory. Conclusion: ICTs can facilitate sensory triggers, unlock information to complete a memo-ry, and facilitate the company of others – either triggering or sharing memories. Whereas existing interventions mainly focus on initiating memories, often with old triggers, our find-ings suggest that recalling memories can play a valuable role in connecting older adults with others across age groups. ICTs can facilitate this interaction in several ways.

The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in the Development of Civic Activism

The article is devoted to the study of features of civil activity in Yaroslavl region. The study focuses on the transformation of civic activity under the influence of information and communications technologies. The current state of civil activism is described. The role of information and communications technologies in public and political communication is being considered. Examples are given of the impact of information technology on the formation, recruitment and mobilization of civic activists. In order to determine the characteristics of the development of civic activity in Yaroslavl oblast, a study was carried out which included in-depth interviews with experts representing the academic community, State and municipal authorities, Media, civic activists and non-profit activists. Twenty-one experts participated in the interview. In order to review civic activitsm in Yaroslavl region in the most detailed and in-depth manner, the expert survey was divided into a number of thematic clusters. One focused on the transformation of civic engagement in the context of ICT development. Under this cluster, experts were asked to assess the current level of civic activity in the region, as well as to determine the role of ICT in the development of civic activism to current levels. Further interest in the survey focused on the development of civic activism as well as the threats that it may face as a result of the massive introduction of ICT products into social and political relations. The experts were asked to give a forecast for the near future concerning the forthcoming transformation of civic activity as well as the role of the State in the process. On the basis of the results of the interview the main theses were formulated and a picture of the state of civic activity in Yaroslavl region to date was presented, as well as the image of forthcoming changes in this sphere.

A hazard preparedness plan for a selected stretch of hill road between Kodaikkanal and Palani

The hill road between Kodaikkanal and Palani which serves as major connecting link between the two places is affected by landslides every year during monsoons and intense summer showers. This causes a severe impediment to the growth and development of the hill town, leading to social and economic impacts on the community. Therefore, it is mandatory to formulate a preparedness plan to combat the impacts of slope failure along this stretch. The role of ICT enabled technologies play a vital role in connecting the various segments of the preparedness plan. In line with this need, this paper attempts to identify zones susceptibility to landslides along the selected stretch using a bivariate statistical model frequency ratio, map the spatial variability of susceptibility to landslides using Geographic Information System (GIS) and formulate a preparedness plan to minimize the social and economic impacts of landslides on the community. The preparedness plan links various levels of administration and the hill community, training them in hazard response and mitigation using various ICT based technologies for effective communication during response and rescue operations. Planning includes the identification of risks involved in the event of hazard, development of early warning systems and identifying the specific needs of the community for protection from risk, resource identification, awareness of the government and non-government agencies involved in the action plan, detailed chain of command within and outside each organization to co-ordinate relief activities.

Rethinking the Role of ICTs. Digital transformation and Culture enjoyment continuity

This document will analyze recent trends and evolution of the use of ICTs in the field of cultural heritage from a different standpoint, the service provision in the age of digital transition and pandemic. The initial focus is on the usual approach in the field of goods, proper design to elicit a positive feeling by potential customers. Recently a new type of good has been identified, service. Services grown up incredibly in the pandemic, goods delivery, food delivery, and more. So, thinking at services like a good we must design them to better the appreciation by customers as since the early XX century the people did with objects and merchandise. Appling the same approach to digital services a design phase is required together with all the different components that will provide a positive feedback from the user, this means to deal with interaction design, user centered approach, usability guidelines and the overall concept of positive user experience. Recent trends and reborn technologies like the path from edutainment to serious games and gamification, the new approach to immersive interactive technologies in a nonintrusive format. Last but relevant the need to take the momentum to ensure the culture enjoyment continuity in case of crisis.

ICTs, data and vulnerable people: a guide for citizens

ICTs, personal data, digital rights, the GDPR, data privacy, online security… these terms, and the concepts behind them, are increasingly common in our lives. Some of us may be familiar with them, but others are less aware of the growing role of ICTs and data in our lives - and the potential risks this creates. These risks are even more pronounced for vulnerable groups in society. People can be vulnerable in different, often overlapping, ways, which place them at a disadvantage to the majority of citizens; Table 3 in this guide presents some of the many forms and causes of vulnerability. As a result, vulnerable people need greater support to navigate the digital world, and to ensure that they are able to exercise their rights. This guide explains where such support can be found, and also answers the following questions: - What are the main ethical and legal issues around ICTs for vulnerable citizens? - Who is vulnerable in Europe? - How do issues around ICTs affect vulnerable people in particular? This guide is a resource for members of vulnerable groups, people who work with vulnerable groups, and citizens more broadly. It is also useful for data controllers1 who collect data about vulnerable citizens. While focused on citizens in Europe, it may be of interest to people in other parts of the world. It forms part of the Citizens’ Information Pack produced by the PANELFIT project, and is available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. You are welcome to translate this guide into other languages. Please send us a link to online versions in other languages, so that we can add them to the project website.

Information and Communication Technology in Foreign Language Classes in English: Roles and Practices

Teaching and learning process in 21st century has been embedded with technology. Use of ICTs plays crucial role in ameliorating knowledge acquisition in general and enhancing English Language mastering in particular. The government of Nepal has made provision of integrating ICTs in school education with the aim of enhancing quality education and make both teachers and learners confidence and competitive in the present global world. In this context, this research intended to investigate roles and practices of ICTs at English as Foreign language classes (EFL) of Nepal. To achieve the objective, explanatory sequential mixed research design was adopted. Survey questionnaire, unstructured interview and non-participant observation were used to as the tools of data collection and forty secondary English teachers (20 from public schools & 20 from private schools) were the sample population. Two datasets; quantitative and qualitative were collected and analyzed sequentially. The findings of the research reveal that majority of the teachers were positive towards roles of ICTs in language teaching even they were doubt if ICTs could develop creative and critical abilities of the students. Though the teachers practiced ICTs in their classes, they felt discomfort in using new ICT tools and applications. The findings imply that teachers should be given training on ICT use for building up their skills; knowledge and confidence to achieve optimum advantages form it.

Information Policy and Information Security of PRC: Development, Approaches and Implementation

The subject of the study is the new course of the PRC information policy, which was launched by the Fifth generation of the PRC leaders after the 18th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012. As a result, after the 18th Congress of the CPC was started the implementation of the Strong cyberpower strategy, which implies not only ensuring cyber security in the country, but also the usage of network resources to develop the national economy. Chinas new information policy was caused by the sharply increased role of information and communication technologies in international processes and the shift in the focus of international relations to the Asia-Pacific region. The PRCs information policy is based on the most advanced technologies in the IT sphere and the cooperation with private companies on regulating external and internal information security. The relevance of the research topic is due to the increasing role of ICT in international processes. In this context, the most important are the positions of the leading countries of the world to regulate this area, as well as the mechanisms and tools used by them. The Peoples Republic of China is one of the leaders in the field of scientific and technical developments and actively uses its achievements to accomplish tasks in the field of domestic and foreign policy. In this regard, the purpose of the study is to analyze and compare the development strategies of the PRC information policy and the resources that are necessary for their implementation. The unique network landscape, which was formed under the influence of government policy on control over published content and the sharing of digital services market among the three largest information corporations (Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba), has become an essential part of the countrys information security system and requires detailed study. The purpose of the article is to identify the evolution of Chinas information policy development strategy and resources for its implementation. This article also discusses the threats to the information security of the Peoples Republic of China and analyzes the approaches to ensuring it. The results of the study are the conclusions that show the role and place of information policy in the PRC foreign policy, the structure of the information security system and strategic approaches to the regulation of international relations in cyberspace.

Formation of professional competencies of primary school teachers using ICT

The purpose of the publication is to publish the results of a study that reveals how the intensity of the use of ICT in educational activities affects the formation of professional competencies of primary education teachers. With this in mind, the aim of the study is to establish the role of ICT in shaping the online competencies of primary school teachers, to study the content of the competency based approach and the participation of social media platforms and software applications. The object of this study is a complex of ICTs, which actively participates in the formation of competencies of teachers of primary education. The implementation of the objectives of the study requires a set of methods and theoretical analysis and synthesis, as well as methods of comparison, grouping and specification (determination of the research data on the formation of professional competencies of primary school teachers). The results of the research were obtained through the use of qualitative studies (standard focus groups) with subsequent analysis and report preparation. The results of the analysis are used to determine the content and interaction of key and professional competencies in the field of primary education and the high level of use of ICT tools. Almost 80% of students aged from 20 to24 used the use of Twitter, Telegram, Facebook in remote education during the academic year 2019/2020.The presented work concludes that the use of ICT, like social media platforms, software applications, software and messenger clouds, increases the level of online competence of teachers and expands the range of professional competencies. The constant modernization of educational content based on Twitter, Telegram, Facebook, etc. should be promising for the formation of key and professional competencies and strengthening motivation in the training of primary education teachers.

ROLE OF ICT AS A CONTINGENCY FACTOR IN FINANCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT, REMITTANCES, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH NEXUS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF INDONESIA

This study examines the role of ICT as a factor in Indonesia’s financial sector development, remittances, and economic growth nexus using annual data from 1984-2017. We use the bounds testing procedure based on the Autoregressive Distributed Lag framework and the neoclassical growth model. The findings of the study reveal that ICT has indeed emerged as a significant factor in the remittance-growth nexus by playing a complementary role in financial sector development. The policy implication is that ICT needs to be supported at all levels and the financial inclusion process should be carried forward as it has all the potential to speed up economic growth and development.

Conceptual issues of innovation networks digitalization

The relevance of the research topic is due to the need to solve the problem of developing conceptual issues of digital transformation management in the context of innovation trends, taking into account the overarching impact and large-scale prospects of digitalization processes. The paper deals with the analysis of the digital aspects of innovation policy, in particular, based on the use of international rankings, the definition of features of building the digital component of innovation networks and the deepening of scientific and methodological approaches to digital support of innovation processes. An overview of modern scientific and methodological approaches to defining the impact of digital transformation on innovation process is presented. Digital transformation can be seen as a factor in access to information and new opportunities that can improve technological capabilities. To assess the impact of digitalization on the development of innovation processes, the data of the Global Innovation Index and the ICT Development Index were used. Based on results of calculations, significant values of the positive correlation with the key components of the innovation system and the level of cluster development were obtained. The study identifies marketing, communication, infrastructural, international dimensions of digitalization of innovation processes. It is shown that the increasing availability of ICTs necessitates a timely rethinking of many processes in the innovation sphere. On the basis of world experience, the role of universities has been substantiated, which should take on a significant part of the responsibility for the formation of a new technological order through improving the quality of researches and their results’ introduction into the real economy within the framework of S2B-B2S networks (Scіence-to-Busіness – Busіness-to-Scіence). As a result of the study, the conclusion is substantiated that an integrated approach to the creation of digital innovation ecosystems requires the study of both institutions and participants, their interaction networks, the specifics of the environment, resources, technologies, etc. It is proposed to consider the role of ICTs in the development of innovation networks on the basis of combining such modern approaches to the development of innovations, in particular – multidisciplinary engineering analysis, system design methodology and parallel engineering methodology. The analysis and deepening of scientific and methodological approaches to the digital support of innovation processes made it possible to identify other promising areas of digitalization of innovation processes, for example, within the framework of the activities of public authorities that ensure the introduction of electronic government technologies.

The mediating role of ICTs in the relationship between international tourism and environmental degradation: fit as a fiddle.

The United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposed 17 effective plans linked with three principal aims, i.e., eradicating poverty, conserving the natural environment, and ensuring prosperity for all. Travel and tourism are the leading stream sector through which all the three stated United Nations themes could be achieved efficiently. The future project of Saudi Arabia's vision is also in line with the United Nation SDGs that much emphasized on tourism expansion, innovation, and sustainable development, which directly supports the SDG-8 (i.e., decent work and economic growth), SDG-9 (i.e., industries, innovation, and infrastructure), SDG-12 (i.e., responsible consumption and production), and SDG-13 (i.e., climate change). The study's objective is to evaluate the country's e-tourism initiatives and green development agenda in the long-run by using the quarterly data from 1995Q1 to 2018Q4. The study employed the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model for estimating the short- and long-run relationship between the variables. Further, the study developed an "e-tourism index" that combines ICT's share in tourism income and expenditures items by principle component matrix (PCM). The results show that oil rents, ores and metal exports, and railways goods transportation depleted natural resources, while ICT's share in energy demand, inbound tourism, and trade openness conserve natural resources via the adoption of advanced technologies, eco-tourism knowledge, and green technology imports in a country. The results confirmed the U-shaped relationship between the country's per capita income and natural resource depletion in a given period. The positive relationship (negative impact) of air transportation freight and trade openness with carbon emissions is evident in the short-run; however, the result is insignificantly determined in the long-run. The industry value-added and ICT's share in energy demand substantially delimit carbon emissions through cleaner production techniques and green innovation. The U-shaped relationship in the short- and flat relationship in the long-run is found for carbon-growth nexus. In the long-run, inbound tourism has a positive (negative impact) relationship with carbon emissions that need sustainable tourism policies to delimit carbon emissions. The air-railways passengers carried and trade openness is the main antecedents that influenced fossil fuel energy consumption in the short- and long-run, while in the long-run, tourism income, ICT's share in energy demand, and industry value-added delimit fossil fuel combustion. The study confirmed the inverted U-shaped relationship between carbon emissions and per capita income in a country. The e-tourism index positively influences the country's economic growth, mobile share in the energy demand, industry value-added, and railways goods transportation. In the long-run, the mobile share in energy demand and railways goods transported increase while air transport freight decreases economic growth. Finally, the e-tourism index is positively influenced by industrial value-added and ICT's share in fossil fuel energy demand. Simultaneously, air transportation passengers carried and ICT's share in carbon emissions negatively affected the e-tourism index in a country. The study concludes that Saudi Arabia's vision 2030 of e-tourism and green sustainable development could be achieved by promoting green ICTs, cleaner production technologies, sustainable consumption and production, tight environmental regulations, and green travel and tourism infrastructure, which ultimately will support the Saudi's vision realization programs towards the country's prosperity.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN MANAGING SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA

Information Communication Technology has generally been acclaimed as an important tool exploited by medium and large-scale enterprises for boosting profitability and enhancing viability. Though Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) constitutes a major percentage of businesses in most countries, their ICT adoption rate is still low. This study examined the role of ICT as a tool that SMEs can deploy for the economic development of Nigeria. A questionnaire was employed and administered to a total of 175 SMEs randomly chosen from five different sectors of the Nigeria economy (educational, micro finance, transport, commerce and hospitality). Chi-square test was used to evaluate the hypothesis and the findings of the research revealed that (1) low awareness level of the benefits of ICT incorporation in the management process of most SMEs has been a major cause of its low adoption; (2) poor media transmission framework, high cost of ICT hardware, deficient government support and legislation for internet business among other factors have hindered the adoption of ICT in the management process of SMEs; (3) high cost of funds in Nigeria have also made it unprofitable for SMEs to source fund for ICT expansion and implementation. The research recommends among other measures, the investment on infrastructure and adequate incentives to promote the utilization of ICT among SMEs. Investment banks and other specialized institutions should brace up with their responsibilities and promote local industries through affordable credit schemes.

A study of Yemeni EFL instructors perceptions on the role of ICTs in developing students communicative competence

A study of Yemeni EFL instructors perceptions on the role of ICTs in developing students communicative competence

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AS A TOOL OF SUPPORTING INTERACTION IN THE MODERN GLOBALIZED FAMILY

The article highlights the role of information and communication technologies in supporting the integrity of modern globalized family, whose members are separated by significant geographical distances. The authors of the study propose to use the definition “globalized family” referring to a family whose members, while being remote from one another, maintain contacts through ICT. A mixed methodology, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, was selected to conduct the study. The survey was conducted to quantify the use of ICT as a means of supporting the interaction of members in the modern Polish (92 people) and Ukrainian (88 people) families. The narrative interview method was used to conduct a qualitative analysis of the role of ICT in supporting the virtual unity of members of contemporary European families. The conducted research showed that the typologically related results for the recipients from Polish and Ukrainian groups were: causes of labor migration (difficult economic situation of families); daily use of various web messengers, electronic social networks, mobile phones to maintain contact with family members; the desire to participate in the school life of children through ICT. Using ICT for the indirect contacts based on various possibilities of communication creates new virtual reality of communication and even family life organization. The realization of the research was in accordance with the signed agreement on scientific and pedagogical cooperation between the University of Jan Kochanowski in Kielce (Poland) and the Institute of Information Technologies and Learning Tools of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine. The article provides recommendations for teacher trainers to create a blended open learning environment through ICT that would enable active virtual contact between teachers, students and their parents. Implementation of the course on digital humanistic pedagogy of open education into the pre-service and in-service teacher training programs for the development of digital, communicative, collaborative and creative skills enables effective pedagogical interaction in formal and non-formal education.

The Role of ICT in Intergenerational Learning between Immigrant Youth and Non-related Older Adults: Experiences from Sweden

ABSTRACT This paper seeks to extend discussion on ICT and intergenerational learning by examining the experiences of unrelated older adults and immigrant youths participating in the community-based “ICT Guides” project in Gothenburg, Sweden. I claim that ICT-supported learning between unrelated older adults and immigrant youths eliminates intergenerational and cultural distances and supports functional intergenerational solidarity. It is also a significant platform for empowerment and reciprocal learning. ICT within intergenerational learning facilitates better interaction and understanding between older adults and immigrant youths, despite language difficulties and different cultural backgrounds, changing it from a catalyst and for intergenerational learning to a means of facilitating intercultural support.

MEANING-CENTERED MANAGEMENT OF THE VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE ACADEMIC TRAINING OF PEDAGOGICAL SPECIALISTS

As the last institution at the end of the education system, the university is committed to preparing competent professionals for each field of expertise, including future teachers. An essential goal in the training of pedagogical specialists is to get to know the potential of the personality and to enhance its development at all key levels. The situation with Covid-19 has highlighted its growing importance, given the urgent need to transition from face-to-face learning to distance education. In the course of the rapidly spreading epidemic, the role of ICT in education became clear. It has been proven that in the conditions of global crisis it is the information and communication technologies that successfully mediate the learning process. It was found that digital competencies are vital for the subjects in the pedagogical interaction, because they ensure the dialogue in the virtual educational environment. Undoubtedly, the foundation of its qualitative implementation affects the motivation for selfactualization of interacting between teachers and students. After identifying the need to improve the quality of distance education, this article presents the advantages of meaning-centered management of virtual educational environments in the academic preparation of pedagogical specialists. The following questions become relevant: (1) What is the meaning?; (2) What will develop?; (3) How will it be formed?, which respectively constitute the conceptual, personal and activity aspect of the pedagogical interaction from a distance.

Attitude to ICT and Self-Evaluation of Fluency in Using New Digital Devices, Websites and Software among Pre-Service Teachers

The objective of the research was to obtain data on the attitudes of the future generation of teachers towards using new media in their didactic and educational activities. Additionally, the text presents the level of their self-evaluation regarding the use of new ICT-based devices. Indicators of both variables are compared. The research was conducted in the biggest Polish pedagogical university, in the sample of 450 students. The technique used was the diagnostic survey. The data were collected in the first half of 2019 as part of the international project SELI. Based on the data obtained, it was noticed that pre-service teachers do not form a homogeneous group, which means there are individuals presenting a very positive attitudes towards introduction of new media as well as people who are careful when it comes to using ICT in teaching. Most respondents emphasize that using ICT in education is necessary and this trend is irreversible. There is a minor group of the future teachers who do not know websites and software to support learning and teaching (about 10%). Almost half of the respondents present divided views regarding the role of ICT in stimulating engagement, motivation and interest among the students. However, it should also be noted that almost half of the interviewees states that using smartphones at school should be banned. Positive attitude to new technologies in one area coincides with high opinion about ICT in other areas. Self-evaluation of own competencies is also internally coherent. It means that students who declared that they have no problems with using, for example, new devices, have no problems with using new websites or software.

The use of ICT during COVID-19.

ICTs are pivotal in the existing social order and especially during the COVID‐19 global pandemic. This panel focuses on the use of ICTs by different actors, including individuals, nonprofit organizations, and governments around the globe in responding to this COVID crisis. We tackle three essential questions about ICTs and the global crisis. First, what role do ICTs play in a global crisis? Second, how do ICTs affect social order when tensions between control, autonomy, and power shift? Third, what are the theoretical and practical implications of ICT use during a global health crisis? Each of the panelists will discuss their ongoing research in social informatics or health informatics as relates to the panel theme and central questions in order to provide a holistic view of the role of ICTs during this global pandemic.