ICTlogy

Abstract:

The conventional telecentres are transforming into knowledge networks with knowledge hubs as the intermediary. Knowledge hubs consist of other knowledge functions like, education, employment, agriculture and health besides providing conventional ICT facilities to bridge the digital divide. Many of the value added services have empowered rural community to access information and knowledge to improve livelihoods and attain sustainable development. Besides new information sources, the transformation has also embarked on new partnerships, governance structures, participation and business plans. These changes have been able to capture the fragmented and inadequately utilized knowledge within the communities to strengthen knowledge networks.

The process from telecentres to knowledge hubs has facilitated not only bridging the digital divide but also the economic, social and gender divide which are polarizing the society.

The Paper emphasizes the importance of telecentres in the continuum and supports the theory that sustainability of telecentres and knowledge networks are equally important for sustainable development.

Observations:

Executive Summary

The world has witnessed a phenomenal rise in information and communication technology (ICT) over the past two decades. Many different technologies have been used to generate and share information leading to enhanced knowledge and empowerment of people. The challenge posed to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is to harness the potential of information and communication technology to promote the development goals of the Millennium Declaration. Similarly, WSIS endeavours to overcome the digital divide by connecting rural village through ICT technologies.

The role of the conventional telecentres is transforming to more development oriented knowledge networks. Knowledge hubs are the intermediaries between the telecentres and knowledge networks in the transformation process. Knowledge hubs constitute of many other knowledge functions like, education, employment, agriculture and health besides providing conventional ICT facilities to bridge the digital divide. Many of the value added services have empowered rural community to access information and knowledge to improve livelihoods and attain sustainable development. Besides new information sources, the transformation process has also endured on new partnerships, governance structures, participation and business plans. These changes have captured the fragmented and inadequately utilized knowledge to strengthen knowledge networks.

The process from telecentres to knowledge hubs has facilitated not only bridging the digital divide but also the economic, social and gender divide which are polarizing the society. However, future sustainability of these interventions depends on establishing sustainable knowledge networks and affordable business plans. Besides, the new plans will have to consider including the poorest of the poor who are marginalized in the current transformation process.

This paper attempts to present the process of transformation from telecentres to knowledge hubs and the role of knowledge networks. It emphasizes the importance of telecentres in the continuum and supports the theory that sustainability of telecentres and knowledge networks are equally important. It highlights the role of knowledge hubs in empowering rural communities and challenges faced in maintaining the role of rural empowerment. Finally, recognizing the future role of knowledge networks, it presents some suggestions for ESCAP to facilitate the process of transformation leading to sustainable development.