An investigation into the connections between new ICTs, universities, and poverty reduction. : A comparative study of SIDA-SAREC ICT projects at universities in Tanzania and Nicaragua

• Main Author: Brodén, Veronica
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Linköpings universitet, Tema teknik och social förändring 2005
• Subjects: Systems of Innovation; international development cooperation; poverty reduction; ICT; universities; SOCIAL SCIENCES; SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-65994

There has been an increased focus on ICT-related projects in development cooperation in the last decade based on the assumption that ICTs expands opportunities for economic growth as well as for poverty reduction. This is also the case with the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). I wanted to better understand the reasoning behind the increased focus on ICT. Specifically I have chosen to look at SIDA’s policies and projects with universities in Tanzania and Nicaragua to understand how different stakeholders perceive that increased ICT use at universities can affect poverty reduction. Some questions guiding my research are: In what ways can these ICT investments meet the development goals of SIDA, and might do these ICT investments theoretically fit into a national system of innovation?