ICTs for Development blog
Catch up on the most recent posts from our Centre for Digital Development blog.
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Swavalamban: A Co-constructed Online Professional Development Toolkit for English Language Teachers Working in Resource-constrained Schools in India
Gary Motteram
15 April 2024
The Swavalamban project, funded by the British Council in India, aimed to address the professional development needs of English language teachers in resource-constrained schools in Odisha and West Bengal. A digital toolkit was created through collaboration with the teacher community, focusing on sustainable, bottom-up development. The project faced challenges, leading to suggestions for future projects, such as hybrid solutions, diversified data collection methods, participatory materials design workshops, and longitudinal engagement. Although the project's funding has ended, the development of materials continues, with hopes of repurposing the platform for similar projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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AI Readiness of the US vs China
Richard Heeks
11 April 2024
What is the status of AI rivalry between the United States and China? In recent years, the emergence of China as the world’s second digital superpower has led to talk of a “digital cold war”, with global competition between the US and China in fields such as telecommunications infrastructure, e-commerce and digital governance[i] and with … Continue reading AI Readiness of the US vs China
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Exploring Barcelona Smart Tourism through a Digital Transformation Lens
Julin Liu
2 April 2024
The evolution of urban tourism is increasingly shaped by digital technologies, with cities around the world embracing innovative models and digital transformation to enhance visitor experiences. Digital transformation refers to the integration of digital technologies into all aspects of an organization’s operations, fundamentally altering how it operates and delivers value to customers (Westerman et al., … Continue reading Exploring Barcelona Smart Tourism through a Digital Transformation Lens
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What AI Role for the Global South?
Richard Heeks
18 March 2024
What role will countries of the global South play in the artificial intelligence (AI) economy? I recently participated in a fascinating discussion on AI run by Technology Salon Accra, and the points reminded me of a model I developed a few years’ back: the ladder of ICT4D roles which can readily be modified to apply … Continue reading What AI Role for the Global South?
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An Adapted Digital-Transformation-for-Development Organisational Strategy Framework
Richard Heeks
15 March 2024
What issues should shape organisational digital-transformation-for-development (DX4D) strategy? One way to answer this is through adaptation of one of the most widely-cited guides to digital transformation strategy, the Digital Transformation Framework[i]. The Framework provides a series of strategic questions that managers “have to address when embarking on digital transformation”, divided into four areas: use of … Continue reading An Adapted Digital-Transformation-for-Development Organisational Strategy Framework
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Methods for Investigating Digital Personalised Learning in Kenya: Utilising A/B Testing to Evaluate Software Adaptivity Features
chensun
12 March 2024
Chen Sun, Louis Major, Nariman Moustafa, Rebecca Daltry This blog focuses on a research study investigating the impact of Digital Personalised Learning (DPL) on pre-primary education in Kenya. The study features utilising A/B testing to examine the pedagogical implications and learning effectiveness of various design features in a classroom-integrated DPL tool. DPL is attracting increasing … Continue reading Methods for Investigating Digital Personalised Learning in Kenya: Utilising A/B Testing to Evaluate Software Adaptivity Features
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China’s digital expansion in the Global South: Systematic literature review and future research agenda
Richard Heeks
29 February 2024
What are the implications for the global South of China’s emergence as a digital superpower? A recently-published literature review from myself and colleagues at the University of Manchester identifies seven key issues that have so far emerged: Figure 1: The Chinese technology stack Although this research has been helpful, the rather small corpus of work … Continue reading China’s digital expansion in the Global South: Systematic literature review and future research agenda
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The rise of post-disaster digital communities: what role in shaping the humanitarian space and action?
nimeshdhungana
26 February 2024
Nimesh Dhungana (nimesh.dhungana@manchester.ac.uk) How are post-disaster digital communities emerging and shaping the nature of humanitarian space and action? Enabled by the growing proliferation of mobile technologies, online platforms and open source data, and dubbed by some as “Digital Humanitarianism” (1) or “Digital Disaster Communities (DDC)” (2), communities from disparate locales are increasingly acting as early-responders … Continue reading The rise of post-disaster digital communities: what role in shaping the humanitarian space and action?
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From word-of-mouth to star ratings: Platforms and the changing nature of trust in the informal sector
Mindy Park
7 February 2024
By Mindy Park, Arfive Gandhi, Yudho Giri Sucahyo Do digital platforms formalise informal cities? To some, the arrival and penetration of digital platforms in the vast informal economies of the global South cities may sound no longer new. To others, it still is a momentous opportunity to transform the informal sector. As the bustling streets … Continue reading From word-of-mouth to star ratings: Platforms and the changing nature of trust in the informal sector
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What are the moral consequences of digital platforms ?
nicholsonbrian
17 January 2024
Digital platforms, surveillance and processes of demoralization https://doi.org/10.1177/02683962231208215 In 2021 I curated a special section in Information Systems Journal on digital platforms and development. A notable omission in that special issue was coverage of morality and digital platforms. It is this gap in the literature that I attempt to address with my colleagues Sung Hwan Chai, … Continue reading What are the moral consequences of digital platforms ?
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