By Jyrki Pulkkinen, PhD CEO of GeSCI 2008

Knowledge Society While the developing world is still struggling to address the basic needs of its people, the rest of the world is transitioning to a Knowledge Society.

Knowledge Society In the world economy, knowledge is increasingly the key factor of production as well as a raw material for economic development. Information, knowledge and innovation based businesses are taking over many of the traditional sectors of commerce and industry. While the transition to knowledge-based economies and societies is progressing, the gap between developing countries and developed or industrialised countries is widening. World of Knowledge (D. Dorling)

Education in the Knowledge Society At the forefront of international thinking on economic development is the consideration of ICTs and Education as key factors in economic growth.

Education in the Knowledge Society It is acknowledged that transitioning successfully to the knowledge society requires investment in education, innovation systems, ICT infrastructure and implementation of those policies that support such a transition. Education in the knowledge society is critically important - not only is it the source of basic skills, it is also the foundation for the development of new knowledge and innovation.

Education Challenges While the importance of education is commonly accepted the developing world faces severe challenges with regard to education.

Education Challenges These challenges can be summarised as: a lack of universal access to education; poor quality of education; poor management of the education system and the increasing irrelevance of the current education system in the knowledge society. ACCESS? QUALITY ? RELEVANCE ? MANAGEMENT ?

ICT’s can help education An adequate information and communication infrastructure and the proper employment of ICTs in education can help to tackle some of these challenges.

ICT’s can help education ICTs have the potential to widen access to educational resources, improve the quality of learning, and improve management efficiencies of the education system. It is also important for developing countries to equip tomorrow’s citizens with the increasingly important skills related to science and technology. More critically, ICTs have the potential to transform education; a potential that many developed countries are doing their best to harness.

GeSCI’s Foundation Developing countries following the rest of the world by placing ICTs and ICTs in Education at the centre of their development strategies. However, developing countries are less equipped in terms of capacity and resources- human and financial- to successfully and effectively harness the potential of ICTs. With this in mind, GeSCI was founded by the UN ICT Taskforce in 2003, and began operations in 2005 working initially with Namibia, Ghana, India, Bolivia and later Rwanda. WSIS UN ICT TaskForce GeSCI as a Global Programme

GeSCI Vision GeSCI believes that the proper and effective use of technology in education can improve the quality of education, formal and informal education as well as pre- and in-service education. We are committed to the creation of a world where every learner has access to a standard of education which can help them to improve their lives and contribute the society: a knowledge society for all.

GeSCI Mission Our mission is to help Ministries of Education (MoEs) in some of the world’s poorest countries to make informed strategic decisions about ICTs in Education.

Knowledge Sharing At the heart of GeSCI’s mission is the concept of Knowledge Sharing MoE’s Donors Science Business GeSCI Partners Experts Community Civil Society

GeSCI Services These services are related to GeSCI’s main outputs and are: Strategic advice to MoEs that leads to successful large-scale deployment and integration of ICTs in their education systems; Development of high-quality and relevant “knowledge products and services” such as knowledge tools and research that advances our overall understanding and strengthens the capacity of developing countries to leverage ICTs in education; Promoting and facilitating global policy dialogue on ICTs for Education as a way of contributing to the general understanding and development of the knowledge society.

GeSCI Activities Country programmes involving direct advisory engagement with developing country MoEs on a system-wide basis to provide high quality strategic advice and support to the countries’ own plans, policies and efforts to deploy and integrate ICTs in education. Regional programmes involving knowledge sharing between GeSCI and the partner countries and between the partner countries, at the regional level in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Knowledge products and services through the identification of major knowledge gaps or common challenges related to ICTs in education. Promoting partnerships and facilitating global dialogue by leveraging ICTs to promote communication and collaboration with a diverse number of partners, globally, regionally and locally.

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