Last summer I had the chance to meet with War Child in Holland to talk about our shared excitement and common challenges in using social media and ICTs in program work (eg., to further program goals and as enablers in community level work with children and youth). I met Ernst Suur there, and over the past several months we’ve been trying to find an on-line Masters Degree in ICT4D. There are a couple places that are considering this type of course in the future, but we were not able to lay our fingers on anything concrete at this point. As Ernst says: Isn’t it funny that you can learn online how to knit, but ICT4D isn’t taught much online yet?
The constraints that both Ernst and I have are that we work full-time (and then some) at jobs that require a lot of travel so it’s impossible to attend a normal schedule of university classes. We also live on salaries that don’t leave extra for furthering our education and we don’t want to spend the rest of our lives in debt. We would like a program that is not completely focused on the technology, but that instead really goes into depth on how ICTs can enable better processes, results and outcomes in development work. We are both working on program initiatives that would benefit from focused ICT4D research and deeper thinking that a guided process of shared learning and discussion could provide. We work with colleagues across our organizations who, like us, are interested in and would benefit from more systematic learning and focused ICT4D capacity strengthening but who are also not in a position to attend traditional university courses (or these courses are simply not offered where we live).
We are assuming that there are others out there from other organizations in similar conditions with similar interests. For example, at the October 2010 International Conference on Crisis Mapping (ICCM) in Boston there was mention of the need for further education opportunities on ICTs in Crisis Situations.
After doing some on-line research to find options and contacting some individuals, Ernst and I thought a next step would be to do a bit of crowd sourcing to find out if there is something that already exists that we are missing. As Ernst said: Better well stolen than badly invented.
If anyone has any thoughts, please share them in the comments section or contact me at lindaraftree at gmail.
For example:
- Are there existing on-line masters level courses that we have missed out on in our desktop research?
- If you could design an on-line ICT4D masters program that would fit your needs, what would it look like – eg, would there be face-to-face meetings? How often and for how long? Where?
- What are the key topics/areas/disciplines that would be covered in an on-line ICT4D course?
- What would some of the required courses be and who could teach us?
- What would a reasonable cost be?
- Who might be willing to offer scholarships for this type of study course? Eg., in whose interest is it to strengthen these capacities?
Please share your thoughts and ideas so we can build a strong case, because we believe that ICT4D should walk the talk and talk the walk and make online higher education and distance learning available for everyone.
Wait... What? 
This is all I know about the issue:
http://ictlogy.net/wiki/index.php?title=ICT4D_Online_Courses
BTW, I would very much appreciate that, whatever you come up to, you ping me so I can update that list 😉
i.
Hi Ismael, and thanks for posting the link to your list. I started my search there before writing the post and wasn’t able to find distance degrees in ICTs there…. I’ll let you know what we find out! cheers.
@ajuonline shared this info:
MSc in MIS: Change and Development by Manchester http://bit.ly/deWLl3 http://bit.ly/bOzB5B
[…] See the original post: Where’s the ICT4D distance learning? […]
There is one presential master in madrid with a minor in ict4dev. AUF does elearning in french on telecom from yaoudé. Best, olivier
Hi Olivier, thanks for the info and glad to see there are already things going. Do you have any further information on the Yaounde e-learning offered by AUF? Does it offer a degree or only certificate? Do you know who the courses are aimed at (telecom professionals or broader ICT?) and what areas they cover?
hmmm Curriculum is being created in India (I know the people working to train telecentre Managers).
And yes, ICTs in Crisis Situations can be helpful, ICT for Peacebuilding/Peacekeeping too maybe? I think there is a role. I would be interested in that. I have a very rudimentary academic background in Conflict Resolution, so I can link them but more knowledge will help.
Also, how about courses that focus on development of ICT for Art and Culture? ICTs have had an impact on traditional music, I am thinking about researching that aspect.
All great suggestions. I myself would also like to see classes/areas offered that go beyond the technical and look at the uses of ICTs in different situations. Maybe that is something that has to happen via a PhD? Just thinking…. or multi-disciplinary or inter-disciplinary studies? But most likely those are not offered on-line…. hm.
Good call Linda! The Univ of Malmo, Sweeden, teaches C4D by distance, but not so sure on the focus…
http://www.edu.mah.se/HACFD/
thanks Sol! Communications for Development, if it includes a strong ICT/new media focus might be a good alternative for what I’m interested in…. but I also want to know about ICTs in health, education, conflict situations, finance, etc….. or maybe in general how to look at an area and think about ICT incorporation/integration…. hmmm.
Sounds all good to me 🙂 I have colleagues that did the distance master from Malmo and are very happy with the results. If you are interested in it after looking at the link and info in details, I can link you up so he can tell you about his personal experience. Cheers!
Hi Linda,
Many moons ago an e-conversation we had inspired me to put this list together: http://www.ethnosproject.org/home/index.php?categoryid=60. I wonder if any of the programs listed there have distance learning components to them… I’ll continue to keep my ear to the ground.
Cheers,
Mark Oppenneer
Hi Mark, I remember well! and thanks for posting the link. I’ll post anything I find out here, and please if you hear anything new about distance learning/distance degrees, keep us updated too!
Hi Linda –
First of all great post, this is something I’ve wondered about myself. I’m in a position, much like you describe, where I’m interested in growing my knowledge of the field, but am tied to South Bend and Notre Dame. A formal online Masters program in ICT4D, similar to the onsite program at UC-Boulder, would be great…that’s the only ICT4D Masters I’m aware of in the US, but does not have a remote learning option. But distance education, especially in this arena, would be key to the future direction of formalized training and education. Of course there are some great links above, in other comments, to some distance ed options.
I seem to recall a Google doc awhile back that listed ICT4D education options, whether onsite, distance, or of the certificate flavor. I’ll see if I can locate it and post here.
thanks for all your good work and thought leadership.
cheers,
Tom
thanks Tom – and I agree that the training could use some more formalizing and also some more structured co-learning/sharing and evaluation/discussion efforts. And that the current set up is somewhat exclusive in that there are so few courses offered and all seem to be on site. Would love to see an effort where working colleagues in different countries could participate too.
Please do post the google doc if you happen to find it.
cheers and thanks again!
Hi all – the academic spreadsheet is here: http://tinyurl.com/2btoal8 – but I don’t see any distance courses. One thing we’ve talked about here at ATLAS is making courseware available in our core ICTD classes – which are 4 courses:
1. ICTD Case Studies
2. Global Development 1: Theories, Policies, Institutions and Critics
3. Global Development 2: Series of classes by development domain experts – global health, agriculture, behavioral change communication, youth activism, gender, etc… (changing each semester)
4. Practical Fieldwork Methods
I am open to taping these and putting them on iTunes U or similar – and while the content may be helpful, I don’t foresee offering a degree at this point, given the 6 other classes taught around the rest of campus in computer science, telecom, and the b-school. Someday when we teach all the courses in ATLAS perhaps an online degree will be possible.
Linda – love your blog and tweets and refer to them often in class – living vicariously through you and your experiences!
– Revi
Oh Brilliant list of courses and universities!! Thanks a lot for that! Now we can do a bit more in depth look to see if there are any distance courses/set ups. This is great – really appreciate it! and thanks for the kudos – really appreciated and let me know if I can ever be of any service to you and your classes.
TechChange is a new organization working on distance learning courses and training around ICT4D – http://techchange.org/
As far as I know they don’t have any certified degree programs yet but keep watching them, they are partnering with a few universities already and this is on their radar.
Hi Rob, this looks great! would love to work together to help figure something out.
Hi Linda,
We met briefly at an ICT4D tweetup about a month ago. Since then, I’ve been doing some work with TechChange, an organization dedicated to training students and practitioners to use ICTs for social change. They’re working to offer distance learning opportunities as well as-face-face courses. Take a look at http://www.techchange.org when you have a chance. I’d love to get some input and perhaps create a dialog on the topic. That goes for all of you, as well.
Also, Columbia University’s school of International Affairs (my Alma Mater) has a student-led group called the New Media Task Force http://newmediataskforce.wordpress.com/ that has gotten really engaged in this field, largely because the school hasn’t. They’ve really benefited from strong ties to the Innovation Team at UNICEF and Ushahidi. I’m happy to make introductions if you would like to speak with them.
Regards,
Mark
Hi Mark – techchange looks like a really great initiative. How can we discuss further? I’ve been in touch w someone at Columbia NMTF about something else, but we hadn’t discussed this idea. I will bring it up and let them know also that we’ve talked. thanks a ton.
thanks for all the links! very useful; i am also looking for a distance masters course that i can do from South Africa …
Hi,
At UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, I am teaching a course next semester called “Emerging Technologies in Public Health Communication”. It will be taught for both DE and residential students using Elluminate. Over the next year, we will be expanding the course content to include global health case studies and examples. While this one course is not a whole master’s degree, UNC does have a robust online/DE learning program in Public Health with a Global Specialization.
Thanks for the info Mellanye!
Here’s a link to a post by Tony Roberts who just resigned as CEO of Computer Aid to do his PhD on ICT4D.
Tony compares Manchester University, London School of Economics and University of London and explains why he chose University of London.
http://laptopburns.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/phd-in-ict4d-where-to-begin/#comment-21
Also, HT @wayan_vota:
IGNOU and Telecentre.org Foundation launches the Certificate in Telecenter Management” on telecentre.org:
http://ning.it/hGNaEm
Hi All,
And thanks for all the posts on here.
I am a part time student of International Development with a specialization in ICT4D.
Part of the requirements of my course is to attend atlease 40 hours training in my area of specialization.
I have also looked, in vain, for ICT4D courses that are offered either online or through distance learning.
Does anyone know of any institution that offeres ICT4D as a stand alone course since am already registered in anther international development program?
I would appreciate any information from anyone out there.
Thanks in advance.
Eva
Dear Eva
The IPID network (http://www.humanit.org/PID/wiki/index.php/Main_page) do seldom organize such a course like the one you’re looking for. Visit their website, join their mailing list and stay tuned (yiu can, of course write to the list too and adress your question ere 😉
i.
Hi,
Starting autumn 2011, I will be involved in the redesign of the ICT4D master program at Department of Computer and System Science, Stockholm University. I find discussion on this page very interesting. Any suggestion on a distance course or program in ICT4D is welcome (content, delivery, scope).
Dear Iskra, I am working professionally with ICT in the public service (tv) sector and would be interested in part-time courses in ICT4D, concerning project management. Any plans for this at Stockholm Uni?
1. CeDEP, SOAS – University of London
MSc Sustainable Development has a minor in ICT4D (now known as Managing Knowledge and Communication), can be taken as a short-course only.
http://www.soas.ac.uk/courseunits/C123.html
DISTANCE LEARNING MSc
2. Royal Halloway – University of London
MSc Practising Sustainable Development (ICT4D specialism)
http://www.gg.rhul.ac.uk/PSD/ICT4D/
1 YR FULL TIME MSc
Hi All,
Just thought I’d chime in here at Linda’s request.
TechChange regularly offers online training in ICT4D ranging from
* Mobiles for International Development
* Social Media for Social Change
* Tech Tools and Skills for Emergency Management
* Mobile Phones for Public Health
* Digital Organizing and Open Government
* Technology for Conflict Management and Peacebuilding
We’ve offered over 30 online courses to over 2000 professionals from 100+ on our custom learning platform.
Check out our courses here:
http://techchange.org/online-courses/