role of ict in uganda
468 Advances in Systems Modelling and ICT Applications
37
ICT as an Engine for Uganda’s Economic
Growth: The Role of and Opportunities for Makerere University
Venansius Baryamureeba,
The use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) to improve how goods are produced and services are delivered is a feature of everyday life in developed countries. If ICT is used appropriately, it has the potential to vastly improve productivity. Thus the issue for developing and least developed countries is how best to use ICT to achieve development objectives, given the operating constraints in these countries. The constraints are mainly lack of infrastructure and human capacity. It is now a known fact that ICT infrastructure readiness without adequate skilled ICT human capacity cannot lead to economic growth. In this paper we discuss the role of
Makerere University and suggest opportunities for Makerere University in this area of ICT led –economic growth of Uganda.
1. Introduction
Information and communications technologies, broadly defined, facilitate by electronic means the creation, storage, management and dissemination of information. The emphasis in this paper is on both ICT as a vehicle for communication and as a means of processing information. The communication vehicles range from: radio (analogue, digital and high frequency two-way), television, telephone, fax, computers and the Internet. Newspapers are also included; as they also often now have an electronic form on the World Wide Web.
The old types of ICT i.e. the newspapers and as well as radio and television have the advantages of low cost, requiring little skill to operate and the potential to be highly relevant to the needs of the users in terms of local information delivered in local languages. Their downsides are to do with the often one-sided nature of the communication and potential for censure by governments.
The new, more advanced forms of ICT include networked
37
ICT as an Engine for Uganda’s Economic
Growth: The Role of and Opportunities for Makerere University
Venansius Baryamureeba,
The use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) to improve how goods are produced and services are delivered is a feature of everyday life in developed countries. If ICT is used appropriately, it has the potential to vastly improve productivity. Thus the issue for developing and least developed countries is how best to use ICT to achieve development objectives, given the operating constraints in these countries. The constraints are mainly lack of infrastructure and human capacity. It is now a known fact that ICT infrastructure readiness without adequate skilled ICT human capacity cannot lead to economic growth. In this paper we discuss the role of
Makerere University and suggest opportunities for Makerere University in this area of ICT led –economic growth of Uganda.
1. Introduction
Information and communications technologies, broadly defined, facilitate by electronic means the creation, storage, management and dissemination of information. The emphasis in this paper is on both ICT as a vehicle for communication and as a means of processing information. The communication vehicles range from: radio (analogue, digital and high frequency two-way), television, telephone, fax, computers and the Internet. Newspapers are also included; as they also often now have an electronic form on the World Wide Web.
The old types of ICT i.e. the newspapers and as well as radio and television have the advantages of low cost, requiring little skill to operate and the potential to be highly relevant to the needs of the users in terms of local information delivered in local languages. Their downsides are to do with the often one-sided nature of the communication and potential for censure by governments.
The new, more advanced forms of ICT include networked
References: Baryamureeba, V. (2007), On curricula for creating human capital needed for ICT-led economic growth: Case of Faculty of Computing and IT Caspary, G. (2002), ‘Information Technologies to Serve the Poor: How Rural Areas Can Benefit from the Communications Revolution’, D+C Development and Cooperation Curtain, R. (2004), Information and Communications Technologies and Development: Help or Hindrance? Report Commissioned by the Australian Agency for International Eggleston, K; Jensen, R; and Zeckhauser, R (2002), ‘Information and communication technologies, markets and economic development’, in G.Kirkman et al Soubbotina P.T., Sheram, K., (2003) Beyond economic growth: Meeting the Challenges of Global Development, ISBN: 0-8213-4853, The World Bank, Copyright © 2003 National