PSCI102 - PG: ICT for Development

The seminar will focus on the role that innovations in Information Communication Technologies can play in improving development outcomes in low-income countries. The seminar will focus especially on the promises and perils for utilizing mobile technologies and GIS for better governance: to improve citizen voice and government accountability. This is an exciting area of research that brings together tech gigs, policy makers, Non-government organizations and researchers. The seminar will be of interest to undergraduates from diverse backgrounds, such as political science, engineering, communication, sociology and business administration. The idea will be to highlight not only the promise of ICT4D but also the challenges (e.g., that it widen participation, since it tends to exclude marginalized populations). The course will survey innovative applications in agriculture, financial services, health services, but also governance. The trip to Uganda during spring semester will allow students to meet with NGOs and local governments that are experimenting with new products and applications; hear their challenges and participate in meetings to brainstorm new apps.