ICT and the Creation of New Learning Opportunities

1. ICT and the Creation of New Learning Opportunities BahawodinBaha, PhD. Capacity Building Advisor, MCIT & Principal Lecturer, University of Brighton, UK. 25th September, 2013 1stInternational ICT Conference and Exhibition, September 24-26, Kabul, Afghanistan.

2. Outline • The importance of ICT • Requirements for future workforce • The application of ICT at Higher education at international level • The progress of ICT in Afghanistan and the challenges ahead • Challenges and Main obstacles • What is needed?

3. The importance of ICT • Technologies in the 20th Century: • Physics, Electronics, and High-Speed Communications and Transportation • Technologies in the 21st Century: • Bio, Nano and information technologies are main challenges • but also Energy, Water, and Sustainability • Large scale multinational projects • ICT literate workforce is key to the success in all these development

4. The importance of ICT (cont.)Location No Longer Matters. • The World is changing • “The World is Flat” -- Tom Friedman • In 1989 the Berlin Wall came down, and Microsoft’s Windows went up. • $1.5 trillion worth of optical fiber connects the world. • Globalization has “accidentally made Beijing, Bangalore, London, New York next door neighbors.” • Many jobs are now just a “mouse click” away from anywhere.

5. Requirements for future workforce • Technically skillful • Broadly Knowledgeable • Innovative and Entrepreneurial • Commercial awareness • Multilingual • Culturally Aware • Able to Understand World Markets • Professionally Flexible and Mobile

6. ICT Based New Learning Opportunities Worldwide • As the world is becoming more competitive and the resources are limited • The cost of tuition has been steadily rising • Huge on-line learning schemes have been considered one possible solution • Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free online courses that are open to all with an Internet connection • MOOCs focus on higher education by utilizing a series of interactive supplements, including online tutorials, assessments and pre-recorded lectures. • Most of the popular and better-developed MOOCs prorogammes are backed by some of the most prestigious colleges, such as: • Coursera: A Stanford spinoff that has partnered with the University of Virginia, Duke University, University of Pennsylvania and University of Illinois • edX: Harvard, MIT and Berkeley’s online collaboration to offer the best of all three institutions • Udacity: Founded by an ex-Stanford Professor Sebastian Thrun

7. ICT based New Learning opportunities worldwide (continue) • Self-teaching, MOOCs put the tools to learn in the hands of those who are willing to put in the time and effort, and colleges are taking notice. • 22 top US Universities started to offer MOOCs or similar free courses in 2013. • MIT to provide lectures and research news free of charge • MIT has a program called Open Course Ware (OCW), a free publishing venture • Teaching Materials for more than 2100 courses • Free of charge to Anyone, Anywhere • Some universities in the UK distribute their lectures via the iconic iTunes service • The iTunes service gained its dominant position in online music as • the downloading service for the iPod player • Lectures can be downloaded from an academic iTunes service • The early emergence of a Meta University – a dynamic, • communally-constructed framework of open materials and • platforms on which much of higher education worldwide can be constructed or enhanced.

8. The application of ICT in higher education ICT tools are used in higher education for the following purposes • Teaching • Developing course material • Delivering and sharing content • Communication between learners, teachers and the outside world • Distance learning • Video conferences • Creation and delivery of presentations and lectures • Academic research • To find information • To find out about research centres • To communicate with other researchers • To share ideas and new development with other fellows • Administrative support • Student enrolment • To keep students records • Time table

9. Progress of ICT in Afghanistan • Young generation has been fascinated by New Technologies such as computers and wireless communications • Better employment opportunities • Donors willingness to invest in the labs • Young and enthusiastic academics • The limited improvement of the higher education • The establishment of partnerships between Universities in Afghanistan and universities in the US and Europe.

10. Progress so far • Limited progress has been made • Computer Science and IT departments • Wireless communication companies • ICT has been introduced. • The number of higher education institutions has been increased • The number of students has been increased • Some lecturers have been sent abroad

11. Challenges and Main obstacles • The management lacks knowledge, experience and vision • The lack capacity to fully utilize ICT in other sectors • Not enough attention to improve quality of education at all levels • The lack of coordination and close collaboration between various minsitries and NGOs.

12. What is needed? • Competent and experienced management is required • A dynamic education system is needed • The introduction of Entrepreneurship and innovation in education • Scientific research must be introduced • Improving Education in Science, technology and Engineering in Afghanistan will accelerate the development in the country • ICT can play a major role to acclerate the educational development • Well educated, skilled and committed workforce is required to take full advantages of ICT that has been created around the world. • Investment is needed in Science, Technology, Engineering and innovation • Improving infrastructure • Labs • Academic and technical staff • Creating a research culture.

13. Thank you for your attention.