UNU-MERIT African Research Workshop (UNU-MERIT, M aastricht, the Netherlands , October 21, 2011)

1. UNU-MERIT African Research Workshop (UNU-MERIT, Maastricht, the Netherlands, October 21, 2011) Research Paper: Technological Change, skill development and the use of ICT in Sudan By Dr. Samia Satti Osman Mohamed Nour Visiting Research Fellow E-mail: samia_satti@hotmail.com (UNU-MERIT, Maastricht, October 21, 2011)

2. Outline • Introduction: Completed Research on Africa (Sudan), • Aims of the Research, • Relevance and Contribution of the Research, • Research Methodology, • Main Results.

3. Introduction Completed Research Projects on Africa (Sudan) (2009-2011)

4. Technological Change, skill development : the case of Sudan : Aims of the Research Analyse the need for skill development and interaction with technological changein the Sudan. In particular: • causes and consequences of deficient educational system at the macro level and interaction with the excessive use of uneducated workers at the micro level; • causes and consequences of low skill and technology levels; • transfer of knowledge/external effects of schooling at the macro and micro levels; • policies to enhance skill upgrading, building human capital and technological capacity.

5. Technological Change, skill development : the case of Sudan : Relevance and Contribution of the Research Upskilling as a necessary condition. • Macro-Micro analysis of deficient educational system and high incidence of uneducated workers. • Macro-micro analysis of low skills and technology levels. • Macro supply-demand analysis of adequacy, equity and efficiency for the provision of education and training. • Micro analysis of poor industrial performance indicators. • The importance of external effects of schooling and the transfer of knowledge.

6. Technological Change, skill development : the case of Sudan : Research Methodology - Secondary and primary data: (Sudan, 2010). - Micro survey: 100 of the chemical, food, metal and textile, small, medium and large size establishments in Sudan. - Micro survey (2010): Response Rate (88%) - Macro survey: 40 individuals in 8 institutions. - Macro survey (2010): Response Rate (90%) - Interviews: firm mangers (10), policy makers and experts (5). - Identify the causes and consequences of low skill and technology levels; and - Provide insights to enhance skill and technology.

7. Technological Change, skill development : the case of Sudan : Main Results • Low skill and technology levels in the Sudan compared to international standard. • The deficient educational system and large share of unskilled workers in Sudan are serious impediments to a successful implementation of the strategies of sustainable and balanced development, diversification, technological development and restructuring the labour market. • Poor educational facilities lead to a poor provision of training, low skill levels, serious skills mismatch and deficient transfer of knowledge. • These inadequate facilities and the lack of incentives to improve them also lead to low R&D efforts to promote local technologies and hamper a restructuring of the economy. • The industrial performance is immenselyundermined by the shortage of capital, skilled workers and lack of entrepreneur perspective and culture. • The provision of education and training are seriously undermined by the low commitment to the standardised international adequacy, equity, efficiency criterion related to supply-demand sides of education and training policies

8. The use and economic impact of ICT in Sudan: Aims of the Research • Analyse the use and economic impact of the use of ICT in public and private Sudanese universities. In particular: (1) Examine from public-private perspective, the status, pattern, structure and determinants of the demand for ICT in public and private Sudanese universities. (2) explain the role of ICT in facilitating the production, creation and transfer of knowledge in Sudanese universities and collaboration with international knowledge institutions. (3) investigate from the public-private perspectives the impacts of ICT: the potential opportunities and challenges that ICT is expected to create for public and private Sudanese universities.

9. The use and economic impact of ICT in Sudan: Relevance and Contribution of the Research • Fill the gap in the Sudanese literature by focusing on Supply-demand analysis of the use and impact of ICT. • Macro-Micro analysis of the supply of and demand for ICT. • Public –private comparative analysis of the use and economic impact of ICT in public and private Sudanese universities. • Integrating three different perspectives of academic teaching staff, support staff and students in Sudanese universities. • Potential opportunities and challenges that ICT is expected to create and role of ICT for enhancing the creation and transfer of knowledge in universities institution in Sudan.

10. The use and economic impact of ICT in Sudan: Research Methodology • Secondary and primary data: public-private Sudanese universities 2009. • Primary data: ICT university survey and interviews undertaken in Sudan in 2009 in 10 public (5) and private (5) Sudanese universities . • ICT university survey: 131 academic teaching staff, support staff and students in 10 public-private Sudanese universities . • Examines the use and economic impact of the use of ICT in public and private Sudanese universities. • High response rate of ICT University survey for: • All academic teaching staff, support staff and students (85%). • Academic teaching staff (81%). • Sectors: public (82%) and private (77%). • Support staff (100%). • Students (100%).

11. The use and economic impact of ICT in Sudan: Main Results • Rapid growth, significant structural change in demand for ICT in Sudan . • The demand for the four ICT modes for public-private universities staff in Sudan is determined by income, education attainment level and gender. • The use of ICT facilitates connections, enhances access to and transfer of knowledge in Sudanese universities and facilitates collaboration between international universities and Sudanese universities. • Positive significant correlations (complementary relationships between the demand for the four ICT modes for public and private universities staff. • The use of ICT introduces some opportunities and challenges for the creation and transfer of knowledge in Sudanese universities. • Major policy implication: it is essential for policy making in Sudan and Sudanese universities to enhance the use and impacts of ICT, mainly by: • Motivating the efficient use of ICT for creation and transfer of knowledge. • Enhancing quality and accumulation of human capital and skill. • Offering adequate budget for enhancing ICT in Sudanese Universities.

12. Comments are welcome, thanks for Your Kind Attention