বিজ্ঞানী.অর্গ বিজ্ঞানী, প্রযুক্তিবিদ ও পেশাজীবিদের মিলনকেন্দ্র
The University of Manchester's Brooks World Poverty Institute announces a
series of scholarships for PhD study on poverty analysis starting in
academic year 2007/8. This can include study on the relation between ICTs
and poverty.
To be considered for these scholarships, candidates will need to apply to
study for a PhD via the normal University process (see details at:
http://www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/bwpi/postgradchol/). All components
of the application must be completed by 31 January 2007.
Application needs to include a PhD proposal written by the candidate. This
can relate to any aspect of the relation between ICTs and poverty but must
have a strong poverty dimension. The topic areas shown below are for
illustrative purposes only.
Note that the competition for scholarships covers all areas of poverty
research, not just ICT-related. Competition is open to all for the four
main scholarships; there are two additional PhD scholarships intended for US
and Sri Lankan nationals.
Illustrative topic areas for research on the relation between ICTs and
poverty:
– ICTs and poverty reduction: general research on the potential and
actuality of ICTs to deliver poverty-reducing projects; who actually
benefits from such projects?
– IT outsourcing to poor communities: implications of new business models
that are outsourcing IT-based work to individual and cooperative enterprises
in poor communities: who benefits? are these models sustainable and
scalable?
– Technologies of connection and social inclusion/exclusion in poor, remote
communities: remote communities are often the seats of chronic poverty yet
they are gradually being penetrated by "technologies of connection" – roads;
mobile communications; wi-fi/Internet connectivity. Do these increase or
reduce the social exclusion of such communities?
– Mobile communications and poverty: understanding the poverty implications
posed by the growing penetration of mobile technologies into poor
communities.
– ICT infrastructures and poverty: how are the particular needs and
interests of the poor included or excluded from policy-making and
implementation about information society infrastructures in developing
countries?
– Technology, hope and empowerment: we have field and anecdotal evidence
that involvement with new technologies brings hope to the disempowered poor.
Is this true; is this a sustainable impact; and what poverty-affecting
impact (if any) does hope have?
– ICTs, poverty and capabilities: using the lens of Sen's capabilities
approach, how can we understand the potential of ICTs in impacting the
livelihoods of the poor?
– Using GIS and other information systems for poverty mapping and analysis:
how effective are these systems? can their use be linked to positive poverty
outcomes?
For further details, please see:
http://www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/bwpi/postgradchol/
Successful candidates would join the University's twelve-strong Development
Informatics Group that researches, consults and teaches on a wide variety of
issues linking ICTs and socio-economic development. For specific enquiries
about PhD study on ICTs and poverty with the Development Informatics Group,
please contact Dr Richard Duncombe
