DV483      Half Unit
Information Communication Technologies and Socio-economic Development

This information is for the 2018/19 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Shirin Madon CON.8.13

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in African Development, MSc in Development Management, MSc in Development Studies, MSc in Health and International Development, MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies, MSc in Management of Information Systems and Digital Innovation and MSc in Media, Communication and Development. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Course content

This is an interdisciplinary course about understanding the role played by Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) towards achieving developmental goals. We begin by reviewing dominant theoretical perspectives on development identifying assumptions held about the role of information, communication and technologies. Using this as our critical frame of reference, we focus on a variety of current topics including global software outsourcing, e-commerce/m-commerce, mobiles for smallholder agriculture, ICT and education, e-governance, health informatics, social media and collective action, ICT and humanitarianism.

Teaching

15 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT.

In addition, there will be a one hour revision session in late LT.

There will be a reading week in Week 6.

Formative coursework

Students will be invited to submit an abstract of their summative essay for written comments.

Indicative reading

Avgerou, C. (2010) Discourses on ICT and Development, Information Technologies and International Development, 6, 3, pp. 1-18.

 

Brown, A. and Grant, G. (2010) Highlighting the Duality of the ICT and Development Research Agenda, Information Technology for Development, 16, 2, pp. 96-111.

Assessment

Exam (70%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.
Essay (30%, 3000 words) in the ST.

Student performance results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 21.2
Merit 55.3
Pass 23.5
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: International Development

Total students 2017/18: 32

Average class size 2017/18: 16

Controlled access 2017/18: Yes

Lecture capture used 2017/18: Yes (LT)

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication

Course survey results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 59%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

1.5

Materials (Q2.3)

1.5

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.5

Integration (Q2.6)

1.3

Contact (Q2.7)

1.4

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.5

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

90%

Maybe

10%

No

0%