Community, Technology
April 01 2000
by Briefing TeamMicrosoft gets into schools
At the start of February, Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates, announced a donation of £1 million over three years to a new 'e-learning foundation' to help British schools buy portable computers for all pupils. The scheme exploits the foundation's charitable status to make VAT savings as a purchaser of computers and recipient of tax efficient donations from better-off parents. The aim over five years is to help low income householders buy lap-top computers which children can take to school.
Microsoft is also extending nationwide its Anytime Anywhere Learning programme, already tested in 28 schools. Run with partners such as Dell , Toshiba , Sony , Fujitsu , Hewlett Packard and Research Machines, the programme helps to provide computers to schools. Evaluation of the pilots by Lancaster University found considerable improvements to pupil's learning and teacher/pupil/parent relationships. Contact Microsoft on 020 8242 4242 (http://www.microsoft.com/uk)
UK- the future
A major new Digital Futures initiative was launched in February to explore the social and environmental impacts of e-commerce, looking ahead to 2010. Led by a consortium of companies, government departments and think-tanks, it is focusing on social inclusion, energy use, transport and the planning of towns and cities. The aim is to develop an 'agenda for a sustainable digital economy' with detailed recommendations for action. Among company backers are BP Amoco, BT, Kingfisher, Nationwide, NatWest, Sun Microsystems and Unilever. Think-tanks include Forum for the Future (which is co-ordinating the study), Demos, Green Alliance and the New Economics Foundation. Contact James Wilsdon, Forum for the Future, on 01242 262010 (http://www.greenfutures.org.uk)
Government intervenes in IT skills race
The UK government is encouraging companies to bid for funds from a new £252 million scheme to improve access to IT skills, targeting people in disadvantaged communities. The aim is to set up 700 information and communications technology (ICT) learning centres around the country and to test unusual ways of getting people to use IT - venues could include local pubs, mobile units and football clubs. The National Lottery is contributing £100 million towards running costs.
The initiative follows a survey published by the minister for learning and technology, Michael Wills MP, at the end of January. This showed that nine in ten new jobs require computing skills, but half of lower socio-economic groups (52%) describe their computing knowledge as non-existent. Contact DfEE Enquiries on 020 7925 5555 (http://www.dfee.gov.uk)
Cisco tackles digital divide
Cisco Systems, the world's largest maker of Internet equipment, is teaming with the UK Department for International Development to improve education in developing countries. The initiative, announced March 27, will explore how new technologies can improve teacher training, skills levels and knowledge-sharing, particularly in Africa. Involving other businesses and charities, it will make proposals to Commonwealth education ministers at their meeting in November.
In a separate initiative, Cisco has joined with the World Bank's Business Partners for Development programme to develop career opportunities worldwide. Announced on February 25, the initiative will develop Cisco's existing Networking Academy Program, which trains people in networking and Internet skills, into more remote areas, beginning in the Philippines. Contact Debbie Bruce, Cisco Systems, on 00 1 408 527 1732 (http://www.cisco.com)
Intel targets teachers
Intel has announced a major programme to train teachers in using technology in the classroom, to be rolled out in 20 countries over the next three years with a target of helping 400,000 teachers. The Intel Teach to the Future program will be based on Intel's existing ACE project, which has trained 3,200 teachers in nine communities in partnership with Microsoft , Hewlett Packard and the Institute for Computer Technology.
The new scheme will be managed and funded by Intel, with input from Microsoft (software) and Hewlett Packard (connections with training agencies). The total value of hardware and software is estimated to be $500 million at retail values Contact Graham Palmer, Intel, on 01793 403003 (http://www.intel.com/education)
Clinton: digital divide a top priority
US President Clinton's proposed 2001 budget, published on February 2, called on companies to help close the 'digital divide'. Included in the package were $2 billion in tax breaks over the next ten years to encourage companies to donate computers and sponsor community technology centres, and $380 million in grants for teacher training and computer access for low income families. Contact The White House on 00 1 202 456 1414 (http://www.whitehouse.gov)
Conference Board call to action
The US Conference Board has issued a report calling for high-tech companies to help close the divide between Internet 'haves' and 'have-nots'. Community Connections: Strategic Partnerships in the Digital Industries notes that the private sector has the most important role to play in realising the goal of making Internet access universal. It calls for corporations to partner with NGOs in targeting lower-income groups. Contact Conference Board on 00 1 212 339 0345 (http://www.conference-board.org)
Comment
The Conference Board weakens its case by focusing attention only on 'new media' companies. As our stories show, that industry is moving fast to get stuck in with multi-million dollar global projects, often personally led by dynamic CEOs. The fact they have a direct commercial interest in wiring up the world only adds to their drive and determination.
Instead, the real question is what the rest of business is doing to address the digital divide. After all, there are more ICT specialists in the major banks, retailers and accountancy firms, for example, than in the computer manufacturers and software companies together, who are generally not big employers. Modern business depends on huge technology systems with in-house expertise and the question is how to apply this to the task of overcoming social exclusion.
The difficult issue is not the equipment but access to skills and inspiring confidence among dispossessed groups and generations. For instance, IBM has long stopped donating equipment without software, training and personal support from its employee volunteers. Companies like Ford, which is equipping every worker with a PC, recognise that ICT skills are increasingly vital at every level of the production process. Much early corporate social responsibility focused on simple literacy and then numeracy among workforce communities; now the challenge is computer capability and all industry sectors should be asking what they can do to help.