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: [log in to unmask]
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