Ana Maria Gonzalez Ramos - The diaspora of highly skilled ICT workers

Ana Maria Gonzalez Ramos - The diaspora of highly skilled ICT workers - contribution to economic development

Information and Communication Technologies are spreading very rapidly at varying rates according to each specific technology. Globally, nearly one in four people are connected to the Internet. In the case of mobile telephony, incidence is higher, with two mobile phone lines for every three people.

Penetration, however, is not the same throughout the world. Although penetration in developing countries is lower, the impact of mobile telephony is being felt already and is gradually reaching wide segments of the population in both urban and rural areas. The new possibilities that are opening up in this new scenario need to be analysed carefully, assessing the advantages as well as the risks involved. Thus, along with capacities for communications and interconnections, it is also possible to find new interdependencies, both real and symbolic. It is not surprising that the arrival of ICT is more pronounced in many countries that have experienced high levels of emigration.

An analysis of this phenomenon can be carried out from different perspectives: sociological, anthropological, communication sciences, economics, etc. Each one would contribute a different perspective and emphasise specific research questions that, while each study's central issue would be the same, they could be coordinated and integrated into a common perspective.

The objective of the conference is to promote debate about the influence that the spread of ITC, (specifically mobile phones and the Internet) may have on the social and economic development of Latin America and Africa and, in particular, amongst the most vulnerable segments of the population. The conference aims to review the status of this topic within a subject that needs further, in-depth, exploration. It also aims to stimulate debate about the key topics related to this new direction that a great many countries are just starting to follow.

The event seeks to embark on a joint reflection involving actors from developing countries and regions in Latin America and Africa in order to study what and how much is known about the real effects that communications technologies (especially mobile phones and the Internet) are having on the economic and social development of their populations. The participation of prestigious researchers representing different perspectives, disciplines and regions will provide a wide frame of reference for the current status of the issue.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Ana
• Maria
• Gonzalez
• Ramos
• IN3
• uoc
• universitat
• oberta
• catalunya