UNESCO projects for promoting the contribution of information and communication technologies to the development of education, science and culture and the construction of a knowledge society
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) play a significant role in all the fields of competence of UNESCO. ICTs open up new horizons for progress and the exchange of knowledge, education and training, and for the promotion of creativity and intercultural dialogue.
With ICTs, the opportunities to accomplish the Organization's core missions to promote “the free exchange of ideas and knowledge” and to “maintain, increase and diffuse knowledge” have possibly never been greater.
Nevertheless, the growing digital divide is actually leading to greater inequalities in development. This is giving rise to paradoxical situations where those who have the greatest need of them disadvantaged groups, rural communities, illiterate populations, or even entire countries do not have access to the tools which would enable them to become fully fledged members of the knowledge society
Education, science and culture are at the heart of the trend towards a knowledge society as are the media and information; thus all UNESCO sectors have a role to play in this process. UNESCO must apply itself precisely where the impact of ICTs is most strongly felt: in the activities and products of the human mind. Its approach must unfailingly incorporate all the sociocultural and ethnic dimensions and help to bridge the digital divide by placing the individual at the centre of development objectives.
Within this framework four strategic objectives will be pursued:
- agreeing on common principles for the construction of knowledge societies;
- enhancing learning opportunities through access to diversified contents and delivery systems;
- strengthening capacities for scientific research, information-sharing and cultural exchanges;
- promoting the use of ICTs for capacity-building, empowerment, governance and social participation.
In order to take up this challenge, 13 projects on the contribution of ICTs to the development of education, science and culture are being implemented by UNESCO in 2002/03, in addition to other ICT activities carried out by the different sectors of the Organization.
