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Briefing Sheet

Quick guide: ICT and education at the Asian Development Bank

This Quick guide is part of infoDev's series of informal Quick guides to resources and work on ICTs and education in international institutions and donor agencies.  Information presented here has been gathered by infoDev from publicly-available documents and should not be considered to be endorsed by the subject organization.

The Asian Development Bank is becoming increasingly active in funding education projects with ICT components.

ADB is current funding a regional project (TA 6278) on Innovative Information and Communications Technology in Education, and Its Potential for Reducing Poverty in the Asia and Pacific Region
http://www.adb.org/Documents/PRF/reg/ta6278-reg.asp

As part of this work, ADB/ADBI sponsored a general conference on ICT use in education in the region in October 2007:

Recent Documents

ADB has produced a useful overview of Information and Communication Technologies in Education and Training in Asia and the Pacific (2005)
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Reports/ICT-Education-Training/default.asp
2005

ADB ICT Strategy and Education Policy (2005)
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Reports/ICT-Education-Training/chap6.pdf

Technical Assistance Report: Innovative Information and Communications Technology in Education, and Its Potential for Reducing Poverty in the Asia and Pacific Region (2005)
http://www.adb.org/Documents/TARs/REG/39035-REG-TAR.pdf

Recent ICT/Education news  from ADB:

ADB Grant to Support Use of Innovative ICT in Education
http://www.adb.org/media/Articles/2006/9369-regional-education/
23 February 2006

ADB to Help Integrate ICT into Basic Education in Uzbekistan
http://www.adb.org/Media/Articles/2005/8765_Uzbekistan_education/
10 November 2005

ADB President Signs Loan for ICT Education Project
http://www.adb.org/Media/Articles/2005/8767_Uzbekistan_education/
10 November 2005

Using ICT to Improve Rural Education in Mongolia
http://www.adb.org/Media/Articles/2004/5422_Mongolia_ICT_for_better_rural_education/
14 July 2004

Japan Establishes Fund for Information and Communication Technology
http://www.adb.org/Documents/News/2001/nr2001079.asp
31 July 2001

Recent Projects

The best source of targeted information on ABDB projects with ICT/Education components can be found in ADB Projects Reviewed for Information and Communications Technology Components
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Reports/ICT-Education-Training/appendices.pdf

Here is a partial listing of these projects:
(note full project summaries are available at http://www.adb.org/Projects/summaries.asp)

  • Regional: Innovative Information and Communications Technology in Education, and its Potential for Reducing Poverty in the Asia and Pacific Region (RETA-6278)
    February 2006
  • Bangladesh: Teaching Quality Improvement (TQI) in Secondary Education Project (PPTA: BAN26061-01)
    January 2004
  • Samoa: Supporting the Samoa SchoolNet and Community Access Pilot Project (AOTA: SAM 36513-02)
    December 2003
  • Sri Lanka: Distance Education Modernization (SRI 33251)
    May 2003
  • Sri Lanka: Community Information Services for the Poor (TA: SRI 36511-01)
    May 2003
  • Mongolia: ICT for Innovating Rural Education in Mongolia (MON36245-01)
    January 2003
  • Thailand: Secondary Education Development Project (TA: THA 35253-01)
    December 2002
  • Uzbekistan: Education Sector Development Project (ESDP) (LOAN: UZB 34160-02)
    December 2002
  • Uzbekistan: Education Sector Development Program (LOAN: UZB 34160-01)
    December 2002
  • Nepal: Skills for Employment Project (TA: NEP 36611-01)
    December 2002
  • Regional: Development of Business Plan for a Center for Learning, Information, Communication, and Knowledge (CLICK) for Asia and the Pacific (REG 36632-01)
    December 2002
  • Sri Lanka: School Computerization (TA: SRI 35192-01)
    November 2002
  • Nepal: Secondary Education Support Project (Loan: NEP 34022-01)
    September 2002
  • Maldives: Information Technology Development (Loan: MLD 34276-01)
    December 2001
  • Regional: Information and Communication Technology Assessment in the Pacific (TA No. 5990-REG)
    July 2001
  • Sri Lanka: Post Secondary Education (TA: SRI 33251-01)
    December 2000
  • Maldives: Information Technology Development (TA: MLD 34276-01)
    December 2000
  • Indonesia: Technological & Professional Skills Development (LOAN: INO 31081-01)
    November 2000
  • Sri Lanka: Secondary Education Modernization Project (TA: SRI 33245-01)
    August 1999
  • Mongolia: Second Education Development (LOAN: MON31213-01)
    May 1998

Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI)

The Tokyo-based Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) sponsors applied research and policy seminars to disseminate thinking about best practices, and a range of capacity building and training initiatives in developing economies in the Asia-Pacific region..

The capacity building and training group publishes all conference and seminar materials related to an activity as well as reviews of development-related CD-ROMs.  The easiest way to locate materials with ICT/education themse is to browse the ADBI catalog for resources related to education:

http://www.adbi.org/catalog/index.php?tab=4&modid=581&breadcrumblabel=Education

Recent materials include:

    • IT for M-Learning in Developing Countries
    • Opportunities and Issues of M-Learning in Developing Asia and the Pacific
    • Use of Satellites for Expanding Educational Opportunities
    • Why We Need to Cultivate E-Learning Professionals?
    • Exploring M-Learning Academic Initiatives in North America and Europe
    • Mobile Campus Solutions
    • Introduction to Mobile Learning Tools
    • M-Learning in a University Setting
    • Cyber Extension Centers: Turning ICT Promise into Reality
    • E-Learning in Rural Community
    • Future Opportunities in M-Learning
    • Global Development Learning Network: How it Works

Two ADBI courses with ICT/education themes were delivered in 2006:

    • Developing E-Learning Contents - Regional Workshop
    • E-Learning Policies: Pilot Course

In 2007, ADB/ADBI sponsored a general conference on ICT use in education in the region:

view ADBI course catalog:
 http://www.adbi.org/course.catalog/

By M. Trucano.

Learn more: Education

Activity file: Quick Guide to ICT & Education Work Supported by International Donor Agencies