Events

College of Professional Studies Holds a Conference on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Development

January 04, 2007 - January 06, 2007 12:00 PM
Mandovi Hotel, Panjim, Goa, India

A  Conference on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Development organized by the Division of Mass Communication, Journalism, Television and Film of the College of Professional Studies, St. John’s University, New York in collaboration with the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, India

Date
January 4 to 6, 2007
The conference will begin January 4 at 5 p.m. followed by dinner, and end on the evening of January 6 followed by dinner.

Location
Mandovi Hotel, Panjim, Goa, India
The organizers are unable to make hotel accommodations for the participants.
All hotels in Panaji/Panjim are within walking distance of Hotel Mandovi.  Please check the following Web site for more information.

Target-audience: students as well as researchers, educators, social workers, ICT people, NGOs, policy makers,

Registration
Limited number of seats.
Fee: Rps 200 payable to Diocesan Center for Social Communication Media

Contact Information
Basilio G. Monteiro, Ph.D.
College of Professional Studies
Division of Communications, Journalism, Television and Film
(718) 990-6807
monteirb@stjohns.edu

J. Loiola Pereira or Raymond Antao
P.O Box 216
Panjim, Goa 403 001
India
Tel: (0832)242-2653, 222-3353, 222-5291
Fax: (0832) 222-4139
E-mail: dcscmgoa@gmail.comloiola50@gmail.com

Objectives

  • to generate a robust public discourse about and understanding of
    development affecting peoples’ lives in India
  • to examine how communication technologies and strategies are
    being used to promote specific development projects
  • to assess the kind of development initiatives taking place and
    ascertain if they promote sustainable development
  • to determine what role individuals play in shaping the type and
    process of development in a given community
  • to assess the forms of communication technologies accessible to
    various communities and what solutions may be appropriate

The Overriding Issue

  • What is development in the Indian context?
    “My second vision for India is DEVELOPMENT.  For fifty years we have been a developing nation.  It is time we see ourselves as a developed nation.  We are among the top 5 nations of the world in terms of GDP.  We have 10 percent growth rate in most areas.  Our poverty levels are falling.  Our achievements are being globally recognized today.  Yet we lack the self-confidence to see ourselves as a developed nation, self-reliant and self-assured.”
    Dr. A.P.J. Kalam, President of India. 

Given the vastness and the complexity of Indian society, its unique multifaceted pluralism, and its regionalism steeped deep in socio-religious traditions, it is important that we first strive to understand what may constitute development in the context of India.
 
 
 Proposed specific issues

  • Communication and Promotion of Human Rights
  • Communication, Development and Environment
  • Communication, Development and Sustainable Development
  • Communication, Development and Women’s Issues
  • Communication, Development and Children
  • Communication, Development and Health

Speakers

Ms. Therese Gastaut (based in Geneva)
formerly with the UN, Director of WSIS

Dr. Jack Phelan, Professor
Fordham University, NY (USA)

Dr. Kevin Rioux, Professor
St. John's University, NY (USA)

Dr. Basilio Monteiro, Professor
St. John's University, NY (USA) 

Mr. Joseph C. Donnelley, Representative of Caritas Internationalis
Rome, at the UN

Ms. Corinne Woods
UNICEF Regional Communication Officer (India)

Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwalla
IIT- Madras

Dr. Freddie D’Souza, Director, Social Development
Catholic Bishops Conference of India

Dr. K. Subramanian, Deputy Director General at National Informatics Center
Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, New Delhi, 

Dr. Haridas Varikottil
Caritas-India, New Delhi

Mr. Frederick Noronha
Bytesforall.org, Goa

Ms. Akhila Sivadas
Centre for Advocacy and Research, New Delhi

Dr. Peter R. D'Souza, Co-Director, Lokniti
Institute for Comparative Democracy, Programme of Centre for the Study of Developing  Societies New Delhi

Dr. Anibel Ferus-Comelo
Labor researcher and educator, Goa