Information communication technologies and distance education in Sri Lanka: a case study of two universities

Sri Lanka's participation rates in higher education are low and have risen only slightly in the last few decades; the number of places for higher education in the state university system only caters for around 3% of the university entrant age cohort. The literature reveals that the highly competitive global knowledge economy increasingly favours workers with high levels of education who are also lifelong learners. This lack of access to higher education for a sizable proportion of the labour force is identified as a severe impediment to Sri Lanka‟s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy. The literature also suggests that Information and Communication Technologies are increasingly relied upon in many contexts in order to deliver flexible learning, to cater especially for the needs of lifelong learners in today‟s higher educational landscape. The government of Sri Lanka invested heavily in ICTs for distance education during the period 2003-2009 in a bid to increase access to higher education; but there has been little research into the impact of this. To address this lack, this study investigated the impact of ICTs on distance education in Sri Lanka with respect to increasing access to higher education. In order to achieve this aim, the research focused on Sri Lanka‟s effort from three perspectives: policy perspective, implementation perspective and user perspective. A multiple case study research using an ethnographic approach was conducted to observe Orange Valley University‟s and Yellow Fields University‟s (pseudonymous) implementation of distance education programmes using questionnaires, qualitative interviewing and document analysis. In total, data for the analysis was collected from 129 questionnaires, 33 individual interviews and 2 group interviews. The research revealed that ICTs have indeed increased opportunities for higher education; but mainly for people of affluent families from the Western Province. Issues identified were categorized under the themes: quality assurance, location, language, digital literacies and access to resources. Recommendations were offered to tackle the identified issues in accordance with the study findings. The study also revealed the strong presence of a multifaceted digital divide in the country. In conclusion, this research has shown that iii although ICT-enabled distance education has the potential to increase access to higher education the present implementation of the system in Sri Lanka has been less than successful.

Training and the commitment of outsourced information technologies' workers: psychological contract fulfillment as a mediator

Outsourced workers in information technologies (IT) generally have high skills and a high value on the job market. Their IT outsourcing organizations are likely to provide them with training, in the first place for skill development, but perhaps also as a way to bind the workers to them. This can be understood along the role of the psychological contract. Outsourced IT workers may see training as a fulfillment of their psychological contract. Accordingly, we hypothesize that psychological contract fulfillment mediates the relationship between training and affective commitment to the IT outsourcer. This was tested in a sample of 158 Portuguese outsourced IT workers. The results showed that employees who considered that they were receiving good training opportunities felt a greater affective commitment to their IT outsourcers. This relationship was mediated by the fulfillment of the relational psychological contract.

Youth and social cohesion in Ibero-America: a model in the making. Summary

Includes bibliography

Reestructuración y revitalización de las Naciones Unidas en las esferas económica y social: información actualizada sobre sus consecuencias para la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe = Restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic and social fields: an update on its impact on the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean = Restructuration et revitalisation de l'Organisation des Nations Unies dans les domaines économique et social: information actualisée sur les repercussions pour la CEPALC

Incluye Bibliografía

Séptima Conferencia Regional sobre la Integración de la Mujer en el Desarrollo Económico y Social de América Latina y el Caribe: folleto informativo = Seventh Session of the Regional Conference on the Integration of Women into the Economic and Social Development of Latin America and the Caribbean: background information

Incluye Bibliografía

Caribbean Information System for Economic and Social Planning: CARISPLAN

Includes bibliography

Caribbean Information System for Economic and Social Planning (CARISPLAN): Institution Authority File

Breve reseña del archivo de autoridad de autores institucionales del Sistema de Información para el Caribe en Materia de Planificación Económica y Social.

Caribbean Information System-Economic and Social Planning (CARISPLAN): final report: phase I, period 1 May 1979-31 December 1980

Includes bibliography