Countries in the SADC region are currently grappling with a number of issues relating to ICT policies and working on establishing national and regional policies that are in the best interests of developing countries. There is a need for graduates who understand the process of policy formation and who can contribute to this in a meaningful way. There is currently no unit in the BITS degree that examines these issues and this unit seeks to adress that omission.

This is a third year elective unit in the BITS. It is introduced primarily for students on the South African campus although it may be extended to other campuses if there is a demand. The unit complements the BITS degree with any specialisation since it addresses a need for all IT practitioners to be familiar with policy issues and to be able to critically consider the impact of policy on the implementation, growth and use of ICTs in the region.

The School of IT on the South African campus has an obligation to local accrediting authorities to produce local content that is relevant to African graduates. The addition of this unit is in line with that strategy.

Objectives should be written in terms of learning outcomes for the student.

It is a useful practice to commence an objective with the

Objectives should be measurable.

One way of achieving this is to avoid the use of broad or

Learning Domains for Objectives

There are four learning domains that categorise learning

References:

Bloom, B.S. (Ed) (1956 - 1964). Taxonomy of educational

Simpson, E. (1972). The classification of educational

http://wwww.nwlink.com/~donclark/hd/bloom.html

Knowledge

To make students aware of current developments in national and regional ICT policies in the SADC region.

To make students aware of the elements that could form part of a national ICT policy.

To make students aware of case studies of national ICT policy in other countries and the impact of applying them.

Analysis

To enable students to analyse the policy developments for countries in the SADC region. To enable students to analyse the impact of policies in different countries.

Synthesis

To enable students to adapt and apply lessons learned from ICT policies in other countries to the situation of countries in the SADC region.

Evaluation

To enable students to critically evaluate existing and proposed policies for appropriateness and effectiveness.

Students appreciate the importance of policy development in shaping and directing the implementation of ICTs.

Students engage in debate around the value of ICTs for developing countries and the role they ought to play in relation to economic development and quality of life.

Students are able to recognise, compare and critically evaluate the value systems that underlie policies and policy development.

Students are able to articulate their own beliefs and values relating to the role of ICT in the future of the SADC countries and to relate these to policy development for the region.

Students are able to use a variety of sources to find information about ICT policies and the development and impact of policies.

Students are able to read and digest detailed policy documents, identify relevant portions of documents and summarise key points of policy documents.

Students are able to explain policy issues clearly in both written and verbal forms.

Students are able to listen to discussions of policy issues and absorb the information presented verbally.

Students are able to listen, discuss and argue for particular positions to arrive at a common understanding of issues.

This unit examines the development and implementation of ICT policies at a national and regional level for the South African Development Community (SADC) region. It examines the notion of the digital divide, means of measuring and tracking development in the levels of ICT use and the current ICT infrastructure in use in Africa.

It considers what elements go into policy formulation and examines what policies are in place within SADC countries. It discussed the developments towards regional policies and how they relate to global use and regulation of ICT. It examines case studies of other developed and developing countries to assess the impact of policy on national development priorities.

This unit will be taught on-campus.

Assignment 60%

Exam (3 hours) 40%

Judy Backhouse

+27 11 950 4130

judy.backhouse@infotech.monash.edu

Judy Backhouse

+27 11 950 4130

judy.backhouse@infotech.monash.edu