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Digital Dividend Digest vol. 36
January 22, 2004
CONTENTS
1. New "What Works" Case Study Released:
Building Social Capital with Aptech's Vidya
2. New
in the Digital Dividend Clearinghouse: e-Health
Initiative, Think.com Egypt, IT-enabled Disaster Management
3. Special Opportunity:
infoDev Incubator Initiative
1. New "What Works" Case
Study Released: Building Social Capital with Aptech's Vidya
Vidya, Hindi for “knowledge,” is a computer literacy
program run by Aptech Ltd. Aptech launched the Vidya program
in 1999 to expand its course catalog beyond the company’s
core offerings targeted at computer professionals and corporate
markets. Vidya allows Aptech to reach underprivileged students,
casual computer users, and retirees. The course is profitable,
though with lower margins than most of Aptech’s offerings.
However, Vidya acts as a feeder for higher level courses offered
by Aptech and has increased Aptech’s market share in
the IT training/education market in India, opened new markets,
particularly in state and national governments and schools,
and helped to pave the way for increased international expansion.
The success of Vidya has been based on a replicable and effective
business model, a highly motivated management and franchise
team, and excellent course material.
2. New in the
Digital Dividend
Clearinghouse: e-Health Initiative, Think.com
Egypt, IT-enabled Disaster Management
Seven new projects have been entered since the last Digest.
Among the highlights:
e-Health Initiative
The e-Health initiative launched by the e-Health Institute
with support from Digital Partners India, aims to ensure uniformly
accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare for rural
populations by using information and communication technology
(ICTs) enablers with existing public health services.
Think.com Egypt
Think.com is a free, Web-based environment for primary and
secondary students and teachers, designed to help schools
incorporate educational technology into their teaching methods.
Specifically, Think.com provides teachers and students with
personal, protected e-mail accounts and Web pages where text,
images, and online discussions can be hosted.
IT-enabled Disaster Management
In conjunction with Syria's Ministry of Local Administration,
UNDP Syria is working to develop an online disaster management
database that will help the nation's 14 governorates respond
appropriately to natural and manmade disasters.
3. Special Opportunity:
The
Tech Museum Awards
The Tech Museum Awards is currently seeking nominations
for innovators from around the world who are using technology
to benefit humanity. A unique and prestigious program, The
Tech Museum Awards will honor 25 Laureates at The Tech Museum
Awards Gala on November 10, 2004, in San Jose, California,
USA. Awards are presented in the categories of education,
equality, environment, economic development, and health. One
Laureate in each category will be awarded a US$50,000 cash
prize. Nomination deadline is April 5, 2004.
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