The Joensuu ICT4D Symposium 2008
The 3rd Annual International Postgraduate Symposium was held in Finland at the University of Joensuu, 7-9 of September 2008. The focus on the third symposium was on ICT4D research, including private sector initiatives and new developmental policy approach of Finland.
This year's program included group discussions and events which encouraged informal discussions and sharing of research experiences. The presentations reflected a multidisciplinary nature in the area of ICT4D, ranging from e-health, e-governance, community development and e-learning. The presenters were students at Master and PhD level and lecturers representing various universities across the globe. They received individual feedback from research content to presentation skills. Florence Kivunike, a PhD student at DSV-Stockholm University who was one of the presenters believes that such feedback in an informal setting improves the students' research undertaking and allows a check for progress, which is an important goal of the IPID network. Evelyn Kahiigi also a PhD student at the same institution further elaborates that IPID network has grown into a family, that supports social connectivity and as a result people have matured in their research.
The symposium was supported by Finnish Universities' Partnership for International Development network (UniPID), with 60 participants from over 20 countries. The Keynote speakers were Professor Tim Unwin, UNESCO Chair in ICT4D, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK and Professor Seugnet Blignaut; North West University, South Africa. The 4th IPID Symposium is scheduled to take place in September 2009 in Barcelona, Spain.
