Knowledge Societies and the Role of Information Communication Technology in Education
Lecture by:
Indrajit BANERJEE / UNESCO, Paris / Knowledge Society Division
Discussion with:
Gabriele ESCHIG / AT UNESCO Commission
Roberta MAIERHOFER / Center for the Study of the Americas
Josef MARKO / Dean of the Facutly of Law
Peter SCHERRER / Vice Rector for Research
Presentation:
Dieter W. HALWACHS / Plurilingualism Research Unit
Knowledge societies are not limited to the information society.
The idea of the information society is based on technlological breakthroughs. The concept of knowledge societies encompasses much broader social, ethical and political dimensions. There is a multitude of such dimensions which rules out the idea of any single, ready-made model, for such a model would not take sufficient account of cultural and linguistic diversity, vital if individuals are to feel at home in a changing world. Various forms of knowledge and culture always enter into the building of any society, including those strongly influenced by scientific progress and modern technology. It would be inadmissable to envisage the information and communication revolution leading - through a narrow, fatalistic technological determinism - to a single possible form of society.
A knowledge society is a society that is nutured by its diversity and its capacities.
Knowledge societies are built upon four pillars which will be targeted in the discussion:
- QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL
- UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE
- FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
- LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Furthermore, the discussion will deal with the role of universities in building knowledge societies.
Indrajit BANERJEE is director of UNESCO’s Knowledge Society Division (KSD) which is responsible for the coordination of UNESCO’s overall contribution to the follow-up to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). KSD promotes the application of ICTs to enhance the quality of and access to education, build scientific knowledge, promote open access to scientific research results, and empower local communities. It also promotes free and open source software, open web and open standards, as well as protects documentary heritage through the Memory of the World Programme. It fosters the role of libraries and archives and is responsible for further strengthening of the World Digital Library. The Division is composed of two sections:
- The Section for ICT in Education, Science and Culture (KSD/ICT)
- The Section for Universal Access and Preservation(KSD/UAP)
KSD also hosts the the secretariat for the Information for All Programme (IFAP).