[FoME] ICT4Democracy "summer"school 9-15 March 2014

[Christoph Dietz]

Jakob Svensson jakob.svensson at im.uu.se
( mailto:jakob.svensson at im.uu.se) 
ICT4Democracy
Summer School 2014
March 9-15, 2014
New Delhi, India
www.serd.org.in/summerschool2014 

Organized by:
Society for Education and Research Development -India
& HumanIT, Karlstad University -Sweden

in Collaboration with

Institut für Publizistikwissenschaft und Medienforschung, Univesity of 

Zürich ,Switzerland
FH Applied Science University Vienna, Austria
Asia-Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi, India
Donau Universität, Krems, Austria
Uppsala University, Sweden

Introduction

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have emerged as
powerful tools for reaching to the ever-increasing information demands
of the society. The increasing diversity of ICTs and their equally
diverse applications in different domains of human life are posing a lot
of questions every moment. Researchers around the globe are working to
take-up these questions and challenges. This summer school is focused
upon political aspects of ICTs and in particular their role in political
and democratic development. The developments of E-government and
E-services have been remarkable the last five years and when it comes to
ICTs for social and political change, the recent popular uprisings in
North Africa and the Middle East have provided us with examples of how
information circulation using online platforms can induce processes of
democratization and political developments.

We are especially inviting participation from students who are at the
stage of preparing their doctoral or masters' theses qualifications as
well as activists, government officials, practitioners, NGO and aid
agency workers to participate in the summer school to share experiences
and learn from each other. The school is interactive in character, and
is composed of keynote lectures, tutorials and workshops with the
presentations from young researchers. The idea is to encourage
participants to build up collegial relationships. The topics and angles
of this summer school will be relevant for young researchers and
practitioners from various academic disciplines as Political Science,
Informatics, Computer Science, Media & Communication Studies, Sociology,
Psychology, Philosophy,Economics Law and Anthropology. Our aim is to
create a good mix of research and practice, theory and empiric material,
we cordially invite projects, government organizations, as well as other
senior researchers to present papers or to organize workshops as part of
the summer school. We are aiming at between 50 to 60 participants and 15
invited faculty members (keynote speakers, workshop organizers, seminar
leaders and paper supervisors).

Contributions Invite

Researchers from all disciplines as well as practitioners and activists
are welcome to the summer school. We invite contributions on application
scenarios, use cases, and good practices; research with an  
empirical focus; and inter-disciplinary work. Topics of interest
include, but are not limited to:
- E-governance
- E-government and E-administration
- E-participation
- E-campaigning
- E-voting
- Role of ICT in Social and Political change
- ICT for Corruption Fighting, Transparency and Accountability
- ICT for Civic Empowerment and Gender Equality
- ICT for Grass roots Media and Freedom of Expression
- ICT for Poverty Reduction
- ICT for Peace
- ICT and Human Rights
- ICT for Corporate Governaance

Contributions will be selected based on an extended abstract review by
the Summer School Program Committee consisting of reputed academics,
well-known practitioners and activists. Contributions should contain a
clear problem statement; an outline; and a clear messages. Accepted
short versions of papers will be made available to all participants in
the Summer School Pre-Proceedings and on the summer school website.  
Work in progress is strongly encouraged since the aim of this summer
school is for participants to develop and discuss their ideas before
having the opportunity to turn them into final papers. Final full papers
between 8 and 15 pages in length will be graded by reputed academics and
considered for a book publication by Springer edited by the summer
school chairs.

To submit an extended abstract (max. 700 words in length) please go to
the Submission page at the summer school website at
www.serd.org.in/summerschool2014.

Schedule and Structure of Summer School

The summer school will have an integrated week long program consisting
of keynotes, workshops, paper presentations, panels and discussions. The
aim of the summer school is to encourage a stimulating interchange
between all participants from different fields and from different parts
of the Globe - be they new researchers, activists or experienced
practitioners. The summer school will start on Sunday 9th with 
registration, welcome addresses and mingle for participants to
get-together. This will be followed by the welcome dinner. The following
five days, Monday to Friday, will be centered around one theme a day
with a morning keynote followed by discussions in smaller groups lead by
a reputed academic, activist or professional. The second half of the
morning will be devoted to participants presenting their works and
discussing them in smaller constellations also lead by reputed academics
activists, and professionals. The afternoons will be devoted to
workshops related to the theme or study trips organized by research
groups, government or development organizations. There will be good
opportunity for the participants to work on their final papers, organize
own meetings/ discussions with each other and faculty in the evenings.
Friday afternoon will be devoted for individual meetings of participants
with the faculty mentors to discuss their final papers (students will be
allocated to different faculty mentors as per the area of expertise).
The summer school will finish Saturday with a sightseeing tour around
Delhi. Final papers will be due within two weeks from the end of the
summer school.

Registration and fee

The registration fee includes access to all the sessions during the
summer school, workshops and demonstrations, keynotes, Social Programme,
lunches and refreshments throughout the summer school and Welcome
Reception and Dinner on 9th March. Shared Accommodation of six ights
(with breakfast ) is included in the registration fee of USD 450. Else,
the participants will have choice to book their own accommodation and go
for a registration Fee of USD300. Payment instructions will be made
available on the summer school web page.

Registration fee (With shared accommodation for 6 nights - checking in
Sunday 9th ) USD 450
Registration Fee (Without Accommodation) : USD 300

Important Dates

Extended Abstract Submission December 10, 2013
Acceptance/ review note: December 31, 2013
Registration and short paper deadline: February 1 , 2014

Financial Assistance and Grants?

We are working hard on getting sponsorship for few participation grants
(including travel support) for the best rated proposals. In the event
that we will be able to provide such travel grants - the selection will
especially target participants from developing countries (with the best
reviews). We have not secured this funding yet. Hence, at this stage we
are not yet able to sponsor anyone. When we have any more information it
will be made available on the website. Hence, there is no need to email
us concerning this - just keep an eye on the webpage.

Best Paper Award

An award for best student paper submitted and presented will be
organized, which will be presented during the closing ceremony of the
summer school. The paper should be written by the participant
her/himself for consideration of the award. The paper may include the
names of the supervisor (s), however any contribution to the paper by
other researchers should be made clear.

Course Certificates

Participation Certificates will be issued to all the participants.

Summer School Chairs:
Dr. Vikas Kumar, SERD / Asia-Pacific Institute of Management, New
Delhi
Dr. Jakob Svensson, Karlstad University & Uppsala University, Sweden

Contacts:

Questions Related to the Summer School Should be directed to the 
summer school secretariat:
ict4dd at serd.org.in 
summerschool2014 at gmail.com 

-- 
Jakob Svensson, PhD
Media and Communication Studies
Dept. of Informatics and Media
Box 513
75120 Uppsala, Sweden
mobile: + 46 (0)734 434804