GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE '97
Knowledge for Development in the Information Age
World Bank Conference of the Global Knowledge Partnership
Co-hosted by the World Bank and the Government of Canada
Toronto, June 22-25, 1997
(Last updated: February 14, 1997)
Global Knowledge '97 will address a fundamental question facing developing
countries, and the international community, in the information age:
given the vital role of knowledge in economic and social development, and
the opportunities and challenges posed by new information/communication
technologies, how can developing countries, and particularly the world's
poor, access and harness knowledge for development, so as to promote
empowerment, enable life-long learning, and reduce poverty?
The Conference will explore this challenge across five dimensions:
Understanding the Global knowledge Revolution: the increasing importance
of knowledge and information for sustainable development; the power of new
learning methods and technologies; the nature of the emerging global
information economy and its implications for developing countries and the
world's poor.
Building a Supportive Policy Environment: the policy and regulatory
frameworks that encourage the growth of the information economy, foster
the growth of learning organizations in both the public and private
sectors, build knowledge capital, and encourage private sector investment
in information infrastructure.
Putting Knowledge to Use: global best practices and the lessons of
experience from the private and public sectors and the non-governmental
community in using knowledge and information to address specific
development challenges, to foster sustainable development, and to empower
individuals and communities
Building Capacity to Harness Knowledge: how to build and sustain the
infrastructure, institutions, and patterns of interaction that enable
organizations, communities and nations to build and share knowledge; how
to mobilize appropriate technologies in a sustainable manner for universal
access to information and life-long learning.
Forging New Partnerships: building innovative public/private partnerships
to support the move towards a truly global information society, and to
build the knowledge infrastructure of developing countries.
The Conference program will include:
plenaries that set the framework and lay out the main challenges;
symposia on critical issues (policy, infrastructure, economics of
information, equity, role of science and technology, national knowledge
assessments; creation and management of learning organizations, learning
at the grass roots),
breakout sessions ranging from discussion panels and working groups to
case presentations, on-site consultancies, best practice seminars, and
demonstrations of new learning technologies and approaches.
interactive global linkages, including electronic discussions (via
Internet) on issues and developments at the conference, videoconferencing,
and networking before, during and after the conference.
This mix of learning events, spanning 3 days, will be supplemented by a
Knowledge and Technology Forum (a hands-on exhibition space), an on- site
computer network, and a Knowledge for Development Video Festival.
For further information:
Conference Secretariat
The World Bank Economic Development Institute
1818 H Street, NW, M7-075
Washington, DC 20433 USA
Tel: 202-473-6442
Fax: 202-676-0858
E-mail: GlobalKnowledge@worldbank.org
Canada:
Alain Brousseau
Phone: (819) 997-6849
Fax: (819) 953-6356
E-mail: alain_brousseau@acdi-cida.gc.ca
--jsweiss@mail.utexas.edu (Judith Weiss)
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>