The Swinburne IT for Social Impact Project (IT4SI) partners non-government and government organisations, community organisations and individuals in supporting IT-assisted curriculum delivery and in helping and empowering communities to generate Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions to community development challenges in rural India.
Project implemented: December 2013
This project works with our partners to ‘imagineer’ how ICT can help address development challenges and to use ICT to promote community resilience and individual development.
With India estimated to become the world’s fifth largest consumer market by 2025 this project is important to Australia on a number of levels:
The project provides Australian students and future business leaders with exposure and knowledge of India. It gives Australian students international experience and understanding that:
It practically expresses Australia’s concern to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and to contribute to a more compassionate, just and equitable world.
Partner with communities to deliver shared value
Collaboratively develop and sustain ICT development strategies to enhance community and individual resilience
Partnerships that employ ICT to increase the resilience of communities to change
ICT4SI Swinburne/India outcomes seek to empower the disadvantaged and develop our students into global citizens
Established and strong ongoing partnership between community organisations and university to deliver the SDGs.
Communities benefit with:
Students benefit with:
This project brings Australian Business Technology students (with thanks to the New Colombo Plan) to remote, rural India to work with our partner organisations Apne Aap Women Worldwide (Anti-trafficking), Satpuda Vikas Mandal (3rd Generation Gandhian-philosophy, NGO) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Farm Science Centre in using technology to help build local capacity in an inclusive and sustainable manner across education, community development, women’s groups, health issues and environmental projects. At the same time the project seeks to provide our students with the knowledge, skills and motivation to understand and address the SDGs, to broaden their capabilities and to enhance their global citizenship development.
Now in its seventh year, Swinburne has received international acclaim for its efforts in helping community groups in remote India with the 2018 Real Life Learning Award and for Best Staff Mobility Experience.
