Human Sciences Research Council
Human Sciences Research Council looks at the digital economy ahead of the World Economic Forum’s Africa meeting
Pretoria, Monday 24 April 2017 – The Human Sciences Research Council will, ahead of the World Economic Forum’s Africa meeting in Durban from 3-5 May 2017, host a discussion entitled, “Bridging the Digital Divide: Skills for the New Age Measuring Digital Literacy.”
This conversation is timely and relevant within the context of the World Economic Forum’s focus on the fourth industrial revolution and how this will impact on inclusive growth and development.
Digital literacy is crucial especially amongst developing and emerging economies since a digital economy is anticipated to serve as a catalyst to break out of the cycle of poverty and underdevelopment. A three-pronged digital skills strategy is required for developing countries:
1. Identify the skills required for employment
2. Develop a holistic digital skills upliftment strategy, and
3. Address the social and cultural norms through which these skills and systems are mediated.
Presenters will include: Krish Chetty, Nozibelie Gcora, Urvashi Aneja, Vidisha Mishra, LIU Qigun, LI Wenwei, and CHEN Fang.
The conversation can also be followed online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qf0HanpeCo
Media is invited as follows:
Date Friday 28 April 2017
Time 09h00-11h00
Venues Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town
Cape Town
HSRC, 12th Floor, Plein Park Building (Opposite Revenue Office), Plein Street, Cape Town
Contact Jean Witten on 021 4668004 or email JWitten@hsrc.ac.za
Durban
The Atrium, 5th Floor, 430 Peter Mokaba Ridge, Berea
Contact: Ridhwaan Khan on 031 242 5400, 083 788 2786 or email: RKhan@hsrc.ac.za, or Hlengiwe Zulu at e-mail HZulu@hsrc.ac.za
Pretoria
HSRC Video Conference, 1st floor HSRC Library Human Sciences Research Council, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria.
Contact Arlene Grossberg on 012 302 2811 e-mail: acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za
The HSRC seminar series is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The views and opinions expressed therein as well as findings and statements of the seminar series do not necessarily represent the views of DST.
Notes to the Editor
About the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
The HSRC was established in 1968 as South Africa’s statutory research agency and has grown to become the largest dedicated research institute in the social sciences and humanities on the African continent, doing cutting-edge public research in areas that are crucial to development.
Our mandate is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research-based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences.
The Council conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific research for public sector users, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies. Research activities and structures are closely aligned with South Africa’s national development priorities.
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For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
Manusha Pillai
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email: MPillai@hsrc.ac.za
Adziliwi Nematandani
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E-mail: anematandani@hsrc.ac.za