Up Scaling and Replication

[Niranjan Meegammana]

Dear All
I am carrying out a research, and would like to know what are the challenges, barriers, adaptations and needs of upscaling successful Telecenter and ICT4D Projects ?

Does quality and impact get diluted when Up Scaling and Replication ?

[Dean Mulozi]

Hi Niranjan,
Good to know that you are carrying a research in this area. Of course the challenges one can face in the area of upscalling telecenter development are mainly different social and economic environments for geographical regions. Policy obstacles and developments in some regions may affect the work of telecenters. In other countries you may find that government is positively rolling out Universal access funds to support telecenters, this may act as an opportunity.

Therefore replication and adapation may require a bit of work before consideration in these areas.

Let us contribute and we will continue discussions,

Thanks

Dean

The main factor you may also come accross is lack of ICT and energy infrastructure which is a major challenge in most rural African countries. Illiteracy is also causing problems. Once a telecenter in operation, designing services appropriate to a community may require some community needs assessment, the situation which is rare in many areas.

[Niranjan Meegammana]

Thanks Dean
This is a quick progression of learning, lets see who else practically involved in this important emerging area of successfull pilots. I see not only own projects but how success of others could be upscaled and replicated.

As an example We started Shilpa Sayura Local Langauge e Learning Services for National Carricullam at Telecenters without needing internet accesss and expanded from 20 TCs to 150+ TCs in 3 years. Now we plan to upscale with Tamil Language and replicate in Islandwide TCs.

Replicating Shilpa Sayura Model in another country in Africa or Asia one of our long term goals.

Thanks
Niranjan Meegammana
Shilpa Sayura Project
http://www.shilpasayra.org

[DR. SYED MD. ZAINUL ABEDIN]

Hi Niranjan,
You are a real artist cum scientist!I love your gorgeous butterfly.May we know the objectives and methodology
of your proposed research?Who is funding this initiative?Could you refer some literature on similar study.I feel that people may contribute or share more when some conception on basic information will be made available for them.
Warm regards,
Zainul

[Dr. Barbara Fedock]

Niranjan,

Though I am not directly involved in Telecentres, I am very, very interested in research and research development. If I can help you, please let me know. If you have sent out surveys or questionaires, you may send them to me to look for patterns or anomalies.

Barbara Fedock

[Niranjan Meegammana]

Dear Zainul / Barbara
Our Research is based on Shilpa Sayura Local Language e Learning Project which started as a pilot in 20 Telecenters and now scaling up and replicating in 150+ Telecenters in Sri Lanka

Methodology involves the Case Study of Shilpa Sayura,
Discussions with the project team, and data collection in 150 Telecenters and students,

The aim is to intiate a discussion of Up-Scaling and Replication, examin challanges, solutions and experiences that will help design of future Up-Scaling and Replication of Shilpa Sayura and similar projects

Actually still no one is funding this research, The motivation is higher learning and use the learning to improve Shilpa Sayura Project.

Barbara It's an interesting prepostion you bring in for future research,
The data is in Sinhala Language, if you would like to use it for further research they will need translation,

The paper is written in English, I would share once it's published in decemeber 2009 in e-ASIA Telecenter Forum.
I invite you to take part in e-ASIA.

Regards
Niranjan Meegammana
Shilpa Sayura Foundation
http://www.shilpasayura.org

[Niranjan Meegammana]

Thanks for TC.org for bringing attention to this topic of up-scaling and replication, I have completed the research and has made number of findings and came into some useful conclusions to help design future telecenter based ICT4D projects.

This paper titled "Up-Scaling and Replication? 150 Experiences" will be Published and Presented at TELECENTER FORUM @ e-ASIA 2009. Dec 2-4, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

After that I will upload my paper.

Niranjan Meegammana
Shilpa Sayura Project
http://www.shilpasayra.org