CB BureauEricsson has
announced the launch of its global education initiative ‘Connect to Learn’ in
India. This initiative implements information and communications technology
(ICT) in schools in resource-poor settings, to ensure that children have access
to learning resources and quality education.
As a part
of the programme, Ericsson in association with three non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) in India – namely Plan International (India Chapter),
Smile Foundation and Pratham Education Foundation – has launched projects for
periods of one to three years, that make a positive impact on the lives of
underprivileged students and urban youth in different parts of the
country.
Ericsson
has partnered with Smile Foundation to offer job-oriented skills and placement
assistance to underprivileged youth in Delhi/National Capital Region (NCR) and
Mumbai. This programme will impart training in basic computers and retail sales
management skills, along with proficiency in spoken and written English through
20 centres to be set in Delhi/NCR and Mumbai.
Recognizing
an important link between limited mobility of women and girls and accessing
progressive learning opportunities, the project with Plan India focuses on
ensuring increased access to opportunities for self-development for about 15,000
girls in the 15″25 age group. Ericsson will establish 12 Networked Learning
Centres in Delhi as knowledge hubs for girls, in association with Plan India.
As part of
the third project, Ericsson will collaborate with Pratham Education Foundation
to establish Learning Excellence Program (LEP) in about 15 schools in the
villages of Gurgaon. The LEP will provide need-based support to government schools
by targeting children who lag behind in their learning levels.
Elaine
Weidman-Grunewald, vice president, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility
(CR), Ericsson said, ‘Connect to Learn has been successful in bringing the
benefits of connectivity to students and schools worldwide. With more than 1
billion people in India, the potential to contribute to improved access to
education is enormous. Through the formation of initiatives like Connect to
Learn, we demonstrate that public”private partnerships are key to developing
sustainable solutions that can make a major impact in education through
technology.’
‘Connect to
Learn’ is a global education initiative launched in 2010 by Ericsson, the Earth
Institute at Columbia University and Millennium Promise that leverages the
power of ICT to enable access to high-quality education for students
everywhere. The initiative is based on the use of connectivity to implement
low-cost and user-friendly ICT solutions for schools through mobile broadband
and cloud computing. This gives students and teachers access to information and
educational resources, and the ability to connect schools to other schools around
the world to foster collaborative learning, cross-cultural understanding and
global awareness.