Organized by LIRNEasia, supported by the International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC)
INTRODUCTION
Communication Policy Research South (CPRsouth) intends to build human capacity in the South by reinforcing and developing the values and commitment of scholars in the region or with substantial interest in the region. The overall objective is to create policy intellectuals capable of informed and effective intervention in ICT policy and regulatory processes in specific country contexts.
The conference provides a forum for senior, junior and mid-career scholars to meet face-to-face and exchange ideas, network and improve the quality of their scholarly work, in order to facilitate the long-term objective of fostering the next generation of active scholars and in-situ experts capable of contributing to good ICT policy and regulation in the region.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
CPRsouth4 offers researchers the opportunity to discuss their research on ICT regulation and policy in the South with a policy-oriented, international audience and obtain useful feedback. Prior to the conference, tutorial sessions will be held for Young Scholars on the fundamentals of technology, markets, regulation and policy. Previous conferences were held in collaboration with the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), University of the Philippines, Diliman (Manila); the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (Chennai); and the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (Beijing).
ABOUT THE THEME
The research that CPRsouth seeks to encourage is not just any kind of research. It is research that addresses the policy process; that produces evidence that will enrich that process and will shift it more towards rationality and inclusiveness and away from raw exercise of power. We have taken the phrase from a memorable book title by the public policy scholar Aaron Wildavsky (1979). There is, of course, no one single undisputed Truth. What we and Widavsky mean is a commitment to evidence and the generation of ideas that correspond the best to effective practice. Power does not reside only in government, but also in companies, organizations and in people. LIRNEasia, as the host entity, seeks to speak truth to power in all the countries it works in. Abstracts that address the central problems of bringing evidence to the policy process pertaining to ICTs are encouraged as being central to the missions of both CPRsouth and LIRNEasia.
Chairs of CPRsouth4
From CPRsouth: Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
From LIRNEasia: Prof. Rohan Samarajiva, Chair, LIRNEasia
Participants
The conference is designed to accommodate 21 paper presenters over the course of 2 days, and the audience will be made up of 60+ scholars involved in the field of ICT policy and regulation, broadly defined, including 30 Young Scholars.
Location
The conference and tutorials will be held in Negombo, on the west coast of Sri Lanka, just north of the international airport.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Abstracts for papers on ICT policy and regulation research carried out in the South or relevant to the South may be submitted for review and acceptance. The abstracts must be capable of being classified with at least three keywords from the list below (if you have trouble doing so, it is an indication that your work may not fit this conference). The keywords will be used to assign papers to reviewers in a double-blind process which will yield a short list. Completed papers based on the shortlisted abstracts will be judged by two senior scholars and the highest ranked will be invited to present at the conference.
Keywords
Access
Applications
Business models
Citizen
Civil society
Competition
Conflict
Connectivity
Consumer
Content
Convergence
Cooperation
Demand
Domestic
Efficiency
Emerging markets
Finance
Governance
Growth
Inclusion
Indicators
Information
Infrastructure
Innovation
International
Judiciary
Knowledge
Legislation
Markets
Monopoly
Networks
Performance
Policy
Poverty
Productivity
Property
Public goods
Reforms
Regional
Regulation
Strategy
Supply
Transparency
Please indicate the relevant keywords from the above list in your abstract
Submission Guidelines
Abstracts should be submitted electronically at www.cprsouth.org on or before 25 May 2009 and must contain the following:
- a 500-word abstract of the paper, including a minimum of three and a maximum of five keywords from the list given above. Include at least three references to prior work.
- curriculum vita (one page).
The document must be named CPRsouth4_Abstract&Bio_YourLastName. Please note that the abstract and bio should be on the same document.
Notification of acceptance of abstracts will be emailed on or before 25 June 2009, and authors will be given two months to submit their completed papers – i.e. full papers have to be submitted for final review by 25 August 2009. Only full papers of acceptable quality that are received by the deadline, will be considered for travel and accommodation support. It is expected that the papers will be polished and improved in the run-up to the conference. Arrangements are being planned to provide presentation coaching prior to the conference using ‘Youtube’.
Paper presenters who make the cut will be notified by 25 September 2009 with contact information for the assigned chair and discussant and instructions on travel arrangements.
Review Criteria
Abstracts will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
- Clarity of the thesis or the research finding
- Novelty, significance, and importance to the CPRsouth community
- Adequacy of methods
- Quality of writing
- Appropriateness of interpretations
Please note: Only the authors whose papers that are delivered by the August 31, 2008 deadline AND who meet the quality standard will be allowed to present their papers at the conference and have their travel funded. Other papers may be made available on the CPRsouth website as ‘online-only’. These authors may attend the event at their own expense or if they have applied for and satisfied the criteria for selection as Young Scholars.
Funding
Selected presenters will be provided with least-cost travel to and from Sri Lanka, twin-sharing accommodation and meals for the duration of the conference (6-9 December 2009). All incidental costs will have to borne by the participants. LIRNEasia will be holding its fifth-anniversary international conference on 10-11 December 2009, immediately following CPRsouth. Those who wish to attend this event may apply for financial support to cover the extra two days.
Visas
Citizens of many countries are eligible for on-arrival visas (http://www.immigration.gov.lk/html/visa/fees.html#SATOP ). Letters will be provided for those who require visas by LIRNEasia after participant selections have been made.
Key Dates
Deadline for abstracts: 25 May 2009
Deadline for complete papers: 25 August 2009
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR YOUNG SCHOLAR AWARDS
Fifteen Young Scholars from the Asia-Pacific region and 15 local Young Scholars from India, Maldives and Sri Lanka will be selected to participate in the tutorials scheduled to be held after CPRsouth4 (5 - 6 December 2009).
Application Guidelines
Applications should be submitted electronically at www.cprsouth.org on or before 25 May 2009 and must contain the following:
- curriculum vita (one page)
- a one-page write-up outlining why you wish to be an Asia-Pacific based expert capable of contributing to ICT policy and regulatory reform in the region
The document should be named CPRsouth4_YoungScholar_YourLastName. Please note that the write up and bio should be in one single document.
Notification of acceptance will be emailed on or before 25 June 2009, with instructions on travel arrangements.
Review Criteria
Applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
- Content of application
- Evidence of interest in, and commitment to, policy-relevant research for the Asia Pacific
- Quality of writing
- Gender and country representation
The selection committee may contact your supervisor or mentor before making the final selections.
Funding
Selected applicants will be provided with least-cost travel to and from Sri Lanka twin-sharing accommodation and meals for the duration of the tutorials and conference (4 – 9 December 2009). All incidental costs will have to borne by participants. LIRNEasia will be holding its fifth-anniversary international conference on 10-11 December 2009, immediately following CPRsouth. Those who wish to attend this event may apply for financial support to cover the extra two days.
Key Dates
Deadline for applications: 25 May 2009
CPRsouth Board
- Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala (Chair; Indian Institute of Technology, Madras)
- Prof. Milagros Rivera (Alternate Chair, National University of Singapore)
- Prof. Ledivina Cariño (University of Philippines, Diliman)
- Mr. Laurent Elder (International Development Research Centre, Canada)
- Prof. Myeong-Cheol Park (Information and Communication University, Korea)
- Prof. Rohan Samarajiva (LIRNEasia, Sri Lanka)
- Prof. Patrick Xavier (Swinburne University of Technology, Australia)
- Prof. Xu Yan (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School)
- Prof. Yuan Chunhui (Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunication, China)
ABOUT LIRNEasia
LIRNEasia is a regional information and communication technology (ICT) policy and regulation research and capacity building organization. LIRNEasia seeks to identify the institutional constraints on effective use of ICTs to improve the lives of the people of Asia-Pacific; work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders to catalyze changes conducive to greater participation by users and suppliers; and contribute to building capacity within the region for evidence-based intervention in the public-policy process. It serves as the administrative partner for CPRsouth.
Visit www.lirneasia.net for more information.
