This conference is organised by LIRNEasia, TeNeT Group, RTBI, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, with support from 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 interest in the region. The overall objective is to create policy intellectuals capable of informed and effective intervention in information and communicatin technology (ICT) policy and regulatory processes in specific country contexts.
The conference aims to provide a forum for senior, junior and mid-career scholars to meet face-to-face and exchange ideas, establish networking opportunities 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 ICT policy and regulatory reform in the region. The inaugural conference was held in January 2007 in Manila, Philippines.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The CPRsouth2 conference will offer researchers the opportunity to discuss their research on ICT regulation and policy in the South with a largely academic, international audience and obtain useful feedback. The conference will also include tutorial sessions for Young Scholars which will focus on the fundamentals of technology, markets, regulation and policy with insights on how to develop practical solutions to problems of empowering rural and marginalised populations.
Participants
The conference is designed to accommodate 21 paper presenters over the course of 2.5 days, and the audience will be made up of 70-80 scholars involved in the field of ICT policy and regulation, broadly defined, including 15 Young Scholars.
Location
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras is one of the leading institutes in higher technological education, basic and applied research in India. Located in the heart of the city of Chennai, the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamilnadu, the campus is spread over 250 hectares of lush green forest designated as a wildlife preserve. December is one of the most pleasant months in Chennai, the cool weather bringing in large numbers of classical musicians and artistes to the annual cultural festival that takes places throughout the city. As a major regional center, Chennai provides an ideal springboard for excursions throughout India. As one of the conference activities, a visit is being planned to the ancient royal seat of Madurai, the location of a number of rural technology projects spawned by The Telecommunications and Computer Networking (TeNeT) Group of which CPRsouth Chairman and Professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT-Madras, Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala is a prime mover.
Visas
Visas are required to enter India, with very few exceptions. Letters will be provided for this purpose by IIT-Madras after the complete papers have been accepted. Participants are strongly advised to initiate visa approval procedures immediately thereafter.
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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Abstracts for papers on ICT policy and regulation research carried out in the South will be accepted. The proposed sessions include:
- Data and methods for research on ICTs
- National and regional innovation systems
- ICT markets and competition
- Participation in ICTs: demand side studies
- Convergence
- Regulation
- Governance of ICT and ICT for governance
- Content
- International telecom policy
- Intellectual property rights
- Internet governance
- Comparative studies of ICT readiness
The actual programme will depend on the papers received. The organisers reserve the right to combine topics and to not offer sessions for which adequate numbers of high-quality submissions have not been received.
Submission Guidelines
Abstracts should be submitted to info@cprsouth.org by or before May 31, 2007 and must contain the following:
a. the title of the paper,
b. your name and contact information,
c. a 200-word abstract of the paper, and
d. a one-page curriculum vita.
The document should be named CPRsouth2_Abstract&Bio_YourLastName.
Notification of acceptance will be emailed on or before June 20, 2007, and authors will be given 2 months to submit their completed papers - i.e. full papers have to be submitted by August 31, 2007. If full papers of acceptable quality are not received by the deadline, the paper may be relegated to the “online-only” category, in which case travel and accommodation costs will not be provided.
Accepted paper presenters will be notified by September 30, 2007 with contact information for the assigned discussant and instructions on travel arrangements.
Review Criteria
Abstracts will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
1. Clarity of the thesis or the research finding
2. Novelty, significance, and importance to the CPRsouth community
3. Adequacy of methods
4. Quality of writing
5. Appropriateness of interpretations
6. Cohesion among the presentations for the panels (i.e. expression of different views and balance/representation from different countries)
Please note: Only the authors whose papers that are delivered by the August 31, 2007 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 Chennai, India and accommodation and meals at the conference venue for the duration of the conference (December 15-17, 2007). All incidental costs will have to borne by the participants. Costs are being tightly controlled to accommodate as many participants as possible. Accommodations and meals will be simple and in line with those of students and visitors at IIT-Madras.
Key Dates
Deadline for abstracts: May 31, 2007.
Deadline for complete papers: August 31, 2007.
YOUNG SCHOLAR AWARDS
Fifteen Young Scholars from the Asia-Pacific region will be selected to participate in the tutorials scheduled to be held a day before and after the main CPRsouth conference (December 14th and 18th, 2007).
Application Guidelines
Applications should be submitted to info@cprsouth.org by or before May 31, 2007 and must contain the following:
a. a one-page curriculum vita that includes your contact information and the name and contact information for current supervisor or mentor; and
b. 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 CPRsouth2_YoungScholar_YourLastName.
Notification of acceptance will be emailed on or before June 20, 2007, with instructions on travel arrangements.
Review Criteria
Applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
1. Content of application
2. Evidence of interest in policy-relevant research for the Asia Pacific
3. Quality of writing
4. 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 Chennai, India and accommodation and meals at the conference venue for the duration of the tutorials and conference (December 14-17, 2007). All incidental costs will have to borne by the participants.
Key Dates
Deadline for applications: May 31, 2007.
ABOUT CPRsouth
CPRsouth is intended to be a vehicle for building capacity in communication policy research in the Asia-Pacific in the first instance, and then in the South. The core functions of CPRsouth are to organise an annual conference and to provide a virtual platform for interaction among communication policy researchers in the south. The objective is to create policy intellectuals capable of informed and effective intervention in ICT policy and regulatory processes in specific country contexts, within the larger context of communication policy research as a field flourishing in the universities and research institutes of the south.
ABOUT LIRNEasia
LIRNEasia is a regional information and communication technology (ICT) policy and regulation research and capacity building organisation, based in Sri Lanka. 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 catalyse 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.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
CPRsouth,
C/o LIRNEasia,
12 Balcombe Place, Colombo 08,
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 11 493 9992 / +94 (0) 77 775 6590
Fax: +94 11 267 5212
info@cprsouth.org
CPRsouth website
