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During a visit that coincides with the country's observance of "Teachers Day," Intel Corporation Chairman Craig Barrett announced the formation of the World Ahead Alliance in India. The alliance pledges to apply technology to advance health, education and rural empowerment. Barrett also announced that Intel India has signed an agreement with the New Delhi affiliate of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to create a partnership focused on advancing Intel's education initiatives.
"This alliance is a perfect example of the industry partnerships emerging in India today," said Barrett, who also chairs the United Nations Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Development. "We hope to initiate other efforts like these that can scale to produce positive outcomes and benefit citizens around the world."
"It's rewarding to see our pioneering work taking root," added R. Sivakumar, managing director, Intel South Asia. "India clearly played a pivotal role in the initial phase of the Intel World Ahead Program by developing computing technologies that have worldwide application, such as the Intel-powered Classmate PC, and by introducing innovative projects that will have a life-changing impact on India's citizens."
India Companies Team Up in World Ahead Alliance
The World Ahead Alliance brings together 16 Indian organizations that have been influential in the results achieved during the early phases of the Intel World Ahead Program, including non-profits, education companies, hospitals and service and technology providers. Members consist of Appollo, Comat Technologies, the Digital Empowerment Foundation, Educomp Solutions Limited., eGovServices, Fortis Healthcare, Karishma Software Limited, Manipal University, Narayana Hrudayalaya, NIIT Limited, Sankara Nethralaya, SN Informatics Private Limited, SREI SAHAJ e-village Limited, Tata Consultancy Services, Vidya Pratishthan's Institute of Information Technology (VIIT) and Zoom Developers Pvt. Limited.
Many of these companies have already played a key role in helping Intel develop and deploy technology and training solutions in the areas of e-government, e-health, rural empowerment and education. For example, since launching its first digital community pilot in Baramati with VIIT last November, Intel is implementing additional joint pilot projects across India through several relationships.
Other examples of Intel's World Ahead efforts in India include working with state governments to equip approximately 100 schools with desktop PCs and the Intel-powered Classmate PC, an affordable, full-featured student laptop designed at the Intel's development center in Bangalore. Intel and 15 state governments have also trained more than 730,000 teachers how to apply technology to improve student learning through the Intel® Teach Program. With the Ministry for Health and Family Welfare of the government of India, Intel helped inaugurate two rural health projects in India this week, including a pilot program for remote diagnostics and screening at Tindivanam Taluk Hospital in Tamil Nadu.
UNESCO Agreement to Extend Reach of Education Initiatives
The agreement between Intel and UNESCO formalizes both parties' intentions to work together in several key areas in the education sphere.
"As a grandfather, I have realized that the best gift you can give the next generation is a better education," Barrett said. "Every child deserves that opportunity."
The memorandum of understanding calls for UNESCO and Intel to work jointly in areas that include teacher professional development, developing policies for the innovative use of technology in curriculum and promoting scientific research in higher education.
"UNESCO recognizes that the effective integration of ICT and other technology components in the education system requires sustained public-private partnerships between multilateral organizations, government education bodies, academia and leading private technology players like Intel," said Minja Yang, director and representative, UNESCO. "This agreement confirms our desire to collaborate with Intel in India and together determine the best use of ICT in education to accelerate social and economic development."
Through its World Ahead Program, Intel strives to improve education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and government services in developing countries worldwide by accelerating access to computers, connectivity and localized Internet content.
During the next 100 days, Barrett will also visit China, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America to explore how digital inclusion programs are taking root and creating life-changing opportunities. In addition, as chairman of the U.N. GAID, Barrett will play a leadership role in the Connect Africa summit hosted by the Government of Rwanda, and co-organized by the International Telecommunications Union, the World Bank and the African Union, in Kigali, Rwanda, Oct. 29-30. The summit focuses on mobilizing the human, technical and financial resources needed to close major gaps in Africa's ICT infrastructure.-Intel
Posted September 6th, 2007 by harminka
