Community Technology Centers (Telecenters) from a Higher Education Perspective

The involvement of higher educational establishments in the development of telecenters is yet in its infancy. From a business and instructional perspective, this relationship remains an area open to expansion. To date, there has been only a marginal occurrence of direct, higher educational participation in the development and implementation of telecenter projects. It is, therefore, incumbent upon higher education institutions to identify and address this modern day need. the study provides an introduction to the functional theory and purpose of telecenters and examines critically, through eight case studies, different model implementation experiences to date, particularly in developing countries and in the urban under-served populations of developed countries. The paper then proceeds to delineate key issues and indicate new directions and possibilities for telecenter development.