Conclusion

The potential need for practical training and information to support development effects across the Asia-Pacific region is very great. Many millions of people across the region are keen to acquire skills and knowledge to help them improve local living standards. It will be very difficult to find adequate resources to respond to this explosion in demand for education and knowledge. However the indications are that new techniques of training and communication currently becoming available from the spread of ICTs can be very helpful in improving the supply of education and information across the region.

The challenge facing the international development community is to identify practical ways in which traditional approaches to teaching and education can be combined with new ICT techniques. The ADB Institute is currently exploring four ways in which ICTs can be used to provide training and knowledge to large numbers of people across the region. As experience is gained, the aim is both to improve the use of these four delivery systems and to explore the use of other delivery systems as the range of options provided through ICTs continues to grow.