Overview
The development and exploitation of technology has long been at the core of Welsh economic and social life and has assumed even greater significance over the last few decades with the emergence of new information and communication technologies. It is widely recognized that Wales, as a small country linked to a much larger neighbour within both the European context and a globalized economy, must develop separate policies for the use of new technologies. How this is achieved in practice, however, is proving to be less straightforward. The Information Age offers a critical examination of the challenges a newly devolved Wales faces in reinventing itself as a confident and competitive 'e-nation'. Neil Selwyn and Stephen Gorard suggest that small countries will lose out if they fail to adopt appropriate strategies for lifelong learning and combat the danger of a 'digital divide'. At the same time, their extensive empirical research offers early indications of the likely shortcomings of relying on technology alone to promote knowledge and social inclusion. Wales faces major structural, economic and socio-cultural challenges. None of these will be overcome by relying solely on 'technical fixes'This text considers how it is possible for a small country to have a distinct IT strategy in an increasingly globalised economy.
Synopsis
The development and exploitation of technology has long been at the core of Welsh economic and social life, and has assumed even greater significance over the last few decades with the emergence of so many new technologies. This book critically examines the challenges Wales faces in reinventing itself as a competitive e-nation. While the authors suggest that small countries will lose out if they fail to adopt appropriate strategies for lifelong learning and embrace new technologies, they also offer research that indicates the shortcomings of relying on technology alone to promote knowledge and social inclusion. It considers how it is possible for a small country to have a distinct IT strategy in an increasingly globalized economy by producing practical conclusions for policymakers and practitioners.
Author Biography: Neil Selwyn is a lecturer at the Cardiff University school of social sciences, and the author of Creating a Learning Society and 101 Key Ideas in Information Technology. Stephen Gorard is a professor at the Cardiff University school of social sciences and the author of Education and Social Justice.