CSD Working Paper Series: Towards a New Indian Model of Information and Communications Technology-Led Growth and Development

Process Documentation: Operationalizing ICT Women’s Center for

Skills Training for Employment

Mahabubnagar, Telangana State, India

ICT India Working Paper #6

Radhika Iyengar, Haein Shin, Joaquin Aviles Lopez, and Srinivas Akula

January 2019

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ProcessDocumentation:OperationalizingICTWomen’sCenterforSkillsTrainingforEmployment

RadhikaIyengar,HaeinShin,JoaquinAvilesLopezandSrinivasAkula

January2019

ExecutiveSummary

Theprocessofinitiatingandoperationalizingaconcept—combiningmultipleSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)toimproveeducationalandemploymentopportunitiesforwomen—isoutlinedinthisdocument.TheresultofthisendeavorisafullyfunctioningICTWomen’sCenterinTelanganaState,India,poweredbysolarenergy,whereskillstrainingsofferedintheareasofcomputer,English,lifeskillsandenvironment,aimtoprepareyoungwomenforfuturecareersandjobopportunities.ThedocumentoutlinesvariouscomponentsthatwererequiredtobeginoperationalizingtheCenter,frominfrastructuralinputstocurriculumdesignanddelivery.InitialmonthsofoperationrevealedthehighdemandfortheskillstrainingprovidedthroughtheCenter,andasaresult,continuousupdatestotheCenteroperationsandprogramsareexploredtoaccommodatetheneedsofnewlyinterestparticipantsaswellastocontinuouslybuilduponinitialtraining.Theinitialmonthsalsoshedlightontheimportanceof:activeinvolvementoflocalleadershipateachstageofprojectdevelopment;engagementoflocaldistrictgovernmentleadershipandoffices(ruraldevelopmentoffice,publichealthinitiatives);establishmentofrelationshipwithlocaleducationalinstitutions;andcollaborationandenthusiasmofallpartiesinvolvedinsettinguptheCenter.Thecomponentsoutlinedinthedocumentwillcontinuetodevelopastheoperationsmovesforward.Particularly,continuedeffortswilltaketheformsof:monitoringenergyproductionandconsumptionattheCenter;partnershipsstrengthenedwithlocaleducationalinstitutionsaswellastargetpopulationsforcomputerskillstraining;engagementwithlocalemployersandinputfromlocalprofessionalsasmentorsandspeakersoncurriculumcontents;buildingadditionalsupportforparticipantsthroughadvancingcurriculumcontentsandrelatedactivities,basedonparticipantfeedbackandcourseevaluations.

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ICTWOMEN’SCENTERCENTEROPENINGPROCESSDOCUMENTATIONMahabubnagar,TelanganaState,IndiaJanuary4,2019ReportbyDr.RadhikaIyengarHaeinShinJoaquinAvilesLopezSrinivasAkula

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MahabubnagarICTWomen’sCenterOpeninginDecember2018Inashortperiodofsixmonthsfromconceptualizingtooperationalizing,theICTWomen’sCenterofMahabubnagarhasbecomeareality.TheICTCentermodel1,devisedbetweenDr.RadhikaIyengarofTheCenter forSustainableDevelopment(CSD)atTheEarthInstitute,ColumbiaUniversityandJoaquinAvilesLopezofInfrastructureforSustainableDevelopment(i4SD),mergesrenewablesolarenergywithsocialservices.ThisCenterofferseducationforwomen,targetedtowardsskillstrainingforfutureemployment.The model became a reality in MahabubnagarDistrictofTelanganaStatewiththeapprovaloftheDistrictCollectorandMagistrate (DC)RonaldRosewithguidancefromDr.NirupamBajpai.The project is a field-based SDG implementationmodel under the study “Towards a New IndianModel of ICT-Led Growth and Development”. Themain leadsof thestudyareProfessor JeffreySachsandDr.NirupamBajpai.As a comprehensive model including bothinfrastructure and education components, theexecution and implementation required variousinputs for infrastructure, curriculum, personnel,procurement,stakeholderengagementandtraining.Theoverall summaryof theprocess leading to theopeningoftheICTCenterisoutlinedinthisdocument.GOVERNMENTAPPROVALPROCESSES

TheICTCenterModelprovidesagreatopportunitytoachievemultipleSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)atthelocallevel.TheDistrictGovernmentownstheprojectandhasbeenapartnertobrainstormaninternationalconceptthathascometofruitioninthedistrict.TheCenterforSustainableDevelopmentresearchteamwasabletoconceptualizeaprojectthathasobviouscross-sectorlinkagessuchasGender,Education,Environment,EconomicGrowthand

PartnershipSDGs.CSDprovidedthetechnicalexpertiseandtheDistrictGovernmentwasabletoadaptandowntheprojectattheDistrict. 1 http://csd.columbia.edu/2018/05/03/under-one-roof-bringing-digital-skills-solar-energy-hope-for-future-employment-to-women/

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INFRASTRUCTURE&SOLARTheCenterbuildingisanin-kinddonationbytheDistrictCollectorandMagistrateofMahbubnagar(DC).ThebuildingwentthroughinitialassessmentofDC-approvedengineerstodeciphertheappropriatenessofthestructurefortheproposedsolarinstallationaswellasthecapacitytoholdmultipleandcontinuousclasses.Alongwiththeinitialroundsofbuildingassessment,thefirstinputsrequiredwerebasicrevampingoftheCenter.Thisincludedstructuralrevampingtoaccommodatethesolarinstallationsuchassecuringthesurfacesoftheroofforsolarpanelinstallation,repaintingwalls,puttingupdividers,cubicleinstallationsandsettinguptheinteriorclassrooms.AfteraloadsurveyexaminingappliancesandthesizeoftheICTCenter,itwasdeterminedthata10kWrooftopsolarinstallationwithbatterieswastheoptimalsolutiontoallowfullautonomyoftheCenter.ThisenergycapacitywouldalsoenablefutureextraincomegenerationoftheCentertosustainitselfbysellingexcessofsolarproductiontothegridonanet-meteringbasis;and/orincorporatingfurtherrevenuestreamssuchasbatterycharging,sellingcolddrinks,additionalnon-educationalprinting/computermaterials,etc.

NumerousassessmentsandinstallationvisitswithInternet/WiFiandsolarenergyserviceproviderssecuredallthedevicesbeingconnectedtotheInternetandledtothefinalizingoftheCenterpowersourceswitchingfromthegridtosolarenergy.Afterinstallationandsetupofthesolarinfrastructureanditsbuilt-inmeteringsystem,theteamisputtinginplaceanadditionalsmart-meteringsystemtomonitorenergyusageinrealtime(viaWi-Fi)

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andtoallowICTCentermanagementtomakedecisionsonallocationofexcessofenergyproduction.

CURRICULUMTheframeworkofthecurriculumcontentwasdevisedbytheeducationteamofCSDuponinitialconversationswithDCandthelocalteamonwhatcontentswouldbemostappropriatefortheMahbubnagarlocale.Thelogframeandkeyindicatorsguidedthedesignofthecurriculumcontentstobeincluded,withaparticularfocusonskillsdesiredinthelocaljobmarket.ThesewerebroadlyidentifiedasEnglish(conversational),Computer(presentations,computation,typing,socialmedia),Business(computingandformulas,marketingandadvertising),LifeSkills(communication,self-confidence,teamwork/collaborationandleadership).

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SampleviewextractedfromlogframeDuringthesitevisitalongwiththeopeningoftheICTCenter,feedbackfromtheDCfurtherdirectedadjustmentsincurriculumtotargetspecifickeycontentareas.ThemainfeedbackwastheneedforcurriculumcontentstoenablevariousskillsetsforatargetedneedinthelocaljobmarketforhandlingcustomercomplaintsoreffectivelyutilizingICTskillsforbusinesspromotion.Thereisalsoaneedtotrainincombingvariouscompetencyareastoeffectivelycommunicateamessage,whetherbysocialmediaorpresentationsorletterwriting/correspondences.

Havinglearnedthatthebaselineofthestudentswassignificantlylowerthanexpectedincomputerusage,aswellasarelativelyshortperiodtolearncompetencies(3months),theprogramcontentshasbeenredefinedtotargetkeyareasidentifiedalongwithDC’sCentervisitandtomatchtherealisticpaceoftheclasses.ThesampleWeek1curriculumcontentplanbelowreflectsthelatestdraftreflectingtheadjustmentthatneededtobemadetoaccommodatetimeconstraints,students’availabilityandcompetencylevels.

DC’svisittotheCenterandmeeting TrainingofICTCenterstaff

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Basedonthecurriculumplan,thefirstweekofclassesfocusedonintroductionsand“breakingtheice”amongparticipants.UponintroducingtherationaleforsettingupICTWomen’sCenterwithintroductionsoncurriculumcontentandprogramgoals,theparticipantsengagedingroupactivities,brainstormingactivities,baselineLifeSkillsassessment,sharingkeyeventsin“MyLifeTimeline”aswellassuccessesandhelpingfactorsintheirlives.

Thefirstcohortofparticipantsalsochoseagroupmottoonwomen’sempowerment.Fromtheseactivities,theclasstransitionedintomoretimeinthecomputerlabtopractice,aswellasstructuredclasssessionsonMicrosoftWordusagefortyping,writingpersonallettersandwritingbusinessletters.Thecurriculumcontentsplannedwillcontinueinthecomingweeksforadurationofthreemonths.

RECRUITMENT&OPERATIONALIZINGCLASSES

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TherecruitmentprocesspriortoandduringtheCenter’sopeningweekinvolvedestablishingrelationshipswiththemostlikelyusersoftheCenter.Thisincludedproximity,availabilityandtimingconsiderations,andthefemalestudenthousingnexttothecenter,hosting400femalestudentsbecameanaturalpriorityforcontact.Thefollow-upconversationandmeetingwiththePrincipalofthestudenthousingturnedintoalargemeetingwithinthehousinghallwithover60studentshearingabouttheICTCenter’sopeningandcurriculumcontents.ThestudentsexpressedenthusiasmforlearningEnglishandComputers,basedonwhattheyhadheardpreviouslyfromprojectstaffandhousingPrincipal.Withfacilitationfromtheprojectteam,thestudentssharedsomeoftheirfuturedreamsandtheircurrentareasofstudy.

Withinthefirstthreedaysofoperations,theCenterhas130registeredstudents.Duetothecomputeravailability(10)andschedulingconstraintstomatchstudentavailability,twobatchesof25students(50students)areinthefirstcohort.The50studentswillparticipateinthe3-monthcourse.Theremaining80studentsareinawaitinglistwithmorestudentsvisitingtheCenterdailytousethecomputerandtoengageanycurriculumcontentbeingoffered.Currently,the50studentsareattendingMondaysto

Wednesdaysfrom5pmto6pm(Batch1)then6pmto7pm(Batch2).ThursdayandFridaysarereservedasPracticeDaysaccompanyingwhattheylearnedfromMondaystoWednesdays.ThePracticeDaysbecamenecessaryuponassessingthelowbaselineofcomputerknowledgeamongstudentsduringthefirstfewdaysofinteractionwiththestudents.

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Theattendanceofstudentsismonitoredonadailybasis.Giventhehugedemandontheclasses,strictruleshavebeensetfortheclassschedule.Incaseofcontinued,unexcusedabsences,theindividualstudentinthe1stcohortwillbereplacedwithsomeoneonthewaitinglist.Duringtheopeningweekwithampleprojectstaff,thehighdemandwasabletobeaccommodatedbysplittingbetweenscheduledclassesversusinteractiveactivitiesintwoseparateclassrooms(classandcomputerlab)oftheCenter.

Additionalclassofferedwithactivities LargegroupincomputerlabpriortoclassbatchdivisionTowardstheendofthefirstweekofCenteroperations,theprojectteamwasintroducedtotheruraldevelopmentsectorinitiativeoftheDistrictgovernmentwhoseroleencompassesemployment.Tokeepinmindthemissionofthisprogramwhichultimatelylinkstrainedyoungwomentoemploymentopportunities,DCandlocalemployersandbusinesseshavebeenconsulted.TheDCconnectedtheprojectteamstafftotheDistrict’semploymentcell

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Director,whoalsovisitedtheCentertoshareaboutexistinggovernmentprogramsandtohearabouttheCenter’soperationsandcontentareas.TheDirectorisopentoconnectingthelocalpotentialemployerstotheCenter.TheprojectstaffrequestedaperiodicvisitbypotentiallocalemployerstotheCenter,viatheDirector,tosharecareerandemploymenttipswithstudents.Additionally,iftheprofileandcompetenciesofstudentsmeettheneedsoftheemployer,theDirectorwillencourageandfacilitatethehiringprocess.

Additionally,fewwomenprofessionalswhohavebeeneitherreferredbytheDCorlinkedtotheproject(duetosolarinstallationsandprojectteam),willbeinvitedtotheCentertoleadsomesessionsalignedtoCenter’scurriculum.Thiswillincludeconversationsonmarketing,banking,entrepreneurshipandwellness(hygiene,health,nutrition).Further,amarketingprofessorwhohasledlifeskillstrainingswilljoinasaguestspeakertoteachstudentsspecificallyonmarketingandbusinessskills.

AnaddedcollaborationinCenteroperationsmaybetheinvolvementofstudentsfromtheDistrictInstituteforEducationandTraining(DIET).TheinitialdiscussionswithDIETleadershipandprofessorsthebroughttolighttheneedfortheDIETtrainingstudents(trainingtobecometeachers)touseMSPowerPointasapartoftheirgraduationrequirementtogivepresentationsontheirteachingcontent.Forthisreason,startinginJanuary/February,theICTCentercanbeusedonSundaysfortheDIETstudentstocomeandlearnthebasicsofPowerPointaswellastopracticeandcreatetheirrequiredpresentations.TheDIETsyllabushasbeenobtainedthroughameetingwiththeDIETleadershipaswellastheteachingprofessorsattheDIETprogram.Basedonthecurriculum,aplanandasetofactivitieshasbeendrafted.Basedonthisdraft,afollow-upconversationwillbeheldinJanuary/February2019.

PROCUREMENT&MATERIALSFromlargeritemssuchasprinterstosmallitemslikepensandpaper,thematerialsrequiredtoruntheCenterwascompletedinmultipleroundsandtherearependingneedswhichwillbedeliveredtotheCenterasoperationcontinues.

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Theinventorydocumentation(seesamplebelow),whichwillbeusedasapartoftheweeklyreporting,wasfirstusedasmaterialsarrivedtotheCenter.

Additionally,thefirstweekofoperationsrevealedothercapitalinvestmentsneededfortheCenterandtheseitemswillbecommunicatedtotheDC’soffice.Theremainingitemsincludeadditionaldesktops(5),airconditioner/tablefans,laptopforCentermanagement,speakersfordesktopcomputersandsecuritycameras.

NEXTSTEPS

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TheofficiallaunchoftheCenterisscheduledfortheendofJanuary2019,whenvariousgovernmentofficialsandleadershipmaybeavailabletoattendwithguidancefromDC’soffice.

Thefollow-upsandmaintenanceoftheCenterisongoingdailywithlocalandNewYork-basedprojectteams.TheCenteroperationsforthefirstcohortofparticipantsforthethreemonthssinceCenteropening,willshedmorelightonfurtheradjustmentsorneedstomoresmoothlyruntheCenterinthelong-run,aswellasconsiderationsforsustainabilityoftheCenteranditsprograms.