Ericsson initiates “Connect to Learn” in India

In line with the vision of a complete 21st Century education for everyone, Ericsson has announced the launch of its global education initiative "Connect to Learn" in India. Connect to Learn implements information and communications technology (ICT) in schools in resource-poor settings, to ensure that children, no matter where they live, have access to learning resources and a quality education. The programme provides an opportunity for youth to access learning resources that were previously unavailable to them.

As a part of the programme, Ericsson, in association with three leading non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in India - Plan International (India Chapter), Smile Foundation and Pratham Education Foundation has launched projects for periods of one to three years, that make a positive impact on the lives of underprivileged students and urban youth in different parts of the country.  Each partner brings a specific contribution to the success of the initiative.
Ericsson has partnered with Smile Foundation to offer job-oriented skills and placement assistance to underprivileged youth in Delhi/National Capital Region (NCR) and Mumbai.  This programme will impart training in basic computers and retail sales management skills, along with proficiency in spoken and written English through 20 centres to be set up in Delhi/NCR and Mumbai. The curriculum also includes sessions on personal development, career counselling and placement support.

The project with Plan India focusses on ensuring increased access to opportunities for self-development for 15,000 girls in the 15–25 age group. Ericsson will establish 12 Networked Learning Centres in Delhi as knowledge hubs for girls, in association with Plan India.

As a part of the third project, Ericsson will collaborate with Pratham Education Foundation to establish Learning Excellence Programme (LEP) in about 15 schools in the villages of Gurgaon. The LEP provides need-based support to government schools by targeting children who lag behind in their learning levels.

Elaine Weidman-Grunewald, Vice-President of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility (CR), Ericsson, said, “As we move closer to the Networked Society, we see mobile broadband emerging as a powerful tool, offering the opportunity to connect even the remotest villages. Connect to Learn has been successful in bringing the benefits of connectivity to students and schools worldwide. With more than 1 billion people in India, the potential to contribute to improved access to education is enormous. Through the formation of initiatives like Connect to Learn, we demonstrate that public-private partnerships are key to developing sustainable solutions that can make a major impact in education through technology.”

The initiative is based on the use of connectivity to implement low-cost and user-friendly ICT solutions for schools through mobile broadband and cloud computing.

This gives students and teachers access to world-class information and educational resources, and the ability to connect schools to other schools around the world to foster collaborative learning, cross-cultural understanding and global awareness.