Digital Knowledge Co., Ltd.

Digital Knowledge Co., Ltd. (DK) participates in DATA COLLECTION SURVEY FOR INTRODUCING A NEW EFFICIENT MODEL OF REMOTE WORK TO IMPLEMENT JICA PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES IN THE LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN AREAS which is conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and entrusted by Japan Development Service Co., Ltd. DK will engage in introduction and verification of LMS and propose DX technology and tools for more effective and efficient training implementation as a reinforcement member.

Map of the Latin America and the Caribbean

In line with the worldwide spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, all department of JICA has been examining the preparation of setups for remotely implementing projects/activities. In particular, examination is underway regarding introduction of a learning management system (LMS) that can cater to the implementation of online of The Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP) and all future training, implementation of remote operations, and adoption of primarily digital transformation (DX) in JICA projects/activities. If such efforts contribute to the remote implementation of JICA projects/activities and the basic environment for Information Communication Technology (ICT) is prepared, it will become possible for counterparts in target countries to access the same quality of information. Meanwhile, it is necessary to pay attention to the issue of disparities in information access arising from differences in the ICT environment between each country and area.

There are 33 independent countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean※1, in the context of Income Classification, eight counties are categorized as ‘Country transitioning to graduation’, six counties are categorized as ‘Semi-developed country’, six counties are categorized as ‘Middle income country’. Generally speaking, since the level of development in the Latin America and the Caribbean is relatively high, the general environment in urban areas has been established to a certain extent and it is easy to access the infrastructure and tools for implementing remote work in most countries. In addition, since the region has common or similar language and culture, the infrastructure for conducting remote work is established and it will be easy to implement advance country-focused projects/activities using the same contents efficiently. Although the Latin America and the Caribbean face constraints in terms of work efficiency brought about by geographical separation, it is anticipated that project/activity implementation in this region can be efficiently and effectively advanced through utilizing DX technology to combine onsite cooperation with offsite (remote) cooperation, both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

※1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/latin/index.html

In this study, surveying and analyzing methods for implementing JICA projects/activities (including Training program, Technical Cooperation, ODA grants, etc.) in the Latin America and the Caribbean and the implementation structure of counterparts and JICA. The main objective is to propose methods for preparing and firmly establishing the ICT environment for project/activity implementation and systems for remote implementation utilizing DX technology in the Latin America and the Caribbean.

Through following activities, introduction of LMS will be examined, and DX technology and tools will be proposed to conduct more effective and efficient KCCP.

Preparation of internet environment necessary for participating in the training using LMS
Categorization of training implementation methods and proposals based on the communication environment and time difference of each country
Replacing content from the LMS as a trial basis at each site to the LMS which JICA plans to introduce all over the world
Identification of issues (e.g. software response, screen display speed, etc.) and proposal of countermeasures when LMS procured by JICA is utilized in the Latin America and the Caribbean
Sharing best practices among the overseas offices
Implementation of supplementary training for LMS in Spanish for the Latin American and the Caribbean

We will verify the introduction of LMS and DX and technical tools for content creation in the Latin America and the Caribbean, and propose e-learning implementation methods suitable for geographical and cultural characteristics. We will propose that learning opportunities can be secured even under lock down situation due to Covid-19 through enhancing the training programs which are comparable to those in Japan.

In addition to serving as director of Japan’s largest e-learning group organization “e-Learning Consortium Japan” and running Japan’s only comprehensive e-learning forum “e-Learning Award Forum”, we participate in various other social contribution initiatives to further the development of e-learning, such as the e-Learning Association, ICT Education Promotion Council of Japan and The University CIO Forum. Moreover, capitalizing on our more than 27 years of experience in e-learning and with the aim of contributing to society, we established the e-Learning Strategy Research Institute in April 2007, which conducts studies and research into e-learning technologies, market and educational effects. In addition, we are simultaneously engaged in support activities targeting people studying IT technology at vocational training schools with the goal of re-employment in web-based industries.

Digital Knowledge is focused in three areas when promoting international e-Learning services:	International Development Projects Overseas Human Resource Development Support for Expansion of for Overseas Education Business

Having a track record of installations at over 2,000 schools and companies in Japan, Digital Knowledge now leads e-Learning solutions outside of Japan.