International Center for Applied Studies in Information Technology
George Mason School of Public Policy's International Center for Applied Studies in Information Technology (ICASIT) focuses on delivering high yield, low-unit-cost results from information and communications technology, especially in the context of developing nations. Averaging over $200,000 annually in grants from out-of-state sources over the past 15 years, the center has worked with nearly 100 businesses, associations, government agencies, and multilateral organizations in 30 countries on projects that included knowledge management, electronic commerce, distance learning, and web site development. The center is committed to combining information technology with better management of institutional knowledge to change organizational cultures so that increased collaboration yields more efficient operations and performance.
The center, directed by Professor Stephen Ruth, helps deliver Internet connectivity to cities in developing nations in ways that encourage entrepreneurship and economic development. A recent success in Nepal is described below. It has worked with Northern Virginia companies to advance Internet enterprise in the region, and its Knowledge Management Roundtables, sponsored in conjunction with the Defense Contract Management Agency, were aimed at helping businesses harness the power of KM tools and approaches.
ICASIT has been funded largely by grants and contracts, through partnerships with foundations, research centers, businesses, and universities on five continents. Current focus is the return on investment from university-based online learning programs, made possible initially by a generous grant from the Andrew W Mellon Foundation. ICASIT has also been actively studying the yield on telework in the public and private sectors and has established a Telework Research Center to continue this effort.
- Ruth, S., and J. Mercer. "Voting from Home or Office? Don't Hold Your Breath." IEEE Internet Computing 11 (3) (2007): 84-87.
- Ruth, S., and S. Doh. "Is E Government Ready for Prime Time?" IEEE Internet Computing 11 (1) (2007): 80-82.
- Ruth, S. , M. Sammons, and L. Poulin. "E-Learning at the Crossroad-What Price Quality?" Educause Quarterly 30 (2) (2007): 33-39.
- Sammons, M., and S. Ruth. "The Invisible Professor and the Future of Virtual Faculty." International Journal of Teaching and Technology 4 (1) (2007).
- Gibbons, J. and S. Ruth "Municipal WiFi--Big Wave or Wipeout." IEEE Internet Computing 10 (3) (2006): 52-57.
- E. Bertino and S. Ruth "Policies and IT Technologies: A Puzzle of Two Pieces." IEEE Internet Computing 10 (1) (January February 2006): 65-67.
- Ruth, S. "E-Learning: A Financial and Strategic Perspective." Educause Quarterly 29 (1) (2006): 22-30.
- M. Norton and S. Ruth "Spectrum and its Influence on 3G and WiFi Architectures." Annual Review of Communications 2005, Volume 57 (Chicago, IEC, 2006): 272-282.
- Ruth S., S. Booppanon, T. Zhang, "Using Accessible Data Sources to Determine Telecom Diffusion Capabilities of Developing Nations: a MENA Perspective." Annual Review of Communications 2004, Volume 57 (Chicago,IEC,2004), pp 485-496.
- S. Ruth, "Measuring the Yield of On-Line Telemedicine Training: Methods and Challenges"; invited paper for Europacs-MIR 2004 Scientific Conference Trieste, September 17th, 2004.
Faculty have received grants from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and are Fulbright Scholars and Mellon Fellowship recipients.
In 2009 and 2010, the School’s 45 faculty produced 16 books, 78 book chapters, 23 edited volumes, and 203 refereed journal articles.