E-governance practitioners, researchers to meet next week in Macao

Experience and research will come together next week (10–13 December) when Electronic Governance practitioners, developers and researchers from government, academia, industry and non-governmental organizations meet in Macao, China, for the 1st International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2007). This conference will provide a unique opportunity for participants from these various communities worldwide to interact by sharing the latest findings in the theory and practice of Electronic Governance, and by discussing their specific experiences and concerns.

Held under the patronage of the Government of Macao SAR, ICEGOV 2007 is being jointly organized by the Center for Electronic Governance, United Nations University International Institute for Software Technology; the Center for Technology in Government, University at Albany, State University of New York; and the Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. (For information about the organizers, see http://www.icegov.org/icegov/people/organizers/). The Macao Polytechnic Institute, Macao Foundation, Macao Government Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Macao Government Tourism Office, Macao Post, and eGov Magazine are sponsoring the conference.

“The ICEGOV 2007 is an important event underlying the crucial role which E-government can play in the process of governance development in all countries”, said Dr. Guido Bertucci, Director of Public Administration and Development Management, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. “The introduction of information technology should provide the opportunity to reform government processes, making them more efficient, effective, transparent and citizens-oriented. Governance capacity is an essential element in the achievement of international development goals, and electronic governance can strengthen the ability of countries to achieve these goals.”

During the four days of ICEGOV 2007, government representatives will describe their concrete Electronic Governance initiatives and discuss lessons learned and the remaining challenges. Industry and non-governmental participants will propose and demonstrate potential technological, organizational and societal solutions. Members of the academic community will present new models, theories and frameworks that can extend the understanding of Electronic Governance and serve as the foundation for building new tools and methods.