Performance management and policy evaluation of information and communication technology graduate program for developing countries

• Published in: Evaluation and program planning 2024-04, Vol.103, p.102401, Article 102401
• Main Authors: Kang, Dongsuk, Park, Min Jae
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asia; Educational management; Higher education; Program identity; Technical aid
• ISSN: 0149-7189
• DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2024.102401

As an educational aid, the Korean government has developed and funded a graduate-level global information telecommunications technology program (ITTP) for ICT officers in developing countries. Questions have arisen about whether the program can achieve its goals and obtain mutual benefits between Korea and participating nations. Using a total quality management (TQM) framework as a unique case analysis, we evaluated ITTP’s resources and performance from 2006 to 2014. Our results show that ITTP has focused on the quantitative promotion of students and alums from various countries and their learning of Korea-centric ICT, policies, and culture. In particular, the Korean government’s lax evaluation of ITTP performance has led to weak responsibility, ambiguous task identity, missed opportunities for self-improvement, and low participation among students and stakeholders. These findings highlight the need for graduate programs and their stakeholders to reinforce internal and external evaluations of the program’s performance and provide feedback for reciprocal development. •Korea highly utilizes of ICT, but it weakly contributes to developing nations’ ICT diffusion.•Korean government operates a ICT educational aid to provide learning opportunities for the nations.•ITTP program’s capabilities and performances under total quality management frame.•ITTP focuses on promotion of fresh students and alumni and their learning about Korea’s ICT.•ITTP and its stakeholders needs to reinforce evaluation of their target performances for mutual benefits.