March 4, 2009

Prestigious list ranks Haskayne dean

Leonard Wverman / Photo: Ewan Nicholson

According to the magazine, Waverman ranked in the top 50 because he "has stirred the industry by showing that mobile telecommunications has a positive benefit for people in developing countries. His research focuses on how communications networks form a key component of the infrastructure crucial to a nation's economic growth, along with roads and electricity. The explosion of mobile telephony across the developing world is shrinking the digital divide, providing real opportunity for economic growth in the world's poorest regions."

"It is extremely gratifying to be included on such a prestigious list," said Waverman. "The initiatives of companies and researchers in the telecommunications field are critical to the success of the world's poorest countries, but also to its most developed nations. Governments simply must continue to invest to ensure economic success."

Waverman recently released the Connectivity Scorecard 2009, a research instrument he developed in 2008, to assess how well governments, businesses and consumers make use of information and communication technologies such as fibre-optic lines, mobile phones and PCs. Waverman argues that these technologies promote social and economic growth and competitiveness.

Although Canada ranks seventh out of 25 developed countries, Waverman says the government must increase investment in information and communication technologies in order to ensure continued economic success.

Waverman became dean of the Haskayne School of Business in January 2008, after having spent 10 years at the London Business School (UK), where he was Chair of Economics.

For more information on the Connectivity Scorecard 2009, click here.