Seed funding

This proposal is a continuation of joint research carried out over the last 4 years. The project will establish a local minigrid incorporating high performance computing resources and extend the grid over the interuniversity backbone network to at least two other local universities which will then be linked to the Swedish cluster. Initial performance evaluation would be done for specific characteristics of the local minigrid against features that are peculiar to a county like SL. Following the successful completion of the initial phase, we expect to start detailed investigations on two fronts: algorithm design for selected classes of problems, especially heuristic optimizations targeting the grid, and, secondly on middleware design for the so called OGSA. The system will then provide a worthwhile computational resource, backed by a knowledgable local staff that could form the basis for a significant enhancement in computational research in many areas. The development cluster will be moved from UU to UCSC early in 2006. Starting with software development on these local facilities, large scale computational science research in Sri Lanka could if necessary make use of even more computing power by accesing links to computational grids outside the country.

There is a great demand for education in Mozambique. E-learning technologies are still to be introduced and make part of the national strategy for ICT policy implementation. In comparison with the first world, many students lack access to tools and a proper study environment. The objective of this project is to establish an E-learning Centre in order to:
• Facilitate flexible e-learning solutions and access to new learning technologies
• Offer a structured and professional study environment
• Stimulate the interest for software application and development through computer games
• Facilitate LAN gaming and access to educational games
• Facilitate access to Internet
• Create an environment that stimulates innovation and entrepreneurship within the area of ICT

The E-Learning Centre will consist of; 1) E-Learning, 2) Internet Café and 3) LAN games.

The centre will be situated within the Eduardo Mondlane University area, and will facilitate serious studies as well as Internet surfing and gaming, and serve as a resource centre for distance learning initiatives within UEM. The centre aims to be self-sustainable within short to medium term, given that the initial infra-structure is supplied by an external party. MICTI is fully responsible for implementing the centre according to the below work plan.

This is a pilot project for the ICT4ICT Swedish research and will serve as a test bed for delivering ICT based learning modules that will induce wider spread of ICT. The project will focus upon creating and delivering e-modules that can help regional ICT development in two countries in the CEE region. The specific objectives are to: 1. identify the needs for ICT related content in each of the two countries, 2. find the suitable way for distributing it, 3. create sample learning modules and make them widely accessable, and 4. establish a Local Dissemination Point for continous development and implementation of the modules. The principal goals of the project are increasing the critical mass of ICT aware people and networking skills for ICT difusion.

1) Both the Swedish research and the Project aim to create a web based e-learning education platform. Both parts support each other and the one cannot be without the other. Improvements in computer technology and reinforced networks will be necessary.

The subject matter will be the creation of a Masters programme in Transport and Energy for a Sustainable Development, including health aspects. GIS will be among the methods applied in the programme. This e-learning programme can be extended to any other country, provided that it has the required ICT facilities.

2) The main method will be e-learning on an e-learning education platform equipped with voice- and camera-chat, mail, exchange of files, discussion board. Weekly meetings will be held to develop the various parts of the common educational programme. Both the Swedish and the non-Swedish partners will play active parts in this process.

3) Bibliography: http://www.people.memphis.edu/~ffowler/onlineu.html

University of South Africa: Colleges Online http://lsa.unisa.ac.za/

World Bank Global Distance Educationet http://www1.worldbank.org/disted/

The Educator's Reference Desk http://www.eduref.org/

The Gateway to Educational Materials http://www.thegateway.org/

The Education Resources Information Centre, with the ERIC Database http://www.eric.ed.gov/

The Open University http://www.open.ac.uk/ 

Sivertun, Å (2000) Distance GIS - A distance course in GIS based on PBL.

Sivertun, Å. (2002) ‘Professional training as a resource.

Optical network is a high-capacity telecommunication networks using optical technologies. Interactive Learning Space (iSpace) is intended to explore new possibility to support multimedia conferencing and communication between geographically distributed sites.

Objective of the project is to deploy a broadband city network and distance learning spaces in Vientiane.

Expected significances are

• To initiate the establishment of Lao National Research and Education Network (NREN) in Laos.
• To raise ICT awareness of Lao Society especially in academic, governmental and industrial sectors.
• To initiate idea for distant teaching and learning process to efficiently utilize the limited teaching staff.

The project is carried out as a joint collaboration between STEA, NUOL and KTH,where 2 of STEA staff came to KTH to attend the master program in internetworking. They are expect to do extensive research and study in Sweden for 7 months before go back for implementation in March 2005. At the same time, one NUOL's research will prepare the detail plan for the project. It is essential to have TSlab responsible for transferring know-how to STEA because TSlab has good experience in both networking and iSpace. TSLab has conducted many research in these areas i.e. www.balticopen.net, www.sol-ix.net, www.kistaip.net, www.stockholmopen.net, etc. In addition, TSlab will send 1 coach and 2 KTH students as part of the team to Laos for 6 weeks to support the implementation of the project.

Feasibility Study in support of Rural Pilot Telecenters for farming households in Vietnam. The potential for the application of ICT to provide information services, public service delivery and agricultural extension. Carry out the feasibility study comprised of the 1.1 Study of the needs of the community conducted as a market research on the farmers' demand in the field of communication and the needs of information stated by the recipients themselves.1.2 Recommend strategy to be followed for implementation of ICT for rural development and poverty alleviation.1.3 Proposal for the selection of 10 potential pilot sites in different provinces representing the 7 agriculture zones, the 10 main key products and other considerations.1.4 Legal, economic and financial analysis of the pilot sites.1.5 Design and test a model of a telecentre of RADIC operation that is capable of sustaining itself as viable continuing concern without the need for long term financial support.1.6 Identify links with other ongoing donor ICT initiatives in the agricultural sector. 2. Assist the Government in assessing its strategy for exploiting ICTs for rural development and poverty alleviation. 3.A final report presenting the key data and proposing recommendations and actions to be taken. Summary of Activities (Phase 1: Project Inception; Phase 2: Literature Review and Location Selection; Phase 3: Market Survey; Phase 4: Design and Test Financial and Telecentre Models; Phase 5: Report Writing and Presentation

eGov(ernment) focus is today shifting to organizational adaptability, political support, partnerships, and embedding in user communities, success factors often found lacking. To make use of technology and infrastructure investments, focus is now on improving governance and avoiding supporting obsolete and inefficient organizational structures and processes with IT. Accordingly, this inception study defines requirements and development paths for supporting eGov and eLearning development in Africa and Asia. Drawing on established university contacts and projects, and focusing on creating enduring creative partnerships, we deliver:
- Report of specific local needs and opportunities for successful projects.
- Concrete suggestions for projects lasting 2-4 years starting 2005, including setup of project partners, project goals and outlines, and assessment of opportunities and risks.

Subproject I: A prototype cluster of a type that could be established by research groups within developing countries is set up, and a computational grid is established between UU and Sri Lanka. Guidelines for the implementation of similar clusters and grids open software are derived. Research groups to study algorithms that are appropriate for a grid of such simple clusters are established, and a demonstrator application is studied.

Micro credit is a methodology for giving loans to the poor in developing countries, i.e. the majority of whom is deprived of the services of conventional banks. Micro credit organisations are facing many challenges, among which efficiency is a problem. Supporting technology has to emerge to help solve the performance difficulties encountered.

The resarch project will examine the experience of the CEE countries that have been most successful in faster and wider spread of networking technologies. The objctives are to: 1. establish a proper set of metrics and criteria for measuring ICT difusion, 2. identify the factors that influence the overall conditions for ICT development, 3. explore the correlation between dissemnating knowledge about ICT and ICT diffusion and 4. determine the features of quality educational content that teaches ICT, and 5. develop models that implement a set of strategies for ICT awareness and knowledge.

The knowledge base and support from CEENet member countries will be used in the analyses.

The positive experience will be adapted for implementation in the CEE countries that have been less successful. A pilot project in two of them will serve as a test-bed for assessing the results of the research.