[GKD] IDRC-RoKS Call for Proposals 2002-2003

[RoKS]

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: The Research on Knowledge Systems (RoKS) exploratory
initiative of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is
launching its second annual research competition (2002-2003). This
year's theme: "Strengthening Knowledge Policy for Small States: How can
small states participate more effectively in local, regional, and global
knowledge partnerships?", requests concept notes in the following areas
(not mutually exclusive):

i. What specifc strategies or approaches have been shown to be
successful in the improvement of gaps for knowledge and learning gaps in
small states?

ii. How can regional collaboration, for example, be designed to
leverage cooperation in knowledge networks among small states?

iii. As the policy gaps and learning divides increase the disparities
among the small and large states, what mechanisms and policies can
alleviate this knowledge chasm?

iv. What reforms in knowledge institutions are required to ensure that
they are seen to be contributing to the economic and social development
of small states?

v. How can small states participate in emerging issues affecting the
health and life sciences revolution, the digital explosion, the
technological trade arena, and/or the reconstruction of their scientific
and knowledge infrastructure following conflict and social unrest?

vi. What are research solutions to these challenges and what specific
policy prescriptions can be considered for small states.

The deadline for concept note submission is March 14, 2003 (5:00pm EST).
Submissions received after that date, or which are incomplete, will not
be eligible for consideration. Concept notes that are qualified through
a peer review process will be asked to submit full proposals for June 6,
2003. The competition will award up to seven grants, with a maximum
value of CAD$80,000 each. For joint proposals where researchers are
located in two or more countries a maximum of CAD$160,000 will be
awarded. Fewer than seven grants may be awarded, subject to the quality
of proposals received.

Grants will be awarded by July 6th, 2003.

Information regarding the status of your application, other than our
confirmation of its receipt, will not be available. For more information
and to download a complete concept note application kit, please click
on: www.idrc.ca/roks.

IDRC is committed to equity and encourages applications from qualified
women, men, visible minorities, aboriginal peoples and persons with
disabilities. We thank all applicants for their interest and will ONLY
contact those teams whose background, quality & feasibility best match
the criteria of the award.


APPEL DE PROPOSITIONS

L'initiative exploratoire Recherche sur les systemes de connaissances 
(RSC) du Centre de recherches pour le developpement international (CRDI)
lance son second concours annuel de recherche (2002-2003). Autour du
theme ´ Renforcement de la politique de la connaissance pour les petits
etats : comment les petits etats peuvent-ils participer plus
efficacement aux partenariats de savoir locaux, regionaux et mondiaux ª
propose cette annee, nous sollicitons des notes conceptuelles dans les
champs de recherche suivants (non incompatibles) :

i. Quelles strategies ou demarches precises ont reussi ý refermer  les
ecarts aux niveaux des connaissances et de l'acquisition de savoirs dans
les petits etats?

ii. Comment concevoir la collaboration regionale, par exemple, de facon 
ý exploiter la cooperation entre petits etats dans le contexte de
reseaux de connaissances?

iii. Comme les ecarts aux niveaux des politiques et de l'acquisition de
savoirs creusent les disparites entre les petits et les grands etats,
quels mecanismes et politiques peuvent refermer un peu cette fracture du
savoir?

iv.  Quelles reformes s'imposent au niveau des institutions de haut
savoir pour assurer qu'elles contribuent au developpement economique et
social des petits etats?

v.  Comment les petits etats peuvent-ils participer aux enjeux nouveaux 
qui ont des repercussions sur la revolution des sciences de la sante et
des sciences de la vie, l`explosion numerique, le commerce  des
technologies ou la reconstruction de leur infrastructure scientifique et
de connaissances ý la suite de conflits et de troubles sociaux?

vi. Quelles solutions la recherche offre-t-elle ý ces defis et quelles
politiques precises peut-on envisager de prescrire pour les petits etats?

Les notes conceptuelles doivent itre presentees au plus tard le 14  mars
2003 (17 h HNE).  Les propositions incompletes ou recues apres cette 
date ne sont pas etudiees.  On demandera aux auteurs des notes
conceptuelles retenues suite ý l'examen par les pairs de presenter des
propositions detaillees, au plus tard le 6 juin 2003.  Jusqui sept
subventions  de recherche, díune valeur maximale de 80 000 CAD chacune,
pourront itre attribuees. Dans le cas des propositions communes dont les
chercheurs se trouvent dans deux pays ou plus, une subvention maximale
de 160 000CAD est oct

[GKD] IT Policy and Wireless Networks

[Alan Levy]

Colleagues,

I'd like to congratulate all involved on the Jhai Foundation's Remote
Village IT Project.

http://www.jhai.org/jhai_remote_launch_faq.htm

I understand the importance for the unique computer and power source,
but there's another vital message that shouldn't be overlooked.

The usefulness for Jhai's Laos deployment is vastly increased by its
voice-over-Internet (VoIP) application... and government is not
preventing its deployment and use, and its interconnection with the
established commercial wireline service provider. This common
restriction is a major impediment to deployment throughout underserved
regions globally.

I urge an effort that explains and promotes policies and protocols
necessary for seamless inter-operability between all wireline and
wireless networks, nothing less than roaming for users from different
service providers, and that this include interconnection with 802.11g
WiFi based networks.

To the greatest extent possible, customers must be afforded equal access
to all competing service providers, including newer 802.11g based
wireless broadband networks.  802.11g WiFi broadband networks are not
the publicized "hotspots" of older 802.11b technology featured in the
popular press, but actual continuous coverage networks similar to those
of licensed cellular providers... except that they are far superior in
capability and lower in cost. Operators of any type network should be
required to facilitate equal access on a non-discriminatory basis by all
competitors.

New infrastructure should be enabled for end-to-end packet-switching. 
Circuit-based switching, an obsolete technology plaguing the
modernization of regulatory regimes in many nations, need not be the
cause for deprivation and slow rollout of communications services in
developing countries.

As an example, Afghnanistan has the unique opportunity to immediately
establish the necessary infrastructure and clearinghouse, implement
number portability, and achieve its stated goal for a truly open,
technologically neutral and competitive market.

Contrary to the direction long ago established in European and North
American markets, in starting anew Afghanistan can establish the fair
competition critical to effective market development.  Only this will
assure rapid deployment, reduced costs, enhanced innovation, increased
business development, and the unequivocal fastest route to universal
access.  The technology is not exotic, but exists today ready for
deployment.

Reputable econometric studies clearly show that the implementation of
such a policy regime will neither harm individual service providers, nor
the building of a diverse and robust national communications industry.

Afghanistan telecommunications reconstruction is starting from the
virtual beginning.  There are no incumbents seeking or needing
protection for the obsolete technology of their extant networks.  The
opportunity exists to do it right this time.

Degrading the usefullness of access to 802.11g WiFi broadband networks
by avoiding the requirement that all communications networks be
inter-operable is counter-productive to modernization and national
competitiveness in the global arena.  It would also cause a long and
untenable delay in achieving both a reasonable tele-density and
affordable Internet access.  Afghanistan deserves better.  So do other
countries suffering a digital divide.

Never before has technology offered such a tremendous reduction in the
need for investment.

The unrestricted use of VoIP in your project, and interconnection of
service providers, should make this most clear.

Kindest regards,

Alan Levy
Houston, Texas
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
713-781-7820




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[GKD] E-learning for Rural Teachers

[Frederick Noronha]

Express Computer (Jan 13, 2003)

E-LEARNING FOR RURAL TEACHERS

ITP News Network/ New Delhi

LEARNINGMATE, a division of Delhi-based Educomp Datamatics, Blackboard
Inc and World Links, a leading international non-profit organisation,
have recently announced a strategic partnership to introduce e-Learning
as a solution for professional development of teachers in rural and
under-served schools throughout India, parts of Asia, Africa, Latin
America, and the Middle East.

Under the partnership, World Links will offer teachers training in the
use of technology and the Internet to improve teaching and learning via
the Blackboard Learning System MLT, the multi-language edition of the
company's market-leading course management system.

World Links has created an innovative e-Learning version of its
award-winning, face-to-face training programme. The new e-Learning
course utilises interactive content, realistic scenarios and
collaborative activities to enable participants to immediately apply the
learning to their own environment.

The 12-week course uses a distributed learning approach, integrating the
Internet, CD-ROM and a one-day face-to-face seminar.

To overcome challenges with unreliable and often costly Internet
connectivity in most of the developing world including India,
LearningMate has taken advantage of the Blackboard Building Blocks
technology to develop a tool that provides offline access to the
Blackboard-enabled course content.

Also, through Building Blocks, LearningMate has integrated its
discussion board solution with the Blackboard Learning System ML to
support online peer learing and collaboration between learners in the
World Links programme. Commenting on the new partnership, Andrew H
Rosen, general manager of Blackboard Inc said, "After seeing verious
ministreis of education and schools districts around the world invest in
computing and connectivity infrastructure over the last few years, we
now have identified a demand for proven technology and methodologes that
make large-scale teacher professional development a reality."

It is understood that the partnership will initially pilot a 12-week
course in early 2003 on curriculum and technology integration in schools
throughout India, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and
Zambia. And later on, it plans to expand the offering to Latin America,
the Middle East, and Southeast Asia with localisations in Spanish,
Portuguese, French, Chinese, Japanese and German. (ENDS)

-- 
Frederick Noronha  Freelance Journalist 
Goa India 0091.832.2409490/2409783
http://www.bytesforall.org
Writing with a difference ... on what makes *the* difference




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