Boletín Informativo

Integrating the Region through Science and Technology

The world has become dependent on Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Increasingly, ICT is an effective indicator of the difference between developed and developing nations; it created the “Digital Divide”. The competitiveness of a nation is directly related to the incorporation of ICT into its social and economical development plans. It requires a substantial restructuring of the forms and procedures used until now in attempts to generate a base for development. China and India are clear examples of how developing nations can become competitive in the new global economy. To achieve this, it is important to revise the education of human technical and scientific resources.

http://educoas.org/portal/en/tema/editorial2005/nov05.aspx?culture=en&navid=36

INELAM 2006: Educational Portals

The sixth edition of the Award for Innovative Education in the Americas (INELAM) will recognize educational portals in Latin America and the Caribbean that offer direct services for students, educators or parents at the preschool, primary, intermediate or secondary levels. The educational portals may be initiatives of either governmental, non-governmental or mixed entities, and must have been in continuous service through the Internet for at least three years prior to the close of this announcement. The Organizing Committee has announced that the Award rules will be published in November and will remain open through March 17, 2006. The Jury will review all candidates between March and April and will make their decision in early May.

As in previous editions, honorary mentions will be awarded in the fields of Educational Quality, Social Responsibility and Corporate Social Responsibility to recognize achievements in the field of socio-educational development.

The 2006 INELAM Award and honorary mentions will be sponsored by ASIVE (International Association Virtual Educa) and the Diputación Foral de Vizcaya. The prizes will be awarded during the VII International Conference of Virtual Educa that will take place June 19-23 in Bilbao, Spain.

Professional Development: INEAM Educational Offerings

During the first half of 2006, the eleventh edition of “Quality in Basic Education”, the third edition of “Nutrition and Education” and the second edition of “Strategies for Teaching Mathematics” (all Spanish versions) will be offered through INEAM’s Virtual Classroom. Through partnerships with strategic alliances, Spanish-language editions of the courses “Science, Technology and Society: Gender Focus” (PRIGEPP/FLACSO), “How to Teach Ethics, Social Capital and Development in Universities” (BID); and “Educational Competencies for the 21^st Century” (ITESM) will also be offered throughout the year.

In addition, special editions of courses are being developed with the Municipality of São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil, together with Virtual Educa (Brazil) and UNIVAP; and with the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (Ecuador).

New courses to be launched during the year include “Improving the Productive Quality of Small and Medium Businesses”, “Safe Water for All”, “Preparing Content for Distance Learning Courses” and “How to Teach Gifted and Talented Students”.

Quality in Higher Distance Education: Creation of Cal-Ed

As a result of the meeting of International Quality and Accreditation in Higher Distance Education (Loja, Ecuador, October 17-20, 2005), the Latin American and Caribbean Institute for Quality in Higher Distance Education (CAL-ED) was created.

A Hemispheric-wide effort was made by professional organizations, civil society and regional and international multilateral organizations to create CAL-ED, which was created at the end of the meeting. The group has a Board of Directors (CREAD, AIESAD, Virtual Educa and UTPL); an Advisory Board (OAS, OEI, ISTEC, UDUAL, IOHE, IESALC, ICDE-LAC), Academic Councils (composed of two university institutions, one for Latin America and the Caribbean, the other for institutions outside of this region), and an Executive Secretariat (UTPL).

http://www.calidaded.org/cal-ed/

IOHE: Florianópolis Declaration

In the framework of the 14th Biennial Congress of the Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE) recently held in Florianópolis, Brazil, its members issued the Declaration of Florianópolis in which they agreed to adhere to an Inter-American Pact for Education and Sustainable Development in order to combat poverty and social exclusion, promote job creation and foster democratic governance. In the framework of this Pact, the members committed to, among other actions, contribute to the attainment of these objectives by developing activities in training, research, cultural enrichment and community services; involving all institutions of higher education in the Americas in the implementation of this Pact; widening and diversifying the strategic alliances between the Inter-American Organization for Higher Education and the organizations and agencies endorsing the commitments mentioned above; and asking the Heads of State and of Governments of the Americas to include in their working agendas regular support for institutions of higher education, allowing them to assume their social responsibilities.

http://www.oui-iohe.qc.ca/ABOUT/es-index_congres.htm

INEAM News

Various activities have been initiated and developed since the meeting of the Institute of Advanced Studies for the Americas (INEAM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico last July. As a result of bilateral conversations with INEAM’s strategic partners, a Permanent Committee of the Governing Council of INEAM was created: Keva M. Bethel (Bahamas), Heitor Gurgulino De Souza (Brazil), Efraín Medina Guerra (Guatemala), Gilbert W. Merkx (EEUU), Manuel Moreno Castañeda (México), Luís Miguel Romero Fernández (Ecuador), Ernesto Schiefelbein (Chile), Juan Carlos Tedesco (Argentina), and Jorge Werthein (Brazil). The Technical Secretariat of the Commission will be chaired by INEAM (OAS).

Cooperation in Distance Learning

In order to promote educational development in the framework of new methodological and technological paradigms, the Vice Presidency of ICDE for Latin America and the Caribbean has just launched an Electronic Newsletter. The newsletter strives to make opportunities available to the educational community of the region, promote and foster communication between its agents, and at the same time create a new form of collaborative work. The newsletter will be published three times a year and will offer content in four main themes, including news of interest for the region.

http://www.econ.uba.ar/www/icde/index.htm

ISTEC: E-Inclusion, Emerging Technologies and Entreprenuership in the New Millenium

The University of São Paulo and the Ibero-American Science and Technology Consortium announce the XV ISTEC General Assembly, which will take place November 28 to December 2 in the Rebouças Convention Center in São Paulo, Brazil. The main theme of this year’s assembly is e ³ = e-Inclusion, Emerging Technologies and Entrepreneurship for the New Millenium. The program will begin with the III International Symposium of Digital Libraries (SIBD) on Monday, November 28 through Thursday, December 1. Parallel meetings and seminars will be offered on the topics of Digital Inclusion, Emerging Technologies and Entrepreneurship. The Science and Technology Entrepreneurship for Economic Development (SEED) will holda its First Conference on December 5 and 6 at the Universidad Estatal de Campinas (UNICAMP), approximately 100 kms. from Sao Paulo.

http://www.istec.org/ga/

Creating and Managing Virtuality

Registration is still open for the 14th International Meeting of Distance Education’s “Creating and Managing Virtuality: Realities and Virtualities in Education”, organized by the University of Guadalajara, through its Virtual University, in the framework of the XIX International Book Fair held in Guadalajara, Mexico from November 28 through December 2.

http://www.udgvirtual.udg.mx/articulo.php?id=207

Program in Digital Technologies and Knowledge Society

Registration is open until December 12 for this program offered by UNED-Spain with the possibility of specializing in either e-learning or in digital information and communication technologies. The program objectives include: knowing and analyzing the process of convergence of methods in the knowledge society; producing and managing digital platforms; developing design and production models; and developing collaborative working projects via network. Interested students can register for the complete course or independent modules for the title of Specialist or Expert, or once all credits are completed, apply them to a Master’s degree program.

http://www.uned.es/ntedu/espanol/menumaster.html

Multilingual Thesaurus

The Council of Europe announced the launching of the first multilingual thesaurus available free of charge through the Internet. The program is a lexicon of terms that is structured to demonstrate the relationship between concepts. The Thesaurus aims to “help experts in cultural heritage to find the right terms and concepts in different languages and to retrieve relevant information in the European Heritage policy databases”, explained the organization in a press release. Over 500 terms are available in seven languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Bulgarian, Polish and Slovak), and an additional 11 languages will be added at a later stage.

http://www.european-heritage.net/sdx/herein/thesaurus/introduction.xsp

Blackboard to Acquire WebCT

Two leading providers of enterprise software and services to the education community, Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) and WebCT, Inc., announced a definitive agreement to merge. Under terms of the agreement, Blackboard will acquire WebCT in a cash transaction for $180 million. The transaction will combine two pioneering academic e-Learning organizations into a single company with the client base, resources and expertise to uniquely meet the rapidly evolving needs of educators around the world.

http://investor.blackboard.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=177018&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=767025&highlight=

http://www.educoas.org/portal/es/tema/editorial2005/nov05.aspx?culture=es&navid=1

We appreciate your interest and participation in the activities of the Educational Portal of the Americas. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Please send all messages to portal@oas.org. If you have received this message in error and would like to cancel your free subscription, please send a message to portal@oas.org and include "Cancel Newsletter Subscription" in the subject window.



	*Click here to see previous Newsletters*
	November News: Integrating the Region through Science and Technology INELAM 2006: Educational Portals Professional Development: INEAM Educational Offerings Quality in Higher Distance Education: Creation of Cal-Ed IOHE: Florianópolis Declaration INEAM News Cooperation in Distance Learning ISTEC: E-Inclusion, Emerging Technologies and Entreprenuership in the New Millenium Creating and Managing Virtuality Program in Digital Technologies and Knowledge Society Multilingual Thesaurus Blackboard to Acquire WebCT
	Integrating the Region through Science and Technology The world has become dependent on Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Increasingly, ICT is an effective indicator of the difference between developed and developing nations; it created the “Digital Divide”. The competitiveness of a nation is directly related to the incorporation of ICT into its social and economical development plans. It requires a substantial restructuring of the forms and procedures used until now in attempts to generate a base for development. China and India are clear examples of how developing nations can become competitive in the new global economy. To achieve this, it is important to revise the education of human technical and scientific resources. http://educoas.org/portal/en/tema/editorial2005/nov05.aspx?culture=en&navid=36 INELAM 2006: Educational Portals The sixth edition of the Award for Innovative Education in the Americas (INELAM) will recognize educational portals in Latin America and the Caribbean that offer direct services for students, educators or parents at the preschool, primary, intermediate or secondary levels. The educational portals may be initiatives of either governmental, non-governmental or mixed entities, and must have been in continuous service through the Internet for at least three years prior to the close of this announcement. The Organizing Committee has announced that the Award rules will be published in November and will remain open through March 17, 2006. The Jury will review all candidates between March and April and will make their decision in early May. As in previous editions, honorary mentions will be awarded in the fields of Educational Quality, Social Responsibility and Corporate Social Responsibility to recognize achievements in the field of socio-educational development. The 2006 INELAM Award and honorary mentions will be sponsored by ASIVE (International Association Virtual Educa) and the Diputación Foral de Vizcaya. The prizes will be awarded during the VII International Conference of Virtual Educa that will take place June 19-23 in Bilbao, Spain. Professional Development: INEAM Educational Offerings During the first half of 2006, the eleventh edition of “Quality in Basic Education”, the third edition of “Nutrition and Education” and the second edition of “Strategies for Teaching Mathematics” (all Spanish versions) will be offered through INEAM’s Virtual Classroom. Through partnerships with strategic alliances, Spanish-language editions of the courses “Science, Technology and Society: Gender Focus” (PRIGEPP/FLACSO), “How to Teach Ethics, Social Capital and Development in Universities” (BID); and “Educational Competencies for the 21^st Century” (ITESM) will also be offered throughout the year. In addition, special editions of courses are being developed with the Municipality of São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil, together with Virtual Educa (Brazil) and UNIVAP; and with the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (Ecuador). New courses to be launched during the year include “Improving the Productive Quality of Small and Medium Businesses”, “Safe Water for All”, “Preparing Content for Distance Learning Courses” and “How to Teach Gifted and Talented Students”. Quality in Higher Distance Education: Creation of Cal-Ed As a result of the meeting of International Quality and Accreditation in Higher Distance Education (Loja, Ecuador, October 17-20, 2005), the Latin American and Caribbean Institute for Quality in Higher Distance Education (CAL-ED) was created. A Hemispheric-wide effort was made by professional organizations, civil society and regional and international multilateral organizations to create CAL-ED, which was created at the end of the meeting. The group has a Board of Directors (CREAD, AIESAD, Virtual Educa and UTPL); an Advisory Board (OAS, OEI, ISTEC, UDUAL, IOHE, IESALC, ICDE-LAC), Academic Councils (composed of two university institutions, one for Latin America and the Caribbean, the other for institutions outside of this region), and an Executive Secretariat (UTPL). http://www.calidaded.org/cal-ed/ IOHE: Florianópolis Declaration In the framework of the 14th Biennial Congress of the Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE) recently held in Florianópolis, Brazil, its members issued the Declaration of Florianópolis in which they agreed to adhere to an Inter-American Pact for Education and Sustainable Development in order to combat poverty and social exclusion, promote job creation and foster democratic governance. In the framework of this Pact, the members committed to, among other actions, contribute to the attainment of these objectives by developing activities in training, research, cultural enrichment and community services; involving all institutions of higher education in the Americas in the implementation of this Pact; widening and diversifying the strategic alliances between the Inter-American Organization for Higher Education and the organizations and agencies endorsing the commitments mentioned above; and asking the Heads of State and of Governments of the Americas to include in their working agendas regular support for institutions of higher education, allowing them to assume their social responsibilities. http://www.oui-iohe.qc.ca/ABOUT/es-index_congres.htm INEAM News Various activities have been initiated and developed since the meeting of the Institute of Advanced Studies for the Americas (INEAM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico last July. As a result of bilateral conversations with INEAM’s strategic partners, a Permanent Committee of the Governing Council of INEAM was created: Keva M. Bethel (Bahamas), Heitor Gurgulino De Souza (Brazil), Efraín Medina Guerra (Guatemala), Gilbert W. Merkx (EEUU), Manuel Moreno Castañeda (México), Luís Miguel Romero Fernández (Ecuador), Ernesto Schiefelbein (Chile), Juan Carlos Tedesco (Argentina), and Jorge Werthein (Brazil). The Technical Secretariat of the Commission will be chaired by INEAM (OAS). Cooperation in Distance Learning In order to promote educational development in the framework of new methodological and technological paradigms, the Vice Presidency of ICDE for Latin America and the Caribbean has just launched an Electronic Newsletter. The newsletter strives to make opportunities available to the educational community of the region, promote and foster communication between its agents, and at the same time create a new form of collaborative work. The newsletter will be published three times a year and will offer content in four main themes, including news of interest for the region. http://www.econ.uba.ar/www/icde/index.htm ISTEC: E-Inclusion, Emerging Technologies and Entreprenuership in the New Millenium The University of São Paulo and the Ibero-American Science and Technology Consortium announce the XV ISTEC General Assembly, which will take place November 28 to December 2 in the Rebouças Convention Center in São Paulo, Brazil. The main theme of this year’s assembly is e ³ = e-Inclusion, Emerging Technologies and Entrepreneurship for the New Millenium. The program will begin with the III International Symposium of Digital Libraries (SIBD) on Monday, November 28 through Thursday, December 1. Parallel meetings and seminars will be offered on the topics of Digital Inclusion, Emerging Technologies and Entrepreneurship. The Science and Technology Entrepreneurship for Economic Development (SEED) will holda its First Conference on December 5 and 6 at the Universidad Estatal de Campinas (UNICAMP), approximately 100 kms. from Sao Paulo. http://www.istec.org/ga/ Creating and Managing Virtuality Registration is still open for the 14th International Meeting of Distance Education’s “Creating and Managing Virtuality: Realities and Virtualities in Education”, organized by the University of Guadalajara, through its Virtual University, in the framework of the XIX International Book Fair held in Guadalajara, Mexico from November 28 through December 2. http://www.udgvirtual.udg.mx/articulo.php?id=207 Program in Digital Technologies and Knowledge Society Registration is open until December 12 for this program offered by UNED-Spain with the possibility of specializing in either e-learning or in digital information and communication technologies. The program objectives include: knowing and analyzing the process of convergence of methods in the knowledge society; producing and managing digital platforms; developing design and production models; and developing collaborative working projects via network. Interested students can register for the complete course or independent modules for the title of Specialist or Expert, or once all credits are completed, apply them to a Master’s degree program. http://www.uned.es/ntedu/espanol/menumaster.html Multilingual Thesaurus The Council of Europe announced the launching of the first multilingual thesaurus available free of charge through the Internet. The program is a lexicon of terms that is structured to demonstrate the relationship between concepts. The Thesaurus aims to “help experts in cultural heritage to find the right terms and concepts in different languages and to retrieve relevant information in the European Heritage policy databases”, explained the organization in a press release. Over 500 terms are available in seven languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Bulgarian, Polish and Slovak), and an additional 11 languages will be added at a later stage. http://www.european-heritage.net/sdx/herein/thesaurus/introduction.xsp Blackboard to Acquire WebCT Two leading providers of enterprise software and services to the education community, Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) and WebCT, Inc., announced a definitive agreement to merge. Under terms of the agreement, Blackboard will acquire WebCT in a cash transaction for $180 million. The transaction will combine two pioneering academic e-Learning organizations into a single company with the client base, resources and expertise to uniquely meet the rapidly evolving needs of educators around the world. http://investor.blackboard.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=177018&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=767025&highlight= http://www.educoas.org/portal/es/tema/editorial2005/nov05.aspx?culture=es&navid=1 We appreciate your interest and participation in the activities of the Educational Portal of the Americas. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Please send all messages to portal@oas.org. If you have received this message in error and would like to cancel your free subscription, please send a message to portal@oas.org and include "Cancel Newsletter Subscription" in the subject window.