Newsletter April 2003

Call for Scholarship Offerings

Each year the OAS awards hundreds of scholarships for professional training courses. The scholarships, previously known as CHBA and PEC, are given for professional development courses in specialized areas of training and are organized through cooperation programs with the member states, observer countries, non-member countries, regional and/or international organizations, public and private sector agencies and institutions of higher learning.

The Department of Scholarships and Training of the OAS is requesting that institutions of academic excellence of the OAS member states, observer countries and non-member states, as well as regional or international organizations, and agencies present their scholarship offerings for professional development courses. As the necessary funds must be obligated before the end of the year, and considering the time required to select and announce the proposals, all offers must be sent by September 30. For information regarding the priority areas, mechanisms, procedures and application forms, please visit:

http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/becas/propuesta.aspx?culture=en&tabindex=44&childindex=154

E-Government for Regional Development

The use of technology in public administration is not a new phenomenon. The Internet revolution of recent years has employed a combination of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to produce almost unlimited possibilities for programming, integration, exchange and growth. According to David Osborne and Ted Gaebler, authors of Reinventing Government, the idea of applying ICTs to government functions as an "excuse" for change and as a cornerstone of efficiency and transparency in public administration began to gain recognition and earn a spot on government agendas during the end of the 1990s. This issue will be crucial in determining Latin America's ability to educate its citizens, offer health services, support business development, and attract foreign investment.

Please take a moment to visit our "Topic of the Month" and send us your feedback on this topic.

http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/tema/tema.aspx?culture=en&tabindex=36&childindex=0

Improving Quality in Basic Education

How do we improve schools? How do we offer training to participants who live far from urban centers or institutions that provide access to information and knowledge? These were some of the questions that led to the design and development of the course "Improving Quality in Basic Education", which was offered by the Virtual Classroom of INEAM between April and July.

We are pleased to announce that the course has been successfully completed by 300 students from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela (including several students from the only school in Antarctica). All of the students were able to participate directly from their homes or offices. Guidance and coordination was provided by tutors from Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. The course ended the last week in July with the students presenting projects and proposals on how to improve the quality of education in their own schools.

While in the Virtual Classroom, the participants not only had access to relevant content for improving their own daily practices in schools, but received multimedial training in the use of new information and communication technologies that could be applied to their future professional development, such as forums, chats, messenger, links to readings of interest, e-mail, etc.

The results of the course exceeded expectations. In fact, the experience demonstrated that distance teaching and learning can provide truly valuable opportunities for the development of the region.

Introduction to Electronic Government

Within the framework of IACD/OAS efforts to support the governments of the region in the development and implementation of electronic government projects, it will offer a course this November in "Introduction to Electronic Government". The course will introduce the basic concepts of electronic government, present the major elements of an electronic government strategy, and provide an overall vision of the development and implementation of projects.

This course will be offered to political and government leaders with decision-making abilities who are responsible for defining the vision of their institution and designing an adequate strategy. It will also be directed to public managers, as well as those with public administration posts who are responsible for implementing the vision and strategy defined by their superiors.

Electronic government can be applied at three levels of government: federal, regional or state, and local. Consequently, the course was designed with these three groups in mind and includes content that is relevant to all. Topics will include: introduction to electronic government, guidelines for preparing an electronic government strategy, analyzing successful experiences, and lessons learned.

The course is being developed with support from the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas, as well as from renowned experts in the field.

INEAM Scholarships for Distance Learning

In September 2002, the Director of the IACD/OAS approved the creation of the Institute of Advanced Studies for the Americas (INEAM), a virtual campus that strives to improve the human capital of the Americas by providing increased access to quality education and professional training and contribute to the acquisition and exchange of knowledge through an interdisciplinary and multi-sector approach. INEAM employs a combination of traditional, online and multimedia means for the delivery of its educational and training opportunities, including the Portal of the Americas (www.educoas.org) and the OAS Scholarship and Training Program.

As a result of the unprecedented increase in Portal users, as well as the growth of the scholarship program, at the end of June the IACD/OAS created two distinct areas for human development: one for Information Technology and the other for Scholarships and Training. As a result, the Department of Scholarships and Training is charged with managing the OAS Scholarship and Training Program that is financed by the Regular Fund and guided by the "Manual of Procedures of OAS Scholarship and Training Programs" approved by the political bodies.

With a view to promoting increased educational opportunities for students and professionals through online learning, particularly through the Portal of the Americas, the Department of Information Technology for Human Development--the operational headquarters of INEAM--is implementing the INEAM Scholarship Program for distance learning studies. These scholarships, to be offered jointly by the OAS and public- and private-sector partners, will not be subject to the rules and regulations governing the OAS Scholarship and Training Program. Instead, interested applicants will complete an online application through the Portal of the Americas (www.educoas.org) and will submit any required documentation directly to INEAM at its Washington, DC headquarters. A selection committee comprised of experts in the respective field will select and announce the scholarship winners. In some countries, support will be provided by sectoral offices (labor, economy, education, etc.), to facilitate the selection process. This new mechanism is expected to alleviate the work of the National Liaison Offices in the countries that frequently receive hundreds of requests and scholarship applications.

The program will take effect August 1, 2003 and is expected to make available over 6,000 scholarships between 2003 and 2004.

Tutor Training in Brazil

As a result of a collaborative effort between UNESCO-Brazil and the IACD/OAS, INEAM satisfactorily completed its first tutor training course in Brazil. More than 80 professionals from 14 states of the country participated in the course, which was coordinated by 15 tutors. Throughout the 3-month long course, activities were developed on: how to construct a theoretical framework of knowledge in schools, regional and local problems, strategies for change, and the method of preparing viable proposals. In particular, the participants developed advanced skills in the use of new information and communication technologies and in the use of virtual tools for educational means.

This activity will be complemented by an onsite seminar that is scheduled to take place during the second week of August at the Universidad de Brasilia. Both activities are preparatory work for a Portuguese-language training course that will be offered next September through the Portal. It is expected that over 600 Brazilian educators from 26 states will participate.

Virtual Educa Barcelona 2004

In the framework of activities of the Institute of Advanced Studies of the Americas (INEAM), the V Annual Conference on Education, Training and New Technologies will be held in Valencia, Spain on June 28-30, 2004.

As anticipated during the closing ceremonies of the last conference -held in Miami last June- the event will take place in the framework of the "Fórum Universal de las Culturas, Barcelona 2004". The main theme of the event will be: New Technologies in the Information Society: Education in the Age of Globalization.

Activities will include a meeting of ibero-American college presidents regarding higher education: internationalization as a cooperation mechanism in the ibero-American community; a seminar on transatlantic cooperation and the European Union. Special presentations will also be made in the areas of Electronic Government and Networks of Digital Libraries.

In addition to the IACD/OAS, institutions that have already pledged their support include: the Secretariat for Ibero-American Cooperation (SECIB), Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI), UNESCO, European Commission, Latin Union, Fundación Telefónica, Inter-American University Organization, Union of Latin American Universities (UDUAL), Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (CREAD), Ibero-American Association of Higher Distance Education (AIESAD), Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Spanish Association of E-Learning Providers (APEL), Microsoft and Redox, among others.

Beginning in September, the Portal will make available detailed informed regarding the preparatory work.

www.educoas.org/virtualeduca

Project Development: Signed Agreement Worth $6 Million

The IACD and Microsoft Latin America signed a cooperation agreement to stimulate the use the information technologies in the modernization of governments and educational management systems in Latin America and the Caribbean. The agreement was signed in Redmond, Washington during the recent Summit of Government Leaders organized by Microsoft. Participating in the signing agreement were: L. Ronald Scheman, Director General of the IACD, Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corp. and Eugenio Beaufrand, Vice President of Microsoft Latin America.

As a result of collaborative efforts carried out over the past two years, the need was identified to offer proven and easy to implement electronic government and educational management solutions. Solutions will include an electronic government portal to disseminate information that will gradually provide electronic services to citizens and businesses; a system to respond to citizen and business requests; and a telecenter management system to improve telecenters, which are the main tool for reducing the digital divide.

The agreement is valued at $9 million, of which Microsoft Latin America is investing $6 million in product licensing, training and consulting services. The IACD, together with donor institutions, businesses providing seed funding and beneficiary governments will contribute with the remaining 30%. It was agreement that 94 pilot projects will be launched. In each case, the participating government will provide equipment, content and human resources necessary to ensure the success of the project.

Click here to see previous Newsletters >>

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.


	August News: Call for Scholarship Offerings E-Government for Regional Development Improving Quality in Basic Education Introduction to Electronic Government INEAM Scholarships for Distance Learning Tutor Training in Brazil Virtual Educa Barcelona 2004 Project Development: Signed Agreement Worth $6 Million
	Call for Scholarship Offerings Each year the OAS awards hundreds of scholarships for professional training courses. The scholarships, previously known as CHBA and PEC, are given for professional development courses in specialized areas of training and are organized through cooperation programs with the member states, observer countries, non-member countries, regional and/or international organizations, public and private sector agencies and institutions of higher learning. The Department of Scholarships and Training of the OAS is requesting that institutions of academic excellence of the OAS member states, observer countries and non-member states, as well as regional or international organizations, and agencies present their scholarship offerings for professional development courses. As the necessary funds must be obligated before the end of the year, and considering the time required to select and announce the proposals, all offers must be sent by September 30. For information regarding the priority areas, mechanisms, procedures and application forms, please visit: http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/becas/propuesta.aspx?culture=en&tabindex=44&childindex=154 E-Government for Regional Development The use of technology in public administration is not a new phenomenon. The Internet revolution of recent years has employed a combination of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to produce almost unlimited possibilities for programming, integration, exchange and growth. According to David Osborne and Ted Gaebler, authors of Reinventing Government, the idea of applying ICTs to government functions as an "excuse" for change and as a cornerstone of efficiency and transparency in public administration began to gain recognition and earn a spot on government agendas during the end of the 1990s. This issue will be crucial in determining Latin America's ability to educate its citizens, offer health services, support business development, and attract foreign investment. Please take a moment to visit our "Topic of the Month" and send us your feedback on this topic. http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/tema/tema.aspx?culture=en&tabindex=36&childindex=0 Improving Quality in Basic Education How do we improve schools? How do we offer training to participants who live far from urban centers or institutions that provide access to information and knowledge? These were some of the questions that led to the design and development of the course "Improving Quality in Basic Education", which was offered by the Virtual Classroom of INEAM between April and July. We are pleased to announce that the course has been successfully completed by 300 students from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela (including several students from the only school in Antarctica). All of the students were able to participate directly from their homes or offices. Guidance and coordination was provided by tutors from Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. The course ended the last week in July with the students presenting projects and proposals on how to improve the quality of education in their own schools. While in the Virtual Classroom, the participants not only had access to relevant content for improving their own daily practices in schools, but received multimedial training in the use of new information and communication technologies that could be applied to their future professional development, such as forums, chats, messenger, links to readings of interest, e-mail, etc. The results of the course exceeded expectations. In fact, the experience demonstrated that distance teaching and learning can provide truly valuable opportunities for the development of the region. Introduction to Electronic Government Within the framework of IACD/OAS efforts to support the governments of the region in the development and implementation of electronic government projects, it will offer a course this November in "Introduction to Electronic Government". The course will introduce the basic concepts of electronic government, present the major elements of an electronic government strategy, and provide an overall vision of the development and implementation of projects. This course will be offered to political and government leaders with decision-making abilities who are responsible for defining the vision of their institution and designing an adequate strategy. It will also be directed to public managers, as well as those with public administration posts who are responsible for implementing the vision and strategy defined by their superiors. Electronic government can be applied at three levels of government: federal, regional or state, and local. Consequently, the course was designed with these three groups in mind and includes content that is relevant to all. Topics will include: introduction to electronic government, guidelines for preparing an electronic government strategy, analyzing successful experiences, and lessons learned. The course is being developed with support from the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas, as well as from renowned experts in the field. INEAM Scholarships for Distance Learning In September 2002, the Director of the IACD/OAS approved the creation of the Institute of Advanced Studies for the Americas (INEAM), a virtual campus that strives to improve the human capital of the Americas by providing increased access to quality education and professional training and contribute to the acquisition and exchange of knowledge through an interdisciplinary and multi-sector approach. INEAM employs a combination of traditional, online and multimedia means for the delivery of its educational and training opportunities, including the Portal of the Americas (www.educoas.org) and the OAS Scholarship and Training Program. As a result of the unprecedented increase in Portal users, as well as the growth of the scholarship program, at the end of June the IACD/OAS created two distinct areas for human development: one for Information Technology and the other for Scholarships and Training. As a result, the Department of Scholarships and Training is charged with managing the OAS Scholarship and Training Program that is financed by the Regular Fund and guided by the "Manual of Procedures of OAS Scholarship and Training Programs" approved by the political bodies. With a view to promoting increased educational opportunities for students and professionals through online learning, particularly through the Portal of the Americas, the Department of Information Technology for Human Development--the operational headquarters of INEAM--is implementing the INEAM Scholarship Program for distance learning studies. These scholarships, to be offered jointly by the OAS and public- and private-sector partners, will not be subject to the rules and regulations governing the OAS Scholarship and Training Program. Instead, interested applicants will complete an online application through the Portal of the Americas (www.educoas.org) and will submit any required documentation directly to INEAM at its Washington, DC headquarters. A selection committee comprised of experts in the respective field will select and announce the scholarship winners. In some countries, support will be provided by sectoral offices (labor, economy, education, etc.), to facilitate the selection process. This new mechanism is expected to alleviate the work of the National Liaison Offices in the countries that frequently receive hundreds of requests and scholarship applications. The program will take effect August 1, 2003 and is expected to make available over 6,000 scholarships between 2003 and 2004. Tutor Training in Brazil As a result of a collaborative effort between UNESCO-Brazil and the IACD/OAS, INEAM satisfactorily completed its first tutor training course in Brazil. More than 80 professionals from 14 states of the country participated in the course, which was coordinated by 15 tutors. Throughout the 3-month long course, activities were developed on: how to construct a theoretical framework of knowledge in schools, regional and local problems, strategies for change, and the method of preparing viable proposals. In particular, the participants developed advanced skills in the use of new information and communication technologies and in the use of virtual tools for educational means. This activity will be complemented by an onsite seminar that is scheduled to take place during the second week of August at the Universidad de Brasilia. Both activities are preparatory work for a Portuguese-language training course that will be offered next September through the Portal. It is expected that over 600 Brazilian educators from 26 states will participate. Virtual Educa Barcelona 2004 In the framework of activities of the Institute of Advanced Studies of the Americas (INEAM), the V Annual Conference on Education, Training and New Technologies will be held in Valencia, Spain on June 28-30, 2004. As anticipated during the closing ceremonies of the last conference -held in Miami last June- the event will take place in the framework of the "Fórum Universal de las Culturas, Barcelona 2004". The main theme of the event will be: New Technologies in the Information Society: Education in the Age of Globalization. Activities will include a meeting of ibero-American college presidents regarding higher education: internationalization as a cooperation mechanism in the ibero-American community; a seminar on transatlantic cooperation and the European Union. Special presentations will also be made in the areas of Electronic Government and Networks of Digital Libraries. In addition to the IACD/OAS, institutions that have already pledged their support include: the Secretariat for Ibero-American Cooperation (SECIB), Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI), UNESCO, European Commission, Latin Union, Fundación Telefónica, Inter-American University Organization, Union of Latin American Universities (UDUAL), Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (CREAD), Ibero-American Association of Higher Distance Education (AIESAD), Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Spanish Association of E-Learning Providers (APEL), Microsoft and Redox, among others. Beginning in September, the Portal will make available detailed informed regarding the preparatory work. www.educoas.org/virtualeduca Project Development: Signed Agreement Worth $6 Million The IACD and Microsoft Latin America signed a cooperation agreement to stimulate the use the information technologies in the modernization of governments and educational management systems in Latin America and the Caribbean. The agreement was signed in Redmond, Washington during the recent Summit of Government Leaders organized by Microsoft. Participating in the signing agreement were: L. Ronald Scheman, Director General of the IACD, Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corp. and Eugenio Beaufrand, Vice President of Microsoft Latin America. As a result of collaborative efforts carried out over the past two years, the need was identified to offer proven and easy to implement electronic government and educational management solutions. Solutions will include an electronic government portal to disseminate information that will gradually provide electronic services to citizens and businesses; a system to respond to citizen and business requests; and a telecenter management system to improve telecenters, which are the main tool for reducing the digital divide. The agreement is valued at $9 million, of which Microsoft Latin America is investing $6 million in product licensing, training and consulting services. The IACD, together with donor institutions, businesses providing seed funding and beneficiary governments will contribute with the remaining 30%. It was agreement that 94 pilot projects will be launched. In each case, the participating government will provide equipment, content and human resources necessary to ensure the success of the project. Click here to see previous Newsletters >> 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.