Objective
The main goal of ICS e-learning is to improve both education and
communication at a distance through, interactive seminars,
training, conferences and distance learning course delivery. The
objective is to make available knowledge, tools and methods that
can help key training in specific thematic fields and/or
project-based activities within ICS-UNIDO and to deliver
distance-learning modules to facilitate the transfer of scientific
knowledge to industries and institutions in developing countries
and countries in economic transition.
Strategy
In order to disseminate scientific knowledge targeting the
highest number of scientists, researchers, students and their
institutions in DCs it is essential to use modern and wide-reaching
methods. Consequently, it is worth acquiring and utilizing
e-learning technologies and methodologies, and to re-organize ICS
instruments and activities in order to better use them within such
a new framework.
This can best be achieved through the application of building a
reference model based on best practices, content availability and
data collection, and by providing methods and techniques of
application, reference standards and conditions, content
management, and the use of rapid authoring tools, to ensure the
application of these practices.
The aim is to actively and rapidly develop and integrate
e-learning in an increasingly knowledge driven strategy through
making sure that the relevance of the content are focused on a
strategic range of actions in order to bring a broad dimension and
added value to the organization's objectives.
Start-up Phase
In 2009, the ICS adopted a pragmatic approach starting with the
production in a digital format of all the scientific events
organized by the Centre (conferences, workshops, expert
group meetings, seminars, advanced training courses, etc.) and
distributing them, free of charge in DVD format, to focal points,
institutions, research centres, universities, etc., as part of the
ICS network.
Such activity has two main objectives:
a) to meet the need of an audience suffering slow and costly
internet connection, as well as shortage of stable and viable
electricity, and;
b) to increase the number of participants (virtually) to ICS
events, and allow members of the network as well as the
participants to ICS events organize within their local institutions
similar events using the material produced and distributed by
ICS.
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The start up phase concluded in 2009 with the production of
18 events organized, including scientific seminars
(63) for a total of 426 hours of online content. An
estimated 3,400 DVDs were distributed via post, as well as
more than 200 e-tutors confirming their willingness
to organize virtual events in their home country
institutions.
To date, 10 virtual events have been organized in Uganda,
Madagascar and Mexico, with the participation of more than 250
students.
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Current Initiatives
The present initiatives revolves around a capacity development
package designed with trainees from DCs as the primary target
group, and outlines the requirements to provide transversal
knowledge management and guidelines for a successful distance
learning implementation.
The programme takes into account time constraints and resource
requirements, as well as current situation analysis of ICS training
facilities. It is proposed to expand on the proceeding e-learning
event recording services in ICS, focusing on development in three
phases, taking into consideration phase 1 has already been
partially completed in regards to audio/video (A/V) selection and
training area infrastructure. The three phases are:
1. setup of the initiative with exploration of needs
- ensure coherency of technologies, standards support
material, products.
2. development of an e-learning action plan, inclusive on
partnerships and collaborations - ensure interoperability,
accessibility, reusability and distribution.
3. e-learning course-ware implementation, monitoring and
promotion - ensure effectiveness, quality benchmarking,
evaluation of training, and viability.
Proposed intervention
What is proposed therefore is to augment the current
lectures-based methodologies with learning modules, providing
"interactive knowledge sharing" in an easy to absorb manner.
It is the intention to provide a catalog repository and to reuse
the material given by current lecturers, fellowship training, and
accumulated through the ICS knowledge exchange network.
Content delivery relates to the uploading of learning material
and resources to a Course Management System. The coordinators of
the thematic fields will be responsible for advising on the content
and ensuring coordination with associated experts.
The implementation of a course management system is fundamental
to both content acquisition and information exchange.
Partnership(s) for the ICS e-learning project
The ICS 2011 contingency plan foresees appropriate synergies
between the activities of the Centre and its associated
international scientific institutions, as well as with UNIDO and
its programmes. In fact, ICS is particularly attentive to any
possible complementarity and or subsidiarity between its programmes
and those carried out directly by UNIDO and/or by other centres
under the aegis of UNIDO.
The e-learning project of ICS is a clear example of how
subsidiarity is possible in the sense that the
know-how now being acquired by ICS could be utilized for a more
effective implementation of UNIDO programmes through distance
learning. Such cooperation would also result in more efficiency and
wider distribution of the technology transfer process.
