<<February 18, 2008>>
Archived distributions can be retrieved at;
<http://preview.tinyurl.com/35zedj>
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Margaret E Ngwira <mengwira@kcn.unima.mw>
P. Tapio Varis, Ph.D., Professor <tapio.varis@uta.fi>
Kaisa Kautto-Koivula <kaisa.kautto-koivula@kolumbus.fi>
Dr. Boubakar Barry <boubakarbarry@gmail.com>
Dear Margaret:
(1) Many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT I) in response to my following list
distribution;
(02/16/08)
Procedures to get the Japanese ODA for ICT development in developing countries
http://preview.tinyurl.com/3bmozd
(2) I visited the
web site <www.ubuntunet.net> of the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) of the UbuntuNet Allianc with great interest.
Their objectives and functions are very much similar to our GUS so that the
NRENs can be vehicle to become the GUS of the countries where the NREN members
belong, as you proposed.
(3) We do not need to create a new wheel. The GUS can provide them with
additional Òflavor.Ó
For example, the GUS currently has a project status of the GUS/UNESCO/UNITWIN
Networking Chair Program under the auspices of Prof. Tapio Varis at the
University of Tampere, Finland. He would certainly welcome each of GUS to
become member of this chair program — see the followings;
(a) Agreement
signed with UNESCO,
http://preview.tinyurl.com/rsftc
(b) Annual report submitted to UNESCO about GUS/UNESCO/UNITWIN Networking
Program
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2xntj7
(c) Book for UNESCO Conference in JyvŠskylŠ, Finland, 15-18 June 2003
http://preview.tinyurl.com/kofpf
Another example is that our Finnish colleagues attained the world #1 ranking of
DAVOS Forum and OECD for their education and vocational training.
They are now preparing to offer their e-courses to Turkish students at TOBB
Economic and Technology University in Ankara so that their students would be
prepared to take some jobs in Finland after their graduation — this is to
go along with the globalization movement of commerce and industry. Their
outstanding students may also have some opportunity to study at Finnish
university with scholarship — see;
(02/07/08)
Respectfully requesting your help
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2ro69n
As mentioned in it, this is to create the so-called 21st Century Version of the
Fulbright Exchange Program, which was firstly proposed by Prof. Hinoraka through
the Japanese governmentÕs information media.
(4) Kaisa is now preparing a grant proposal to the European Commission for
institutionalizing GUS at the workshop which is to be held at the University of
Tampere in August of 2009 — see;
(02/01/08)
Finnish Noblesse Oblige Project for Paradigm Shift and Change the World
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2kx63c
Your NREN people may attend it to contribute their experiences for the
formation of the GUS.
(5) Each GUS would work on the following categories;
<http://preview.tinyurl.com/2svbmd>
<http://preview.tinyurl.com/2wqxbk>
The
word ÒUniversityÓ has a connotation of Òuniverse.Ó Hence, the university
in remote/rural areas of developing countries ought to act as the knowledge
center of their community for the eradication of poverty and isolation through
the use of advanced Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
The university has to provide not only e-learning and e-healthcare services to
their community, but also to lead their community development.
It also ought to be the gateway for globally collaborative research and
development as fostering the Global Creative Economy in the borderless
Knowledge Society of the 21st century.
Mission of GUS:
GUS aims to build a higher level of humanity with mutual understanding across
national and cultural boundaries for global peace.
The GUS helps higher educational institutions in remote/rural areas of
developing countries to deploy broadband Internet in order for them to close
the digital divide.
The GUS education thus will promote world prosperity, justice, and peace, based
on moral principles rather than political or ideological doctrines. The
aim is to achieve "education and healthcare for all", anywhere,
anytime.
Goal of GUS: The
GUS is a world-wide initiative to create broadband Internet infrastructure and
educational programs for access to educational resources across national and
cultural boundaries for global peace. Education and job skills are the
keys in determining a nation's wealth and influence.
Activities of GUS:
GUS has group activities in the major regions of the globe in partnership with
higher learning and healthcare institutions. They foster the
establishment of GUS in their respective regions, with the use of an advanced
global broadband Internet virtual private network. Those institutions
affiliated with GUS become members of the GUS/UNESCO/UNITWIN Networking Chair
Program located at the University of Tampere in Finland.
Students in these regions will be able to take their courses, via advanced
broadband Internet, from member institutions around the world to receive a GUS
degree.
These students and their professors from participating institutions will form a
global forum for exchange of ideas and information and for conducting
collaborative research and development with the use of emerging GRID networking
technology.
(6) Pls read through the following paper, -- particularly Section IX ÒAction
Plan,Ó which describes steps how to create GUS;
Al-Azab,
M. and T. Utsumi, (2007), "Creation of Global University System in
Egypt (GUS/Egypt),"
Paper for "ICT-Learn 2007" conference in Cairo, Egypt, September 2 to
4, 2007
http://preview.tinyurl.com/ypkaqo
(7) The best example of the Japanese governmentÕs ODA is the case when the
University of South Pacific in Fiji established their USPNET via satellite;
<http://preview.tinyurl.com/2r7h6w>
The Japanese government put up US$13 million (additional $3 million later) for
this project. Most of the money went to the Japanese electronic
companies, such as Hitachi and NEC, etc., for their manufacturing dish antennas
(*), which were installed by their engineers at the University of South Pacific
in Fiji and a dozen branch campuses at the nearby islands. Three of them
were connected with the USP campus at 128 Kbps, and others at 56 kbps through a
transponder of INTELSAT, which was spare back-up, and thus, at free of charge.
Those hardware equipment were made with the Japanese money, but they
could not supply contents of e-learning courses because Japanese did not have
sufficient English capabilities.
(*)
thus, helping and stimulating Japanese economy with Japanese taxpayersÕ money.
Therefore, Australian and New Zealand governments put up US$ 1 million each so
that their university professors could go to the USP in Fiji and then provide
their e-courses from their home campuses. I was fortunate to have been
invited to the inauguration of this USPNet some years ago, though I did not
contributed to its creation at all.
<http://preview.tinyurl.com/2ptote>
We hope to emulate the
multi-lateral support approach of the USPNet mentioned above.
(8) Pls visit my following list distribution;
(02/14/08)
Idea for Trans-Africa Ultra High Speed Optical Fiber Network
http://preview.tinyurl.com/3x4roy
In it, I informed you the Japanese governmentÕs renewed eagerness to help
African countries.
I then think that it would be very good timing for you to submit grant application
to the Japanese government. We would be more than happy to help you on
this regard.
Pls feel free to ask me any further questions. Looking forward to
receiving your next response,
Dear Dr. Barry:
(9) Many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT II).
I am very much encouraged with your positive reaction.
(a)
About TICAD IV, pls visit;
The Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African
Development (TICAD IV)
From 28 to 30 May,
2008, Yokohama, Japan
<http://www.undp.org/ticad2/news-20080126.shtml>
(b) You may also contact with;
Nicholas Gouede
Programme Specialist
TICAD/UNDP Africa Bureau
United Nations Development Programme
tel: + 1 212 906 5954
fax: +1 212 906 6958
nicholas.gouede@undp.org
(c)
Yomiuri Japanese newspaper (January 15, 2008) said that the trans-Africa
highway will be announced at this TICAD IV by the Japanese government. It
also said that the Japanese government will ask help to the bank officials of
G8 countries at the 4th Africa Infra Consortium meeting which will be held in
Tokyo next month.
(d) Laying 960 Gbps optical fiber line at the both side of the highway (960
Gbps x 2 = almost 2 Tera bps) is my idea, as following the Japanese KDDI laying
the same (but 640 Gbps) between Japan and Siberia as submarine cables.
Anyway,
this would be the best opportunity for deploying such optical fiber cable.
If you miss, it would be very difficult to have next opportunity, thus,
wishing you a very good luck for your presentation.
Pls feel free to contact me if I can be of any further help to you.
Best, Tak
ATTACHMENT
I
From: Mrs M Ngwira <mengwira@kcn.unima.mw>
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:51:41 +0200 (CAT)
To: <utsumi@columbia.edu>
Cc: <johnannewin@gmail.com>, <deppenschmidt@gmail.com>,
<gu-new@friends-partners.org>
Subject: Re: [gu-new] (02/16/08) Procedures to get the Japanese ODA for ICT
development in developing countries
Tak, I read the detailed advice you are giving below about establishing
GUS in countries. Does this differ from the NRENs that comprise
UbuntunetAlliance (www.ubuntunet.net )and that the Alliance seeks to
foster and develop in Estern and Southern Africa? Our NRENs bring
together health research, tertiary education and in Malawi's case,
agricultural research - are NRENs and GUs synonymous? It is hoped in the
case of the Alliance that Inter-Ren connectivity plus submarine access
will be part of the fibre connectivity solution --- but of course funding
becomes a major challenge. Let us hope you advise that the NRENs may be
the vehicle.
Best wishes
Margaret
University of Malawi and UbuntuNet Alliance
ATTACHMENT
II
From:
Boubakar Barry
<barry@aau.org>
Date: Mon, 18
Feb 2008 18:58:23 +0000
To: <mengwira@kcn.unima.mw>
Cc: UbuntuNet
Alliance Board <ubuntunet-alliance-board@ssvl.kth.se>, "Takeshi
Utsumi, Ph.D." <utsumi@columbia.edu>, <secgen@aau.org>
Subject: Re:
FW: [gu-new] (02/14/08) Idea for Trans-Africa Ultra High Speed Optical Fiber
Network
Dear
All,
The AAU can advocate for this, especially as we are preparing with the AU the
work plan for the implementation of the Second Decade of Education for Africa
(the AAU has been designated by the AU as the implenting agency for the higher
education component). A meeting with the AU will take place in Accra in a few weeks;
however, we need more information on the upcoming TICAD and especially on the
trans-African highway in order to put the fibre issue on the table.
Thank you
Boubakar
List
of Distribution
Margaret E Ngwira
College Librarian and Secretary, MALICO
Kamuzu College of Nursing
University of Malawi
Private Bag 1, LILONGWE
Malawi
Tel: +265 (0)1 757 456
Cel: 09-955-856
Fax +265 (0)1 756 090
mengwira@kcn.unima.mw
tnmngwira@globemw.net
mgtngwira@hotmail.com
http://www.kcn.unima.mw
and
Interim Secretariat
UbuntuNet Alliance
http://www.ubuntunet.net/
P. Tapio Varis, Ph.D., Professor
Acting President, Global University System
UNESCO Chair in Global e-Learning with applications to multiple domains
Professor and Chair of Media Education
Research Center for Vocational Education & Hypermedia Laboratory
University of Tampere
P.O.Box 229
FIN-13101 Hameenlinna
FINLAND
Tel: +358-3-614-5608--office in Hameenlinna
Tel: +358-3-215 6243--mass media lab in Tampere
GSM: +3358-50-567-9833
Fax: +358-3-614-5611
tapio.varis@uta.fi
tapio.varis@hamk.fi
tapio.varis@helsinki.fi
http://www.uta.fi/~titava
www.ecml-eu.org -- about ECML project.
http://www.uta.fi/conference/mediaskills/
and
Principal Research Specialist
Unesco-Unevoc International Centre for Technical and Vocational
Education and Training
Gorresstr 15
53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel: +358-335-51-3608
Fax: +358-335-51-3611
t.varis@unevoc.unesco.org
www.unevoc.unesco.org
Kaisa Kautto-Koivula
Ph.D.(educ.), Lic.Techn., Docent
Adjunct Professor, New Learning Environments
Tampere University
Tampere, Finland
Mobile: +358 400 403 632
kaisa.kautto-koivula@kolumbus.fi
or
Kruununtie 8 C
02180 Espoo, Finland
Dr. Boubakar Barry
Coordinator, Research and Education Networking Unit
Association of African Universities (AAU)
P.O.Box 5744 Accra North, Ghana
Tel: (233)21 774495/761588
Mobile: (233)24 6682059
Fax: (233)21 774821
barry@aau.org
boubakarbarry@gmail.com
Website: http://www.aau.org
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* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman, GLOSAS/USA
*
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.)
*
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education
*
* Founder and V.P. for Technology and Coordination of
*
* Global University System (GUS)
*
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-5913, U.S.A.
*
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Email: utsumi@columbia.edu
*
* http://www.itu.int/wsis/goldenbook/search/display.asp?Quest=8032562&lang=en
*
* http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/
*
* Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676
*
*******************************************************************************