Outline of GLOSAS Projects

I. Introduction

The dawn of the twenty-first century comes with a digital revolution and economic globalization with a New Economy. We are moving towards a global knowledge society where information skills and competence become the driving forces of social and economic development. Effective learning requires upgraded multimedia educational materials, preferably distributed using broadband Internet applications. The use of these applications for global distance learning and telehealth/telemedicine must be efficient and cost-effective, enabling educational institutions to foster global citizenship and achieve "education and healthcare for all" at anytime and anywhere. The Internet will be the main telecommunication media of tomorrow. Broadband Internet holds great promise for improving multimedia distance learning and healthcare capabilities in global scale, especially in rural and isolated areas that are not well served by commercial network providers.

II. GLOSAS/USA

The GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A. (GLOSAS/USA) is a publicly supported, non-profit, educational service organization and is a consortium of organizations dedicated to the use of evolving telecommunications and information technologies to further advance world peace through global communications. GLOSAS fosters science and technology based economic development to improve the quality of life.

Over the past two decades GLOSAS/USA played a major pioneering role in extending U.S. data communication networks to other countries and deregulating Japanese telecommunication policies for the use of e-mail (thanks to help from the Late Commerce Secretary Malcolm Baldridge). This triggered the de-monopolization and privatization of Japanese telecommunications industries. This movement has later been emulated in many other countries. This effort helped in extending American and other countries' university courses to under-served developing countries and the conduct of innovative distance teaching trials with "Global Lecture Hall (GLH)" (TM) videoconferences using hybrid delivery technologies.

III. Tampere Workshop

Thanks to generous funds from the InfoDev of the World Bank, the US National Science Foundation, Finnish Ministry of Education, the British Council and many others, a highly successful International Workshop and Conference on "Emerging Global Electronic Distance Learning (EGEDL)" was held in August, 1999 at the University of Tampere in Finland -- see <http://www.uta.fi/EGEDL> for the compilation of the conference materials.

The event brought together about 60 decision-makers and leaders in distance learning and telemedicine from 14 underserved countries who discussed practical solutions for the implementation of affordable global electronic distance learning across national boundaries. They brainstormed on the formation of the following three;

1. Global University System (GUS) (TM),
   
2. Global Broadband Internet (GBI),
   
3. Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF) (TM).

The group formulated specific pilot projects focussed on major regions of the world to reduce the growing digital divide between information rich and information poor populations, as realizing “education and healthcare for all,” at anytime and anywhere.

IV. Global University System (GUS)

The goal of the GUS is to improve the global learning and wellness environment for people in the global knowledge society where the global responsibility is shared by all. A central theme is the sharing and exchange of knowledge among educational, research, industry and trade sectors. The GUS will (1) seek open, egalitarian and culturally transparent methods to achieve improved learning and healthcare worldwide, cooperating closely with people around the world, (2) harness the emerging technologies of broadband Internet connectivity among institutions of higher learning in developing countries to provide learners of all ages with global distance learning across national and cultural boundaries, (3) foster youngsters around the world with creative competition for excellence through affordable and accessible broadband Internet, (4) coordinate and facilitate national and international regional systems which will support and complement the traditional institutions of learning and healthcare, by using conventional methods in tandem with advanced electronic media.

The GUS has group activities in the major regions of the globe. They are developing their pilot projects in;

1. the Asia-Pacific region (with Manila in the Philippines as its first target, and then with Japan, China, Pakistan, Western and South Pacific),
   
2. North America (for indigenous peoples in the states of Arizona and Montana and in Calgary in Canada),
   
3. Central America (e.g., Costa Rica and the Caribbean),
   
4. South America (mainly with UNAMAZ consortium in Amazon basin in initial stage, Argentina, etc.),
   
5. Europe (firstly with Ukraine), and
   
6. Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, etc.).

Each of those regional groups with partnerships of higher learning and healthcare institutions will foster the establishment of GUS in their respective regions with the use of advanced global broadband Internet private virtual network which is to be financed by the Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF).

Each of these regional groups are now preparing to hold a mini-workshop;

1. to learn by the North American and European counterparts the current status of distance learning and telemedicine (including the delivery infrastructure) of the regional groups in the developing countries,
   
2. to learn the need of the regional groups in the future,
   
3. to present what can be (or will be) available from North America and Europe,
   1. via narrow-band Internet and ISDN, etc., i.e., through currently available telecom infrastructure,
      
   2. via broadband Internet when it is available,
      
4. to configure administrative and business schemes,
   
5. to make an action plan,
   
6. to plan, program and construct a joint fund raising proposal for a workshop / conference (as to follow-up to our Tampere event) with the people of the region. This event is to produce a concrete feasibility study, design of infrastructure and administrative structure, selection of courseware, etc.

The officers of the GUS are:

• P. Tapio Varis, Ph.D., Acting President,

  (University of Tampere, former rector of the United Nations University of Peace in Costa Rica);

• Marco Antonio Dias, Ph.D., Vice President for Administration,

  (former director of Higher Education of UNESCO);

• Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., Vice President for Technology and Coordination,

  (Chairman of GLOSAS/USA);

• Dr. Pekka Tarjanne, Trustee member,

  (former Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU));

• Fredric Litto, Ph.D., Special Advisor,

  (University of Sao Paulo and President of Brazilian Association of Distance Education);

• David A. Johnson, Ph.D., Special Advisor,

  (University of Tennessee, Former President of Fulbright Association).

Some of major regional activities are as follows.

A. GUS/Ukraine

Ukraine was chosen as the first targeted country for the operation of the European Regional Group of the GUS to establish a global distance learning system with global broadband Internet. The Open University/UK, the GUS and Ukrainian Distance Learning System (UDL) (a consortium of 27 Ukrainian organizations) <http://www.udl.org.ua/en/> is now planning to hold a workshop at the Open University. The UDL has been offering a dozen distance learning courses, mainly in business administration field. In close co-operation with the Open University, a Memorandum of Understanding was developed <http://www.friends partners.org/GLOSAS/Global_University/Global%20University %20System/Memo_of_Understanding/Cover_Sheet.html>.

The main purpose of this workshop are;

1. to configure the extension of distance learning courses available from the Open University/U.K. to Ukraine through the currently available Internet,
   
2. to plan a grant application for a workshop in Ukraine and for feasibility study/market survey of implementing a broadband Internet to Ukraine which application will be submitted to the InfoDev of the World Bank and other funding sources in Europe.

At this workshop, the Ukrainian delegation will establish new institutional partnerships in order to expand the market of educational services, to create market for distance education in Ukraine, professional development of local tutors for teaching in Ukraine and course content adaptation, quality and international quality standards, managing for quality in distance learning to receive professional recognition or accreditation (assessment of college's administrative and tutorial methods, educational materials, and publicity), and cross-cultural approach and joint research work.

B. GUS/Manaus, Amazon, Brazil

South America is the home of one of the world's unique environment, the Amazon Rainforest. The region was considered as an empty area in terms of human population density, particularly in the Brazilian side. Recently, the media called the world's attention to the deforestation and biodiversity loss problems that were happening in the region. The world was also concerned about the increasing problems associated with drugs. Those problems were clear indication that the empty area was starting to suffer the consequences of human activities.

These problems can be substantially minimized if the isolation problem is addressed. Isolation makes people unaware of their importance as citizens and promotes impoverishing and degradation of the environment and economic system. In these situations, people will not understand the importance to conserve the environment or how to benefit from it without compromise their own future as well as the future of future generations. Ultimately, such unawareness can perpetuate a cycle of economic and social poverty and environmental degradation.

The implementation of modern low-cost communication technology can drastically reduce the risks threatening the region. A broadband communication network connecting major universities in Amazona will promote the exchange of scientific information through universities of UNAMAZ (a consortium of 77 universities in 8 Amazonian countries), access to non-traditional education format, development of pharmaceutical and other industries associated to biodiversity, development of entrepreneurial activities related to distance learning and opportunities to cultural integration and understanding among the countries in the region. In addition, such a strong network will develop means and opportunities to establish a broadband connection with the rest of the world and to reduce or eliminate the current intercontinental connection constraints.

As the first step, colleagues in Manaus is now preparing a grant application which is to be submitted to the InfoDev of the World Bank and other funding sources,

1. to configure the availability of distance learning courses locally through the currently available Internet,
   
2. to hold a workshop in Manaus for feasibility study/market survey of implementing a broadband Internet in Manaus.

This project is a community development approach, firstly connecting non-profit organizations (elementary, secondary and higher education institutions, libraries, hospitals, local governmental agencies, etc.) and secondly with for-profit organizations, thus all applicable groups are inclusive. This activity is to be a model replicable to other localities and regions, as leading the use of the advanced Internet in various sectors of societies. The higher educational institution selected in the locality will have the broadband Internet satellite earth-station, and will become the major Internet Service Provider (ISP) to the local community of non-profit organizations. The higher education institution will then provide teacher training to secondary and elementary schools, and also act as facilitators and technical supporters to other non-profit organizations.

It is expected that interaction among the main universities of the international Amazona will contribute to disseminate information about alternatives to promote sustainable development in Amazona. At the same time, the region's population will have better access to healthcare information, which will contribute for a better quality of life. In addition, a number of distance learning courses will be developed what will decrease isolation and offer better opportunities for those living in the region. More information can be retrieved at

1. http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Tampere_Conference/Final_Report/Pilot_Project_Proposals/South_America/infoDev_Proposal_Form.html
   and
   
2. http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Manaus%20Workshop/Alex_slides_6-2 00/index.htm

C. GUS/Philippines

The GUS/Philippines has been formed as a consortium of the St. Luke College of Medicine, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Santo Thomas (UST), the University of the Philippines/Open University and STI Network of Colleges and Education Centers. They will establish distance learning demonstration projects in cooperation with the US counterparts. The consortium will explore technical capabilities and options, as well as match educational needs and resources, for the delivery of affordable, needs based distance learning in the Philippines and between the Philippines and the US, thus realizing global collaboration and partnership to ensure students' learnability.

They are now preparing a workshop at the St. Luke College of Medicine and at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines next spring with funds from the US National Science Foundation, Citicorp, etc. This is to collectively brainstorm on the formalization and solidification of the pilot project on international distance learning between the Philippines and the U.S.

The purposes of the workshop are to:

1. Introduce the aforementioned pilot project to Filipino,
   
2. Learn from Filipino about,
   1. current status of distance learning and telemedicine (including the delivery infrastructure),
      
   2. their need in the future, particularly when a broadband Internet will be available,
3. Present what can be (or will be) available from North America,
   1. via narrow-band Internet and ISDN, etc., i.e., through currently available telecom infrastructure,
      
   2. via broad-band Internet when it is available,
4. Discuss and plan the theme and program of the larger workshop/conference (as to the follow-up to our Tampere event -- for 3 to 4 or 5 days);
   1. to formalize the draft of the pilot project proposal,
      
   2. to make the feasibility study, action plan, etc. to realize the project of establishing domestic and international distance learning and telemedicine,
      1. firstly, via the currently available narrow-band Internet,
         
      2. in the near future, via the proposed global broadband wireless and satellite Internet,
   3. to configure administrative and business schemes,
5. Plan joint fund raising for the larger workshop/conference.

The telepresence demonstration with echocardiography will be performed at the conference by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. The echocardiograph signal of a patient on a tread mill in Manila will be sent to Michigan for diagnosis, as we have done during our Tampere event in Finland in August, 1999. However, this time, the 3D image of his heart will also be constructed as an upgraded feature. Both will be disseminated to the participants around the world via ISDN and Internet. This is a follow-up to our similar demonstration during our Manaus, Amazon, Brazil event on May 31 to June 2, 2000 -- see <http://lab-tiama.pop-am.rnp.br/cca/workshop/English/wksp_E.htm> and <http://www.teched.org/hist/yr00/brazil/>.

This demonstration is also to open the eyes of decision-makers for the value of broadband Internet so that they will install it in remote/rural areas of developing countries at their earliest possible time.

The global broadband Internet infrastructure also provides exciting opportunities for distance/distributed learning. Workshop presentations will explore applications, as well as technical strengths and weaknesses for sharing education, information, and resources throughout the world. Discussions are well underway among conference participants regarding the development and dissemination of education for engineers, healthcare providers, emergency medical professionals, and primary and secondary teachers.

The expected outcome of the workshop are:

• Formation of project/partnership teams
  
• Direction for collaboratively furthering global electronic distance education
  
• Assessment of the technical capacity and infrastructure setup in the Philippines
  
• Needs assessment and content for pilot projects
  
• Enhancement of human and infrastructure capacity (whenever required)
  
• Organization and implementation of distance learning (DL) courses
  
• Assessment of the effectiveness and sustainability of the approach established
  
• Development of a wider program to broaden the utilization of DL to other sector and specialties
  
• Strategy of joint fund raising for the projects of implementing selected DL courses
  
• Outline of the larger workshop
  
• Fund raising strategies for the larger workshop
  
• Conference report for public dissemination

D. GUSs in Other Regions

Colleagues in other regions mentioned above are at various stages of preparing similar workshop in their localities.

V. Global Broadband Internet (GBI)

GUS will foster the development of distance learning and telemedicine pilot projects using broadband Internet technology in order to enhance their teaching/learning capabilities. The GUS will also facilitate connectivity among current distance learning efforts around the world and will provide support and guidance to selected pilot projects intended to serve as models for adoption around the world.

Each regional satellite hub of the GUS will be connected with their counterparts in developed countries with the use of digital satellites across continents and oceans. However, if possible, it is desirable to use optical fiber terrestrial line to avoid time delay for the round trip to/from geostationary satellite. This is because such a time delay prohibits effective audio conversation which is absolute necessity of videoconferencing.

The each regional satellite hub will then be connected to regional constituent member organizations (elementary and secondary schools, higher education, libraries, hospitals, local governmental agencies, etc.) in mid-range (50 to 200 miles) apart from each other with the use of microwave broadband (1.5 to 45 Mbps) Internet networks.

Those organizations will then emanate the broadband Internet service further to similar nearby (up to 25 miles) organizations with wireless spread spectrum broadband (3 to 10 Mbps) Internet networks, which use does not require license in most of countries.

These are the so-called “fixed wireless” approach with the requirement of the “line-of sight,” and hence, this technology can be used only among buildings. The users have to belong to the organizations of the buildings, hence prohibiting the use of the broadband Internet by individual outreach students at their homes. The buildings with broadband Internet connection will then also become relay points for the so-called third generation “mobil wireless” units which are now rapidly appearing in the market, e.g., 96 Kbps or 164 Kbps Internet access in Japan and Europe. This advanced mobil wireless unit with laptop/notebook will realize distance learning for anyone, anywhere, and anytime with capabilities of Internet telephony, fax, voice mail, e-mail, web access, videoconferencing, etc.

This is not only to help local community development, but also assure close cooperation among higher, middle and lower levels of education, e.g., for teacher training, and courseware development, etc. In a sense, the regional satellite hub is to be the major Internet Service Provider (ISP) of the global private (exclusive) virtual network (PVN) for not-for-profit organizations in the region, and the gateway to the outside world.

VI. Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF)

Deployment of this high-speed Internet for education and health applications in developing countries would be financed with a Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF) which will use all available satellite and optical-fiber facilities to further the cause of worldwide distance learning, telehealth/telemedicine and other social services such as emergency warning and rescue.

Objective steps must be taken to:

• Reduce the cost of broadband connectivity to a level poor countries can afford.
  
• Create policy and regulatory frameworks conducive to the development of sustainable distance learning and telemedicine programs.
  
• Establish high-quality applications in sufficient developing country sites to demonstrate technical feasibility, increase demand, and build support for more extensive use of such technologies in developing country contexts.

The GSTF especially aims to ease the congestion of the international Internet lines across continents and oceans, for which no organizations have currently being taken care of.

Two separate contribution “funds” or “sources” would be established, an in-kind bandwidth transmission source and a financial assistance source. The Coalition for this GSTF ideally would include a broad coalition of commercial and governmental sources. These might include key international organizations such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and International Labor Organization (ILO) plus commercial satellite system providers, equipment manufacturers and providers of tele-education and tele-health providers. The Coalition would also include international development banks, bilateral aid agencies, foundations, and various types of companies contributing to the GSTF as well as organizations contributing education and healthcare knowledge.

The proposed GSTF would be financed from a variety of public and private sources, which could include:

• Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) funds of countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) with multi-lateral collaboration,
  
• Cash contributions from the profits of international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the regional development banks.
  
• Cash contributions from foundations and companies.
  
• Contributions in kind from companies owning under-used satellite transponders and/or fiber optic cable -- for these companies, the marginal cost of making available under used existing bandwidth is near zero, but providing it may build future markets for sale at (declining) commercial prices.

The GSTF’s bandwidth source might be allocated through a variety of means that might even include an auction process to organizers of distance learning and telemedicine projects in qualifying countries. Providers of services, might be required to make some commitments of resources and in-kind participation to qualify to use the GSTF’s assets. The cash source might be used for grants to such projects, with rules favoring poorer countries and end beneficiaries, assuring a certain geographical distribution of benefits between regions, and so forth. Grants might also favor international knowledge sharing. All grants would be made through open competitive process.

This activity is now being adopted by the newly established [Arthur C.] Clarke Institute of Telecommunications and Information (CITI) <http://www.clarkeinstitute.com/> and coordinated through GLOSAS/USA and the GUS. A credible, reliable, and competent structure will be established to administer the allocation of both the financial resources (which can be used to purchase bandwidth), as well as the in-kind donations of under-used bandwidth which would be solicited from its owners.

The GSTF will, however, eventually be an independent entity and be operationalized under the auspices of international organizations including INTELSAT, UNESCO, ITU, WHO, ILO, and the World Bank Group, with active participation by working groups to be convened by these organizations. These working groups would include representatives of other interested organizations, such as foundations, other NGOs, private companies involved in telecommunications, other private companies interested in distance learning and telehealth/telemedicine, bilateral aid agencies, regional development banks, and the like.

International institutions with the relevant mandates (ITU, UNESCO, WHO, and ILO, etc.) are being asked to convene the working groups on policy conditionality for a country to qualify for GSTF resources, and global institutions such as INTELSAT and the World Bank Group are proposed as conveners of the working group on operational questions.

Establishing the GSTF requires a critical mass of global support for these new organizations. The ability to mobilize financial and in-kind resources for the GSTF depends on the credibility of the membership of the coalition. That credibility would be furthered by early support from such key international entities as commercial satellite and fiber optic service providers, multi-national businesses, national governmental aid agencies, foundations, and agencies of the United Nations such as the ITU, UNESCO, WHO, ILO, the World Bank Group (including the International Finance Corporation), and the regional development banks (African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Inter-American Development Bank). No legitimate agency of standing would be excluded from participating. Creation of a preliminary coalition of participants to support the “source for bandwidth and key equipment” as well as the “financial aid source” would be critical to the initial testing of this concept.

To that end, the working group recommends that:

1. A more polished and developed draft of the proposal be put before major international conferences in 2001. Further it would be highly desirable for the Clarke Institute for Telecommunications and Information to undertake in partnership with others around the world to organize a Global Summit of World Leaders Concerning the Establishment of the GSTF.
   
2. An intensive effort be made to enlist the support of the leadership of the key international institutions mentioned above, facilitating the mobilization of bilateral aid agencies, foundations, and multinational corporations and to bring them together at a Global Summit in Washington, D.C. in June 2001.
   
3. Working groups on telecommunications policy conditionality, education policy conditionality, healthcare policy conditionality, and operational aspects of the Fund and the Coalition be convened respectively by ITU, UNESCO, WHO, and the World Bank. These working groups would include representatives of other interested international organizations, bilateral aid agencies, companies, foundations, and other NGOs, as well as of relevant information and telecommunications industry organizations, e.g., the Global Information Infrastructure Commission.

It is further hoped that providers of satellite or fiber optic system capacity would be willing to join in further working group discussions to shape the framework for the “pilot version” of the GSTF for distance learning and telehealth/telemedicine.

VII. Conclusions

The Tampere meeting was a study in contrasts, and clearly showed the enormous gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots". On the one hand, some of the players have tremendous resources with which to deploy broadband wireless technology; on the other hand, some must operate on a shoestring budget, and even lack adequate basic wireline services as a starting point. A major challenge will be to identify technology which will be appropriate (in terms of start-up and operating costs, maintainability by local people, etc.) in the "have not" situations.

Thanks to our highly successful event with extraordinary supports and cooperations of many funding sources, such as the World Bank, the US National Science Foundation, and colleagues around the world, substantial momentum for our Global Initiative is now building up to have follow-up workshops and conferences to forge ahead the establishment of the GUS with global broadband Internet and Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF) by multilateral collaborations.

VIII. Current Reference Websites

http://www.friends partners.org/GLOSAS/Global_University/Global%20University%20System/Reference_web_sites.html

Officers of Global University System