MoU signed to promote e-Learning in Pakistan

["Irfan Khan" <khania2@super.net.pk>]

From: "SDNP Info" <info@isb.sdnpk.org>
To: "Comp-list" <comp-list@isb.sdnpk.org>
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 17:05:48 +0500

MoU signed to promote e-Learning in Pakistan
The Nation, By Our Commerce Reporter, 18/10/2002
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/today/business/bn2.htm

LAHORE–Virtual University, United Nations Industrial Development
Organisation (UNIDO) and Trade Information Network (G77TIN), Thursday
announced the signing of a tripartite MoU; to promote E-Learning in
Pakistan.

In a Press conference held here at a local hotel, the G77 Trade
Information
Network through its strategic alliance with Serebra Learning
Corporation,
owns, and has acquired rights to distribute, a range of computer
based
training courses (Courseware), Courseware deployment systems, and
associated
trademarks and trade names to provide High Quality Web Based Training
(WBT)
at nominal costs to the underprivileged of the 133 developing
countries of
the G77, UN.

The first E-learning portal of Pakistan, www.cims.edu.pk, an
initiative of
WOL was launched last month, in collaboration with G77-TIN.

It has been informed that the UNIDO is carrying out multi-dimensional
activities throughout the developing world for sustainable economic
and
industrial development, poverty alleviation, environmental protection
and
human resources development by promoting the transfer of technology
by
applying modem technologies such as E-learning and building
partnerships and
exploiting synergy with international and domestic players.

Virtual University (VU), one of the top priority projects of the
Ministry of
Science and Technology, intends to exploit the potential of
Information
Technology as a key contributor to the socio-economic development of
Pakistan. To further that aim and promote E-learning in Pakistan, it
would
value add to the online Courseware by providing physical facility for
authenticating of students who take these courses and to certify the
E-learners after course completion.

The goal of this partnership is to support the impressive growth in
Pakistan
’s E-learning sector, by improving both, the quantity and quality of
its IT
professionals. The Pakistan market is clearly huge; however, people
are
disillusioned by the insufficiency of existing IT courses in finding
them
suitable jobs, or in enabling them to continue higher studies abroad.

Based on the TBT titles made available by Serebra to G77 TIN at
nominal
rates for the G77 countries, Pakistan’s first Virtual University is
developing appropriate packages of instruction and student testing
mechanisms in close consultation with the IT industry. “This is the
standard
industrial approach to quality,” says Dr. Naveed Malik, Rector of the
Virtual University. “If our product is to be acceptable to you, our
output
quality control specifications must match those of your incoming
quality
control.”

At the same time, efforts are being made to gain recognition of these
courses by leading international universities.

Once again, examinations will be devised to match the requirements of
those
universities. Depending on whether the student wishes to study
further, or
start working immediately, he/she will be able to sit for different
kinds of
exam. Finally, an instructional package is being made available to IT
teachers.

“To strengthen the giant tree that the Pakistan IT industry has
become,”
says Dr. Malik, “you have to nourish the roots: the teachers.” G77
TIN has
searched carefully for the right channel partner in Pakistan to
promote its
mandate of providing high quality IT training to the underprivileged
masses
of the developing countries.

“It has found that partner in the Virtual University, which has an
excellent
national telecommunication infrastructure and provides educational
facilities nationwide,” said Asad U. Shah Director Strategic
Alliances of
Gil TIN. Virtual University will immediately have access to the
Serebra
courseware library and Serebra’s technology platforms: the
Serebra.Net
Corporate Learning Management System for Learning Service Provider
delivery.

“Serebra’s content is just what we have been looking for:
comprehensive,
pertinent, and easy to manage. Above all, what impressed us is their
flexibility in addressing the massive education potential, and a
commitment
to the long haul,” said Dr. Carlos Suarez Chanduvi the Country head
of
UNIDO, Pakistan.

Dr. Chanduvi further remarked that: “I commend G77TIN for this
initiative
and would like to add that Serebra’s superior content, coupled with
the
flexibility of their packaging and the affordability and ease of use
of
their learning technology, will go a long way in developing skills of
the
workforce. This e-learning mechanism will provide affordable and
flexible
online computer-based learning access for lifelong learning, and
professional career enhancement.”


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