Message-ID: <mailto:Pine.SUN.3.91.950624143508.3679C-100000@solar.rtd.utk.edu> Date: Sat, 24 Jun 1995 14:41:59 -0400 From: Tak Utsumi <mailto:utsumi@SOLAR.RTD.UTK.EDU> Subject: Final report of round-table mtg about ITU/GTU in Geneva To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L
<<06/24/95, 8:34 am>>
Dear Electronic Colleagues:
(1) I am taking the liberty of distributing the Final Report of the Round Table meeting on the establishment of Global Telecommunication University (GTU)/Global Telecommunication Training Institute (GTTI) project which was held by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), theN specialized agency for telecommunications issues, in Geneva, Switzerland on May 29 to 31, 1995.
I would like to wholeheartedly congratulate the meeting organizers for this successful event, since I believe this was the major step forward for the proliferation of Global Information Infrastructure (GII), an initiative made by the U.S. Vice President Al Gore.
Should you be interested in this project, pls contact;
Mr. Johan Ernberg (Fax: +41-22-730-5484) Coordinator Telecommunications Development Conferences Telecommunciations Development Bureau (BTD) International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Place des Nations CH 1211 Geneva 20 Switzerland +41-22-730-5090 mailto:JOHAN.ERNBERG@itu.ch
(2) I would like to suggest that all attendees of the discussion meeting on "Toward Global Electronic Distance Education" of our Global University (GU)/Consortium for the Advancement of Affordable Distance Education (CAADE) in Washington, D.C., on July 10 to 11, read this report carefully, since this can be a valuable reference to our discussions.
BTW, the Geneva mtg organizers will present this report and their project via audio teleconference during our mtg in the morning of 7/10th.
The ITU's GTU is for the development of human resources in the telecommunican sector, while GU is for all levels and fields. As freely acknowledged, ITU's planning was somewhat influenced by experiences gathered by GLOSAS and its vision of Global University.
Since the fostering telecom specialists is a basis and vital necessity for the establishment of global electronic distance education, especially in the Third World countries, we will work together closely.
I was delighted to hear from the Geneva mtg organizers the possibility of GTU team members in various countries participating in our "Global Lecture Hall (GLH)" (TM) multipoint-to-multipoint multimedia interactive videoconference, at the occasion of the VIth International Conference on Distance Education in Costa Rica on October 25th.
(3) I apologize the duplication of this distribution to those people who attended/will attend the mtgs in Geneva and/or in DC.
(4) Notations:
BAAP: Buenos Aires Action Plan USTTI: ?
VTC: ? ICTP: ? DDL: ? TTI-Europe: ? USAID: U.S. Agency for Internationa Development LDCs: Less Developing Countries
Best, Tak ****************************************
ATTACHMENT
Date: Fri, 09 Jun 1995 15:22:24 +0100 (CET) From: Andrea Corral +41 22 730 5192 <mailto:ANDREA.CORRAL@itu.ch> Subject: GTU ==================================================== OMITTED HERE BY T. UTSUMI <<06/24/95, 8:58 am>> ====================================================
Dear Sir/Madam,
Please find attached the Final Report of the GTU/GTTI Round Table meeting (Geneva, 29 - 31 May 1995).
Its participants expressed the wish to continue the GTU gopher-based conference and to follow up the discussion list (gtu_list).
The existing GTU gopher-based conference will be closed at the end of June, while a new one, with a new structure, will be opened. They also agreed to propose new topics and structure for the new conference, and to send their suggestion in the two weeks following the round table.
The new structure should reflect the most urgent concerns as expressed both in the Round Table meeting and in the GTU electronic conference.
Suggestions/comments from people interested in the GTU/GTTI who did not participate in the Round Table are most welcome: the best solution is to post them directly to mailto:gtu_list@itu.ch. If you have no mail address, you might as well send your suggestions via fax, letter or telex.
All the information received will be posted under the topic "Restructuring the GTU/GTTI electronic conference".
The discussion list (gtu_list) will be kept physically on the ITU mail-server, in order to facilitate the participation of people who are sending to ITU headquarters their contribution via fax, letter or telex.
The gopher-based conference, a sort of browsable archive of the GTU discussion list, will be hosted in Colombia by ITEC - Telecom. More detailed information will be sent as soon as available.
Following your interest in GTU/GTTI you have been automatically included in the GTU_LIST. However if you wish to remove your name from this list you can:
- Send an E-mail message to: mailto:mailserv@itu.ch: In the body of the message: unsubscribe gtu_list.
- Send a fax to +41 22 730 5484 (BDT/FOP/HRD)
- Send a telex to: 421000 ITU CH
Yours faithfully, Renato Cortinovis BDT/FOP/HRD ****************************************
Following is the GTU/GTTI Final Report and the list of participants.
THE GTU/GTTI Round-Table Meeting 29-31 May 1995
FINAL REPORT
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 As a result of the ITU's long experience in the area of Training and Human Resource Development (HRD) for Telecommunication, and in particular, in the building of cooperative network among telecommunication organizations, the need for the GTU/GTTI project was included in the Buenos Aires Action Plan.
1.2 As a result of the existing network in HRD and Training aspects, and of the needs and expectations expressed by members of this network in different meetings and Regional/World Development Conferences, the enhancement of the effort to provide training to developing countries was approved; the GTU/GTTI project was included in the BAAP, with emphasis on the use of information technologies and telecommunication networks to complement the traditional training activities prevailing so far.
1.3 In order to start implementing the GTU/GTTI project (included in BAAP-Program No 2: HRD), an electronic conference was established and a round-table meeting was organized. The aim of this meeting was to finish the brainstorming initiated in the electronic conference, and to produce some references for further developing the GTU/GTTI concept.
2. PROFILE OF THE PROJECT
2.1 GTU/GTTI: long discussions took place, in relation with the traditional university concept and the real objectives of the GTU/GTTI project. A consensus could not be reached on the name to be used, and the participants in the round-table meeting referred either to the GTU (Global Telecommunication University), or to the GTTI (Global Telecommunication Training Institute).
2.1 MISSION: the GTU/GTTI's mission is to train human resources for telecommunication(a) development by making optimal use of appropriate modern technologies, using as much as possible distance learning methodologies.
(a) Including broadcasting.
2.3 PURPOSE: the purpose of the GTU/GTTI is to assist in meeting the performance needs of developing countries(b) by training constituents*, on a non-discriminatorbasis. The GTU/GTTI must be at the leading edge in training as regards technology and the management aspects of the changing telecommunications environment.
(b) As defined by the United Nations. * Administrations, operating companies, course providers, service providers and users (e.g. financial institutions, medical organizations, schools).
2.4 OBJECTIVES:
$ To improve the match between, and to cater for, evolving needs and offers, ensuring a high standard of quality of educational content and
delivery;(c)
(c) Subject matter to be defined.
$ To convene Administrations, telecommunications operators and development agencies etc to coordinate training efforts;
$ To link partners, users and others to provide viable services which meet the on-going training needs at optimum cost;
$ To develop, in the short term, one or more projects building on ongoing infrastructure and content, while expanding the technological and educational horizons (dynamism, flexibility, multicultural environment).
3. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
3.1 The discussion dealt with structural and operational options for the GTU/GTTI. Many issues raised in contributions to the electronic conference preceding the face-to-face meeting were further examined and assessed.
3.2 It was considered premature to enter into detailed exploration of major options concerning the governing bodies, locational issues, legal structures or ways and means of funding and pooling of resources.
3.3 The on-going electronic exchange process on these matters should continue as a most fruitful collaborative exercise of "collective brain-storming". That will in due course facilitate the appropriate organizational design to be outlined in a feasibility study.
3.4 It was basically agreed that the eventual organization of the GTU/GTTI should be open, interactive and participatory. As it would be driven by access to Internet, ITU Ties, etc., ITU's role in helping developing countries to connect to the evolving network is particularly important.
3.5 Proposals for the immediate future focused on the idea of a networking structure along client-server lines that should be cost-free for the ITU, i.e. the project has to pay for itself. Organizations such as the USTTI can be useful and one may also consider contracting out.
3.6 The issue was raised of constituting a coordinating body and how to ensure that the organization remains flexible, tailored to evolving specific needs. Indeed, organizational schemes that are too "blocky" may prove difficult to handle. The institution must not be institutionally heavy but should coordinate matters in a "light-footed manner".
3.7 There are now excellent examples, using the World Wide Web (WWW), which combine an attractive "public" point of entry to services with a "gateway" to specific content. The public entry point, if well done, can give a good impression of the sponsoring organization (e.g. the GTU/GTTI). The gateway to specific content can ensure that only those people who have paid for these services can have access. This allows the providers of content to receive payment. We should use the ITU as a coordinating body - a way of a training institution which enables pooling of resources to solve specific requests.
3.8 A distinction should be drawn between training and information stocked for reference. The clearing concept is too vague without more precise needs analysis. If the clients are represented on one of the governing boards, then we will solve a number of problems.
3.9 In view of the forthcoming Telecom '95 event, it was stressed that
ITU will present its on-going activities, practicing the web concept, as developed with and in Colombia and Costa Rica. ITU is also planning to put on the Virtual Training Center (VTC) at Telecom '95. The research group in Ohio have already set up a web site in assembling comments made to the electronic conference and the present meeting.
3.10 A distinction was made between the bottom-up approach and the top-down approach in the setting up of a university. Teacher training is an eminent practical issue. A virtual library as well as the encyclopedia approach are not yet a training system. However, the material contained in the resources of the International Sharing System could be the basis for our work. It is important to ensure that the technology is not too costly.
3.11 A short discussion on financial sources, including both start-up and operational funds, took place and identified the kind of contributions, including revenue from sales that could eventually be developed. Partnership fees and cost-sharing mechanisms were also referred to.
3.12 In summary, the organizational structure will depend on the functions of the GTU/GTTI. Thus, for example, to operate an "electronic market place" for training suppliers and users requires only a light organization and much fewer resources than if the GTU/GTTI should also be responsible for quality assurance and certificates. These issues are further elaborated in the section on academic matters.
4. MARKETING MATTERS
The discussion concentrated on the analysis of needs. The discussion can be summarized as follows:
4.1 It is noted that BDT (e.g. Study Group 2, Question 5/2), will perform a training needs analysis.
4.2 The GTU/GTTI needs analysis should be complementary to the above and concentrate on different, dynamic approaches, to ensure that constantly evolving and predictable needs are made visible.
4.3 It is noted that such an analysis should make use of the existing information available in ITU and World or Regional/National Organizations.
4.4 The International Sharing System, that presents available courses, reflects (partly) currently existing training needs.
4.5 It has been pointed out that the most effective needs analysis is done by executing concrete existing training needs.
4.6 An important aspects of the needs analysis was identified: access to electronic services like the Internet.
4.7 Efforts should be made towards the motivation of Administrations or Operators on the benefits of training investments.
4.8 Efforts should also be made to make visible the advantages of modern distant learning technologies.
5. ACADEMIC MATTERS
5.1 The chairman introduced the subjects that were to be discussed, as listed on page one of the distributed material, and each matter was dealt with in order.
5.2 As for the target population matter, emphasis was placed on the difference between customers (the companies providing telecommunications services) and the consumers (the students).
5.3 It was pointed out that from the electronic conference, it was clear that the GTU/GTTI should address engineers, managers and administrative staff as well as technicians.
5.4 A question was raised on whether the course level should be the same for all of the target population, or whether it should take into account the particular needs of each student. Different models could be used for different kinds of students, according to their particular needs. It is important to take into account the profile of the participants.
5.5 Emphasis was placed on the fact that the purpose of the GTU/GTTI is to train for specific telecommunications needs and not to educate towards obtaining a professional degree. The possibility of having the training directed only to workers with an academic degree must be considered. It should be done preferably at the place of work, and in a dynamic manner. The purpose is to increase te efficiency at the working place.
5.6 The level of entry and of achievement of each particular course must be defined.
5.7 There are two ways of imparting education: The traditional concept of a university in telecommunications, with presencial students; and the continuous-education programs, which are the sense of GTTI.
5.8 As for the accreditation matter, it was fist said that it may be enough if the institution imparting a specific course certified its completion. But, later on, the idea of offering a suite of courses was presented, in which each course would be certified by the institution imparting it, and the suite could be certified by the GTU/GTTI.
5.9 The question was raised on whether all countries had the right training material to cover the courses prerequisite for the GTU/GTTI courses (initial education).
5.10 It was said that audio/video based courses could be enough in many cases.
5.11 The needs for specific training will come from inside the companies with the target population, and it is the purpose of the GTU/GTTI to fulfill these needs.
5.12 The gap between teachers and personnel in telecom administrations should be bridged. (Many teachers are never in touch with the operating personnel.)
5.13 There is a difficulty in some countries to achieve training in remote areas. The GTU/GTTI will try to offer that on-site training, using, as one of the resources, the interested carrier's own network.
5.14 The GTU/GTTI will not try standardize hardware, but use what is already available, and adapt the courses to it.
5.15 As for quality assurance, it was said that one way to achieve it was through interviews with the students.
5.16 The issue of quality versus effectiveness was raised. Both are important, but effectiveness could depend upon the trainee's administration.
5.17 The recommendations of the International Standardization Organization (ISO) for quality measurement could be followed.
5.18 Another possibility is to let the market decide how good the courses are.
5.19 As for evaluation, the questions raised were: what should be evaluated, by whom and what should be done once the evaluations have been made.
5.20 At a first stage, it was proposed to use the already available courses before developing new ones. Courses should be self-motivating and self-paced.
5.21 A remark was made towards the fact that the interaction among participants to a course can change its outcome. This interaction will not be easily available with courses delivered through electronic means.
5.22 It was proposed to allow people to try out the courses and to drop them if they did not feel at ease.
6. PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK
6.1 As a conclusion of the brainstorming about the GTU/GTTI long term mission, the ITU expressed satisfaction with the outputs of the two days' discussions. Indeed, these outputs will provide a valuable framework for the further elaboration of the feasibility study. At the same time, some immediate actions can already be initiated. This will create a dynamic situation for the elaboration of the final vision of the GTU/GTTI organization.
6.2 The participants expressed the wish to continue the electronic conference. The ITU agreed and proposed to re-structure it and to create topics for discussion. It was agreed that the delegates would propose the different topics for this new electronic conference, and would send their suggestions in the two weeks following the round-table.
6.3 In order to keep those who do not have access to the electronic conference informed, the Human Resource Development Quarterly (HRDQ) was proposed as a possible media of information. Another means could be the publication of short notices in the ITU monthly Newsletter.
6.4 The vital link of this project with the work of the Study Groups was stressed: the outputs of the Study Groups, which are permanent reflection groups, will help the GTU/GTTI in defining the courses to be offered to meet the most important needs in developing countries. The GTU/GTTI activities will start with some short-term actions, such as enhancing of the ISS (International Sharing System) to include profiles, needs and other information in the area of HRD and Training. The first steps will be implemented to build blocks of courses, materials, facilities, etc., to pave the way for the GTU/GTTI in the long run.
6.5 It was proposed to prepare some computer-based presentations and/or pamphlets for use/distribution at the next TELECOM 95 event in October 1995, for marketing the existing facilities and for advertizing the GTU/GTTI project.
7. PILOT PROJECTS
7.1 Description of projects already run by the ITU, the VTC, the Eastern Europe Project, etc.;
7.2 Assessment of difficulties and successes;
7.3 Gopher setup by the ITU;
7.4 Call for commitment on the part of the participants. Four such commitments were made (see attachments);
7.5 Other comments: the need to find a way of having tutoring information for the tutor at the same time as the students working with the new material;
7.6 Language and interpretation problem, - interpretation to become an integral part of the overall effort;
7.7 The need to make the saving gained by working virtually explicit;
7.8 A plea was made to focus on pilot projects in Africa;
7.9 There was a call for a concrete action plan for the GTU/GTTI including a time frame;
7.10 The GTU/GTTI activities to be coordinated with regional activities already undertaken, thus benefiting from mutual inspiration;
7.11 Focus on the highest level people in telecommunications organizations was suggested. ****************************************
Attachment 1 - Proposal by ICTP, Trieste, Italy
Taking into account specific training needs of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in the field of broadcasting technical planning (BTP), the following trial project is proposed:
To tailor and execute a training programme in BTP that should use a combination of traditional clasom and electronic distance learning technology for ABU members. Partners in this endeavour would be the ABU, the ITU/BDT/HRD and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics.
Financial resources are expected to come from ABU members and other providers.
Attachment 2 - Telemalta Corporation
With reference to the objectives of the above-mentioned meeting, Telemalta would be very pleased to form part of the committee which undertakes the feasibility study.
Telemalta would also be prepared to donate as an in-kind contribution, a short-distance learning course on a telecommunication management topic, to be defined at a later stage.
It is suggested that this course would be made available on the ITU data base to any ITU member country having access to the Internet.
Addendum to Attachment 2 - Telemalta Proposal
Potential collaboration proposed by DDL and by TTI-Europe.
Attachment 3 - Proposal by DDL
To elaborate a proposed action plan for the GTU/GTTI, to be presented to the ITU within approximately a week.
Attachment 4
Proposal by the Canadian International Development Agency to participate in the area of extension of electronic networking capability in developing countries, particularly in Africa. This participation to be in collaboration with the ITU and the members of the group already addressing this question (i.e. the World Bank, USAID and others).
Addendum to Attachment 2 and/or 4:
The 1994 ITU course for telecom managers from 25 African countries in Gambia on financial strategies for telecommunication investment in cooperation with the private sector could be focused on ways and means of financing the extension of electronic media to African LDCs.
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ==================================================== OMITTED THE REST BY T. UTSUMI <<06/24/95, 9:17 am>> ====================================================
********************************************************************** * Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D. * * Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education * * Founder of CAADE * * (Consortium for the Advancement of Affordable Distance Education) * * President, Global University in the U.S.A. (GU/USA) * * A Divisional Activity of GLOSAS/USA * * (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.) * * 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-3998, U.S.A. * * Tel: 718-939-0928; Fax: 718-939-0656 (day time only--prefer email) * * INTERNET: mailto:utsumi@columbia.edu; Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676 * **********************************************************************