Dear Friends,
M$ is targetting Education and Culture of Communities communities with the help of UNESCO. http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre/PressRelease.aspx?file=MSUNESCOPRE...
[quote] M$ and the UNESCO will focus on increasing the use of ICT through the following projects: Education and Learning
-- Syllabus for integrating ICT curriculum into teaching. UNESCO and Microsoft believe that ICT can play a significant role in improving teaching and learning, provided that teachers have the training they need to effectively integrate ICT into instructional design, planning and other critical components of education. With assistance from Microsoft, UNESCO will create resource materials supporting the development of curricula and training courses on the use of ICT for teachers and classrooms. The materials will provide content guidance to curriculum authors and course providers, as well as tools to help teachers, education policy-makers and others evaluate the effectiveness of available courseware. This multistakeholder project will draw on Microsoft's expertise in designing ICT products and services for education; in conjunction with its Partners in Learning and Unlimited Potential initiatives, Microsoft recently announced the global availability of two ICT curriculum series for use in schools and community learning settings. -- UNESCO Knowledge Communities. Utilising the Microsoft(R) Solutions Sharing Network platform, UNESCO will develop multiple online communities that allow international and national experts and agencies to exchange content and best practices, share tools, mobilise interested parties, and suggest solutions and strategies to address critical issues in education. Initial community themes will include Technology Solutions in Education, Multilingualism in Cyberspace and Information for All. -- Teacher support and knowledge sharing. UNESCO and Microsoft will explore how Microsoft's Innovative Teachers programme and its online community, the Innovative Teachers Network, can further UNESCO's aims in education. The Innovative Teachers Network connects a global community of educators and provides forums in which teachers can share ideas, content and best practices with other teachers who share a common interest in using technology to enhance teaching and learning. -- ICT access and skills training for teachers and students. UNESCO and Microsoft will also explore how Microsoft's Partners in Learning initiative can help advance efforts to improve education in developing countries. Partners in Learning seeks to deliver teacher and student skills development, tailored curricula, technical support and research, and increased access to technology by working with governments, local schools and teachers. UNESCO and Microsoft will explore opportunities to collaborate under Partners in Learning in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and Africa, Eastern Europe, and Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Community Access and Development
-- Youth technology and learning centres in the North African Arab states. Microsoft and UNESCO will establish a subregional technology centre that will provide North African youth with improved access to ICT and ICT skills development. The facility will share resources and expertise with other centres throughout the region, with the ultimate aim of helping develop North Africa's future work force. The project will draw on resources and best practices from UNESCO's international information and data exchange network INFOYOUTH, and Microsoft's Unlimited Potential initiative. INFOYOUTH organises national, regional and international consultations among a wide variety of stakeholders to facilitate exchanges of data, experiences and analysis on which national and international youth policies are based. Unlimited Potential focuses on improving lifelong learning for underserved young people and adults by providing technology skills through community technology centres. Under the alliance, UNESCO and Microsoft will also explore the potential to collaborate on additional Unlimited Potential projects. -- Computer refurbishment. UNESCO, in collaboration with Microsoft, will foster international cooperation and the sharing of best practices to support refurbishment efforts that can help developing countries increase access to cost-effective computer technology.
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Preservation
-- Local language development. UNESCO and Microsoft will explore ways to provide access to technology that preserves language and culture. As part of this exploration, UNESCO will provide consultation to Microsoft and support the company's efforts with local governments to prioritise and expand the number of languages served by its Local Language Program. Launched in early 2004, the Local Language Program is a global initiative that provides desktop software and tools in local languages by collaborating with local experts including governments, universities, language authorities and other interested parties. [/quote]
UNESCO is not the only one doing back room deals with Microsoft (and others) while paying lip-service to FLOSS. UNDP also has its double standards. Or if it is not that, they should at least come out and declare what the rationale behind it,. and where it is all leading.
This is a open letter to UNESCO i got earlier from MISTICA virtual Community, after getting some informaion abt this deal between UNESCO and M$. http://www.funredes.org/mistica/carta_unesco.htm?lan=en