Project description:

During 2002 the EU arranged two major regional e-Caucasus conferences. They provided an invaluable forum for bringing together government officials, businessmen, civil society activists and representatives of international donor agencies from the South Caucasus region to discuss the prospects of Information Society in the region.

Each Country has established a National Research and Education Network Association (nRENA) as non Governmental Organizations (NGO) with license to operate a digital network infrastructure for universities, educational and research institutes.

Based on these structures, the EU funded Project "Development of e-Societies in South Caucasus" (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia - EuropeAid/118678/C/SV/Multi) is now a prime opportunity for the introduction of modern online educational services with state-of-the-art courseware (e-Content) to be developed in close cooperation with mainstream education Institutions in the region.

A team of international experts, coordinated by IMC, the successful contracting company is located in the region, working in each country office with a local Project Manager and supported by "trainees".

Necessary hardware and software will be purchased and implemented in each country in an "e-Learning Center" together with the nRENA experts. The technology will be based on the SILKnet, a satellite operated broad band communication network, supported by NATO and implemented by the national NGOs (ARENA, AzRENA, and GRENA).

All the work will be done in close cooperation with local higher education institutions. Skills, equipment and experiences in all aspects of e-Learning gained during this project should sustain beyond the lifetime of the project and contribute significantly towards economic growth in the ICT sector in each country.

For further information please visit the project homepage at http://www.esocieties.info