Jordan Times
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
School Technology Innovation
Centre launched
MoICT, Microsoft, HP, Intel and Cisco Systems announce a milestone in
progress towards the achievement of education initiatives
By Rami Abdelrahman
AMMAN — The government and Microsoft Corporation are increasing the level of
cooperation on the education and developmental fronts, a senior Microsoft
director said yesterday.
Following the launch of the “School Technology Innovation Centre,” Microsoft
Senior Vice President and CEO of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
Jean-Philippe Courtois told the press that Microsoft was now involved in several
projects with the government in addition to its participation in the Jordan
Education Initiative (JEI).
“Since we signed a memorandum of understanding with the government 15 months
ago, we worked closely on the agreement's four different pillars: Education,
digital inclusion, e-government and developing local information and
communications technology economy,” he said.
The new projects include a programme that allows donors to track their funds and
monitor the implementation of several Ministry of Planning projects.
He added that Microsoft had also made a financial contribution to the Queen
Rania Centre and the King Abdullah Fund, to help alleviate poverty in the
Kingdom.
Courtois noted that now, on his second visit to the Kingdom, he could already
see the tangible results of this cooperation.
“This morning, we saw 50 computerised ICT curriculum lessons developed at Menhaj
Technological Solutions in partnership with Microsoft and the ministry,” he
added, referring to the Ministry of Information And Communications Technology (MoICT),
the government's executive arm in developing the Kingdom's technology
infrastructure.
ICT Minister Nadia Saeed and Courtois said significant progress had been made
towards achieving education initiatives that are designed to provide the
necessary tools and technology to bridge the digital divide and create economic
opportunities for people throughout the country.
“We are delighted to witness the rapid progress being made through these public
and private sector partnerships,” said Courtois. “Today's opening of this
regional School Technology Innovation Centre and progress on the e-Village
Initiative are highly significant proof points of our commitment to working with
the government of Jordan as well as local communities to support digital
inclusion,” he added.
The centre, established in cooperation with Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Cisco,
and Intel, will provides a platform for the exchange of innovations and best
practices between schools, teachers, and local and international partners.
According to Microsoft, it is the first of its kind in the region, and designed
to share the Jordanian experience with regional countries.
“It will allow Jordanian e-learning companies to demonstrate their innovations
to the region, and further expand local business and knowledge in both the
region and the world at large,” Menhaj CEO Ghassan Lahham said in a statement
sent to The Jordan Times welcoming the establishment of this centre.
Also yesterday, MoICT, Microsoft and the United Nations Development Fund for
Women (UNIFEM) announced the e-Village Initiative.
The initiative will provide ICT opportunities in rural areas and ensure equal
opportunities for both women and children. It seeks to combine major national IT
initiatives into one pilot village, so that in addition to benefiting a rural
community, collaborating initiatives can work together, as well as share
resources, experiences and best practices.
Moreover, this initiative strives to assist the country in bridging its digital
divide, through providing ICT opportunities in rural areas and ensuring equal
opportunities for both women and men,” the ministry said.
Microsoft announced it would contribute $86,000 to the initiative.
UNIFEM Regional Programme Director of Arab States Regional Office Haifa Abu
Ghazaleh welcomed Microsoft's contribution. “The unification of the government,
UNIFEM and Microsoft's visions of ensuring that all Jordanian women and men have
equal access to ICT and skills needed to improve the prosperity of themselves,
their families, businesses, communities and country, while keeping in mind that
women today are a driving force in Jordan's society, has been a great reason for
success and is a model of partnership for other countries in the region,” she
said.
The `e-Village' will form a model, which will be replicated in other villages
and cities in Jordan. UNIFEM plans to take this model and tailor it to fit the
needs and requirements of other villages and cities throughout the Arab world.