<nettime> UNESCO and M$

[Anivar <anivar.aravind@gmail.com>]

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=MSUNESCOPREMEA.xml

[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

-- 

   .-"""-.                     Anivar Aravind <anivar@riseup.net>
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