Contents

1. The Third Annual Symposium of Learning International Network Consortium The Massachusetts Institute of Technology 27th-28th October 2005Cambridge, Massachusetts, USAThe e-learning initiatives to reduce poverty and support socio-economic development in Lao PDRBy: Ms. Sisavanh BOUPHA Deputy Director General, Department of Science and Technology

2. Contents • Introduction • Education and ICT • E-learning definition • Case study • Challenges • Links with economy issues • Future Plan

3. Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) • Capital: Vientiane • Area: 236.800 Sq Km • Population: 5.549.000 • Mountainous: 70% • Language: Lao, Thai, French andEnglish • GDP per capita: US$331/an • Economy: Agriculture based

4. Introduction • LaoNet the first public e-mail centre at the National • Polytechnic Institute in Lao PDR in December 1994. • There is a National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES). ICT becomes a priority factor for socio-economic development particularly in support of all governance activities at • the central and local levels. • Distance learning in “Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie” (AUF) in Vientiane, Lao PDR (2002). • Project of ASEAN Virtual Institute of Science and Technology • (AVIST) at STEA (2005). • The e-learning education has been recognized its importance and • experimented among some of the students and professionals to • upgrade their studies and knowledge.

5. Education & Academic Community • Universities • National University of Laos, NUOL (Vientiane Capital) • Souphanouvong University (North) • Champassak University (South) • Colleges (10-20) • Goverment and Public : 5 -10 • Private: 5-10 • Research Institutes (5-10) • NAFRI National Agriculture and Forestry Institute (4 Research Centers) • Research Institutes in the Ministries

6. NUOL Students (Excluded of Special/Night time course ) Number of Student Years

7. Schools and access to ICT • The San Francisco Jhai Foundation together with Schools Online and local partners is setting up the first Internet Learning Center in the rural high school of Phon Song. • MoE plans to provide two secondary schools in each province with a computer and internet access by the year 2005. • Not yet public primary or secondary school have access to the Internet.

8. Human Resource devoted to R&D (FTE)

9. R&D Personnel by Sector of Performance 2002

10. National R&D Survey Domestic Expenditure Average Exchange Rate in 2002 (1 US$ = 10,000 kip) ** GDP of LAO PDR in 2002 is 1,805 Mil. US$

11. R&D Expenditure by Source of Fund

12. Internet Situation in Lao PDR • 3 registered ISPs: GlobeCom, Laotel and STEA. • 9.000 internet users in September 2001 (a ratio of 1.63 Internet users for every 1’000 inhabitants of Laos). • Internet Access Fee: US$ 0,76-1,51 per hour in November 2001 (Internet Cafes). • Hi-speed Internet Leased Line available from 64 Kbps to 1024 Kbps. • LANIC (Lao National Internet Committee) operating international gateway for public administration since 2002.

14. THAICOM LANIC CAT(BBK) ETL NUOL Fiber link THAICOM SUBIC LAOTEL IXP KPL SINGNET Fiber link Optic fiber Wireless Copper wire LANEXANG PLANET SPEEDCAST Internet and ISP Networking in Lao PDR STEA

15. E-Learning Definition E-learning means an approach to facilitate and enhance learning through the use of devices based on computer and communications technology. Such devices would include personal computers, CD-ROMs, Digital Television and Mobile Phones. Communications technology enables the use of the Internet, e-mail, discussion forums, and collaborative software.

16. E-Learning • E-learning is expected to be an effective learning • system for enterprise, government staff, pupils and • self-learners. • Education: • 1- Primary/Secondary • 2- Higher education and University • 3- Adult education, staff education • 4- Lifelong education

17. Case study ASEAN Virtual Institute of Science and Technology (AVIST) • AVIST is an e-learning network for continuing professional development and advanced studies in science and technology with opportunities for real practice experience at participating institutes. • Three e-learning courses: • Bioinformatics. • Introduction to Technology and Innovation Management. • Eco-tourism • Learners at AVIST e-learning courses can learn at their own pace, anywhere and anytime. The course contents and communication means are in English. • The web site is http://www.avist.org

18. ASEAN Virtual Institute of Science and Technology (AVIST) • Three types of registration:

19. AVIST Infrastructure Temporary face-to-face training room at partner institutions Satellite Permanent Learning Resources Centers at local universities/institutes Content Flow AVIST Content Center LAN Primary Content Dissemination Center Internet Cafes Secondary Content Dissemination Center Dial-up from homes / offices Secondary Content Dissemination Center Tertiary Content Dissemination Center Tertiary Content Dissemination Center Tertiary Content Dissemination Center

20. Agence Universitaire de France (AUF) • The distance learning is taken place in the “Agence Universitaire • de la Francophonie” (AUF) in Lao PDR since 2002. AUF will offer • the scholarships for the selected excellent candidates on the • distance learning. • There are many disciplines: economy and rights, ICT and • engineering science, electronic and communication, life and • earth science, medical science and fundamental science • (chemistry, mathematics). • The Number of students registered in the year 2004-2005 are 86 • including 12 students from Laos. • The web site called http://foad.refer.org

21. Lessons learned • These courses are significant for the students and teachers at the university to upgrade their knowledge and skills, to keep aware of ICT technology for education and to share information with others. These do not mean that we succeeded at making significant economic change. • The number of Lao students is very small. They are not much interested in the topic. In addition, the course is done in English and French language. • The context might affect to the future priorities for poverty reduction. We have to examine and consider the aid projects in this sector for the linkages to the wider economy.

22. Challenges • Lack of financial resources to education. • Lack of telecommunications and public infrastructure. • A demographic and geography characteristic necessitate • an understanding of the main income sources. • Poor quality of education, shortage of teachers and learning • materials and curriculum inappropriate to the needs of development. • Cost fee of internet is high. High long distance call charges lead to • high costs for national access. • Lack of standards in both public and private sector related to Lao • script, software and hardware for LAN, WAN, and Intranet. • Lack of R&D on ICT. • Lack of coordination leading to duplication and inefficiencies of the • activities.

23. Poverty reduction • The National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy is a comprehensive framework for sustainable growth and poverty eradication focus on the improvement of the poverty situation in the poorest districts. ICT has been prioritized as an important tool to enhance productivity and will help to create conditions • for support economic development. • Create a supportive environment for intraregional trade, • promote a cooperation mechanism for an knowledge based society/economy, develop HRD and enhance institutional capacity building. • Encourage the cooperation with private sector and international community.

24. Links with economic issues • Key issues: Rural and urban development • Provide industrial structure, telecommunication services, increase • level of compulsory education, improve quality of education, • promote population distribution in balance between urban and rural • areas for revenue distribution, develop IT and technologies for food • production and distribution, medical technologies for health care and • create employment. • Development of agriculture, industry, trade and commercial services • Develop grass-root economy in key areas such as: agriculture, rural • industry combine with IT by providing specialized technical • education and strengthening SME enterprises to enhance self- • sufficiency and viability of domestic economy. • Develop curriculum and learning materials for exploiting indigenous • knowledge to be marketed and competitive with others. • Promote trade policies and international trade.

25. Links with economic issues (Cont.1) • Labour and skills • Provide education and research in new technology areas • (biotechnology, genetic engineering, new materials,…). • Improve e-learning technologies and multimedia technologies. • Balance between local and global aspects • Provide contents with balance between local and global aspects, • technology transfer and self-reliance.

26. E-learning for long-term sustainable economic growth • Productivity • Increase markets • Improve living standard • Increase human and information capital • Create jobs • Revenue growth Market opportunity Labour, Products and Services Markets Price Quality Service Certification & Accreditation Operations Management Learners Analysis R&D and innovation Regulatory and Anti-poverty Policy • Satisfaction • Low-Cost • Social needs • Production Course wares • Broadcasting & Distribution • Create new products and services • Develop research aligned with • targeted growth areas • Invest in infrastructure • ICT policy • Economic growth • Promote FDI and trade • Education and HRD • Incentive framework • Promote public-private • collaboration • IPR • Standard and security Human Capital Skills Knowledge Values Information Capital (Systems, Databases, Networks, Curriculum development and Technology) Organizations (Linkages, Culture of creativity and innovation and Competitiveness) Enterprises Learning Institutes STEA NUOL

27. Future Plan • Infrastructure • Policy • Regulation frameworks • Research and development • Investment

28. Lao National Research & Education Network Internet …China-Vietnam Thailand-Singapore-Malaysia… (TEIN) NUOL STEA NAFRI (A-ISP) Other Gov. Uni. Private Colleges Research Institutes Research Centers • Proposed basic topology : • Research and Education Community in Lao PDR • Case of NUOL acting as an Academic ISP

29. Members of Lao NREN (Estimation) Phase I : NUOL (Main Campus), NAFRI, STEA Phase II : MOE, Other Faculties, Library of NUOL, National Library… Vientiane College, Lao-American College … Phase III : Other Universities (Souphanouvong, Champassak University) … Other Research Institutes or Centers (attached to the Ministry)

30. China SH / GZ Vietnam Hanoi Vinh 430km Vientiane Thailand Khornkean U. Bangkok Cambodia ETL Fiber backbone & The proposed Academic backbone to TEIN Province District Phase 1 (2001) Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 (Dec. 2004) CSC (Link to TEIN2) CSC ports to Inter. Other possibility ports

31. Connection to TEIN2 • 1. CSC cable x*2.4Gbps SDH ... - Shanghai – Hanoi – Vientiane – Bangkok - Kuala Lumpur – Singapore - ... • 2. Satellite (not preferred) • Interconnect to ThaiSARN in Thailand and/or STEnet in Vietnam • Demand for bandwidth is high • Sustainable solution depends on cost

32. Trans-Eurasia Information Network (TEIN)

33. Comparison of methods

34. POLICY • Linkthe National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy to • the National Socio-Economic Development Plan. • Establish an Information Superhighway Network with high • speed data transmission over fiber optic cables and regional • telecommunications connections to facilitate training, capacity • building on human resource development and establish a • National Internet Exchange Network for ISP for making the cost • affordable to the users. • Promote and support the wide utilization of distance learning and • e-learning as well as facilitate universal access through networking in • order to ensure the enhancement of capacities and increase • employability. • Develop R&D on ICT to promote distance and e-learning. • Promote digital interchange in Lao language.

35. POLICY • Promote FDI, trade, incentive frameworks, ICT policy and develop • local ICT enterprise on multimedia content and electronics • services. • Linking learning institutes between the public sector, private • sector and enterprises for wide utilization of information. • Develop closer cooperation with international organizations in • priority areas: infrastructure, IT, HRD and economic development. • Promote certification and accreditation of e-learning network at • national and regional level to improve competence of human • resources. • Raise an awareness of the public on the importance, benefits • and advantages of e-learning for poverty reduction and support • socio-economic development. • Prepare the young generation towards the universe of new • technology.

36. Regulation frameworks • Cyberlaws • Cybercrime • Cybersecurity • E-commerce • Information, IPR and Consumer protection • Digital Content Management • Privacy

37. Research & Development • Promote joint Research and Development in areas having • potentials for commercial applications with the involvement of • public and private sector. • Establish a Technology Transfer Network to facilitate the • pooling of information on the availability of technologies • and experts with the enterprises/R&D organizations.

38. Investment • Telecommunicationsand PublicInfrastructure • Human Capital • Information Capital

39. Conclusion • Not a fast moving in implementing e-learning system due to • limited financial resources and human capacity. • Get government support and encourage the involvement of • private sector and local community. • Promote the cooperation with international organizations in • priorities areas through various training courses, e-learning, • seminars, workshops and exchange of visits among experts. • Focus on the solid content in service to the teaching and learning • for poverty reduction and support economic development not • only the enormous investment of networks and technologies.

40. Thank you very much!