Youth Benefit From Regional IT Initiatives

ALKHOBAR, 4 January 2005 — Progress continues in the region in bringing technology resources into the education arena. Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia is reaping little benefit from these initiatives.

ITG’s EduWave, the Jordanian e-learning platform, has been ported to run on the open source Linux operating system using IBM’s WebSphere and DB2 in a joint effort between ITG and IBM. As a result of this effort, IBM will support EduWave as part of its open source e-learning solution platform for Middle East markets.

“EduWave is a great product that has the potential to revolutionize learning and learning management in the Middle East and beyond. We are delighted to be able to work with ITG to bring this highly advanced product to our customers,” said Bashar Kilani, manager, IBM Software Group, Middle East and North Africa.

The new version of EduWave will enable Middle East-based educational authorities to specify and deploy open standards-based national e-learning initiatives, using the Linux operating system rather than being “locked in” to proprietary software environments. The move to embrace open standards in the region has already seen the government of Bahrain adopting Linux as the core operating system of its national e-government initiative.

“We believe that the availability of EduWave on Linux is critical to government education authorities in the Middle East as many are now evaluating, and in many cases adopting, open source platforms as they build national e-government and e-education initiatives,” said Waleed Tahabsem, CEO, ITG.

The project in Jordan moved forward thanks to intensive development efforts between teams from ITG and IBM. Following extensive product evaluation by IBM’s architects, the project was supported by teams of developers and consultants from IBM’s Technical Development Center in Cairo, which makes available software development resources and support for Middle Eastern and global IBM projects.

EduWave is a learning management, instructional management, schools management, and content management system that provides a single, integrated resource for “e-learning.” The system integrates financial and management information capabilities for schools management with curricular and classroom management. EduWave allows teachers to access curricular material and monitor student performance and attainment and gives online access to curricular content, school related information and student attainments to parents.

The system is available in two editions: EduWave (K-12) and EduWave (Higher-Ed). It has been deployed to serve over 3,000 schools in Jordan, some 1.2 million students, over 50,000 teachers and some 5,000 administrators. EduWave has been adopted by the Jordanian government as its core national e-learning platform. EduWave is also being deployed as the core e-learning platform in a number of school districts in the US State of New Jersey. In addition, EduWave is being evaluated by Ministries of Education in several Middle East and European countries as they move toward building national e-learning initiatives.

“The opportunities in the regional and global e-learning market are enormous and EduWave stands as a unique product,” said Tahabsem. “It is the only comprehensive system being used ‘live’ today on a countrywide level in the region, supporting multiple integrated features and languages. We have also developed a vast range of curricular content from K-12, designed specifically for the educational needs of this region. We believe that our strong and ongoing relationship with IBM will consolidate that strong leadership position.”

New information and communication technology-related initiatives are being announced regularly in Jordan. Queen Rania recently inaugurated the country’s first Intel Computer Clubhouse — an after-school program set up to provide community-based technology-learning programs, enabling youth in underserved areas to acquire the tools necessary for personal and professional success.

Established in partnership with the Intel Corporation, the International Youth Foundation (IYF), the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) and the Museum of Science-Boston, the Intel Computer Clubhouse, set up at Queen Zein Al-Sharaf Institute for Development in Hashmi Al-Shamali, will serve young people aged 10-18. The program will give the youngsters access to high-tech equipment, professional software and volunteer mentors to help them develop the self-confidence and enthusiasm for learning they need to be successful in the future.

Queen Rania commended the establishment of the Computer Clubhouse, highlighting the importance of such facilities and the resources they constitute, for Jordan’s future generation.

“Thanks to the dynamic and proactive combination of the International Youth Foundation and the Intel Corporation, we now have a state-of-the-art computer clubhouse for Jordan’s youth. Enabling and encouraging our young generations to access the vast opportunities in the world of information technology is one of the greatest gifts we can give them,” she said.

Based on the Computer Clubhouse learning model created by Boston’s Museum of Science and the MIT Media Laboratory in 1993, the Intel Computer Clubhouse in Jordan is part of a network of more than 90 Clubhouses worldwide. The philosophy of the Intel Computer Clubhouse is to furnish a supportive learning environment where youth can build skills and self-confidence, as well as a future, working together with adult mentors who provide inspiration and serve as role models.

The clubhouse is expected to welcome as many as 60 youngsters a day who can experiment with technology as a tool for learning and creative expression and develop creative technology skills such as graphic design, music production, audio-visual editing and art work.

Christian Morales, Intel VP and GM, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, underlined his company’s belief in the importance for young people to have access to PCs in order to gain the technology skills that are a must in today’s world.

“Recognized by the Jordanian leadership, computer literacy is today the fourth skill that everyone needs — in addition to reading, writing and counting — in order to compete in the workplace. Intel is happy to have had the opportunity, through this clubhouse and other educational initiatives, to support Jordan’s move in the direction of the information society,” Morales remarked.

Intel’s sponsorship of the Intel Computer Clubhouse is part of the Intel Innovation in Education initiative. This is a collaboration with educators in communities around the world to improve the quality of engineering, mathematics, science and technology education by providing commitments of time, programs and resources to help students realize their full potential.

Intel provides financial, technical, career and volunteer mentor support to proliferate the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network globally. In addition, Adobe Systems Incorporated, Autodesk, Corel, Hewlett-Packard, Macromedia, and the company Procreate have all committed a total of more than $10 million in software, hardware and services to the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network. Other organizations involved include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, LEGO Systems and Haworth Inc.

Intel’s education programs have been setting new milestones in the Middle East. As part of its ongoing drive to support the spread of ICT skills in the region, Intel has trained a total of 16,000 teachers in Jordan and Egypt through its Intel “Teach to the Future” program. In Jordan, the 15,000 teachers trained represent 35 percent of Jordan’s total teacher population and the program is set to continue at the same rate. It has so far been successfully implemented in various cities around the country such as Amman, Irbid, Maan, Aqaba, Zarqa, Jerash, Karak and Salt. In Egypt, 1000 teachers have been trained since last May’s launch there of the Intel Teach to the Future program. The initial wave of instruction, targeted at core trainers, has covered Alexandria, Menia, Aswan, Luxor, Menofia, Domiat, Kalyoubeya and North Sinai.

The Intel Teach to the Future program is set to train two million teachers worldwide by the end of this year. This global education initiative enables teachers to train other teachers on how to integrate technology into their day-to-day lesson plans and incorporate the use of the Internet, web page design and productivity software to encourage higher-order thinking and creativity in their students. For more information, visit www.intel.com/education.