Online training repositories for rural SMEs Rural-eGov and Rural-Inclusion initiatives

EVITA Kick Off Meeting, 9 December ‘08EVITA Kick Off Meeting, 9 December ‘08 11

Online training repositories Online training repositories for rural SMEs for rural SMEs

Rural-eGov and Rural-Inclusion initiativesRural-eGov and Rural-Inclusion initiatives

Dr. Nikos ManouselisDr. Nikos ManouselisGreek Research & Technology NetworkGreek Research & Technology Network

[email protected]@ieee.org


what is a learning/training what is a learning/training resource?resource?

EVITA Kick Off Meeting, 9 December ‘08EVITA Kick Off Meeting, 9 December ‘08 33http://www.teachersdomain.org/http://www.teachersdomain.org/

EVITA Kick Off Meeting, 9 December ‘08EVITA Kick Off Meeting, 9 December ‘08 44TaxisNet (Greece)TaxisNet (Greece)


http://digitalenterprise.org/http://digitalenterprise.org/


learning objectlearning object

• "any entity, "any entity, digitaldigital or non-digital, that may or non-digital, that may be used for be used for learninglearning, , educationeducation or or trainingtraining""

Learning Technology Standards Committee (2002), Draft Standard for Learning Object Metadata (LOM). IEEE Standard 1484.12.1


digital repositorydigital repository

• ““system for the system for the storagestorage, , locationlocation and and retrievalretrieval of digital resources” of digital resources”

Holden C., “From Local Challenges to a Global Community: Learning Repositories Summit”, Academic ADL Co-Lab, 2003


digital digital trainingtraining repository repository

• ……the the naturenature of resources or their of resources or their descriptiondescription reflects an interest of reflects an interest of use in an use in an educational/training educational/training contextcontext


any SME ones?any SME ones?








any rural/agricultural ones?any rural/agricultural ones?








……for rural SMEs?for rural SMEs?


the Rural-eGov Observatorythe Rural-eGov Observatory


introductionintroduction

• Enterprises in rural areas are away from Enterprises in rural areas are away from the decision and policy-making centresthe decision and policy-making centres– need for access to timely and certified need for access to timely and certified

public information and servicespublic information and services

• Many public agencies offer Many public agencies offer eGovernment services eGovernment services – e.g. information resources, online forms, e.g. information resources, online forms,

online interactiononline interaction


e-governmente-government

• e-Government (eGov) aims to exploit e-Government (eGov) aims to exploit the power of Information and the power of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Communication Technologies (ICTs) in order to: order to: – transform the accessibility, quality and transform the accessibility, quality and

cost-effectiveness of public servicescost-effectiveness of public services– revitalise the relationship between revitalise the relationship between

customers (citizens) and public bodiescustomers (citizens) and public bodies


obstacleobstacle

• A large percentage of the EU population A large percentage of the EU population either “…does not reap the benefits of either “…does not reap the benefits of ICTs in full or is effectively cut off from ICTs in full or is effectively cut off from them” them” [EC, 2005][EC, 2005]

• E.g., E.g., low degree of ICT adoption and use low degree of ICT adoption and use of online services from rural SMEsof online services from rural SMEs

• Need to make ICT products & services Need to make ICT products & services more accessible from regions that are more accessible from regions that are lagging behindlagging behind


Rural-eGov aimRural-eGov aim

• Focus on public/governmental servicesFocus on public/governmental services– major part of the European economymajor part of the European economy

• Help rural SMEs in finding and using Help rural SMEs in finding and using eGov services for business purposeseGov services for business purposes

• Take advantage of experience and best Take advantage of experience and best practices from other initiatives that practices from other initiatives that focus on rural SMEs focus on rural SMEs – e.g. Opportunity Wales (UK) & Go-Online e.g. Opportunity Wales (UK) & Go-Online

Training Support (Greece)Training Support (Greece)


needneed• Lifelong learning activities of rural SMEs Lifelong learning activities of rural SMEs

to be enhanced to be enhanced – to raise awareness and communicate benefits to raise awareness and communicate benefits

from the business use of eGovfrom the business use of eGov• A combination of support actions is A combination of support actions is

required:required:– a training curriculum that can convince SMEs a training curriculum that can convince SMEs

about potential benefits for their businessabout potential benefits for their business– training schemes that are adapted to the training schemes that are adapted to the

particular needs/habits of rural SMEsparticular needs/habits of rural SMEs– an online point of reference which SMEs can an online point of reference which SMEs can

continuously access for information and continuously access for information and contentcontent


the Rural-eGov approachthe Rural-eGov approach

• Rural-eGov: Training SMEs of Rural Areas in Rural-eGov: Training SMEs of Rural Areas in Using e-Government ServicesUsing e-Government Services

• Main enablers:Main enablers:1.1. Training curriculum that increases awareness, Training curriculum that increases awareness,

explains ways to introduce business uses of explains ways to introduce business uses of eGov, illustrates benefits for the SMEseGov, illustrates benefits for the SMEs

2.2. Training schemes that combine tutor-based Training schemes that combine tutor-based training with self-paced digital training resourcestraining with self-paced digital training resources

3.3. Online observatory of eGov services and training Online observatory of eGov services and training resourcesresources


about the projectabout the project

• Leonardo da Vinci (LdV) pilot project that run Leonardo da Vinci (LdV) pilot project that run for 2 yearsfor 2 years

• started: November 2006started: November 2006• ended: October 2008ended: October 2008

• 11 participants11 participants• 4 universities previously involved in training SMEs 4 universities previously involved in training SMEs • A professional training expertA professional training expert• an eGov expertan eGov expert• user organisations from 5 European regions user organisations from 5 European regions

• Wales UK, Bradenburg DE, Aegean islands GR, Wales UK, Bradenburg DE, Aegean islands GR, Koscierzyna PL, Moravske Toplice SIKoscierzyna PL, Moravske Toplice SI

• more info at: more info at: http://rural-egov.euhttp://rural-egov.eu


objectives objectives (1/3)(1/3)

• To study for the five regions of the project:To study for the five regions of the project:• degree of awareness of eGov concepts & servicesdegree of awareness of eGov concepts & services• current level of adoption/usecurrent level of adoption/use

• To review the status of deployed eGov To review the status of deployed eGov services in the participating countriesservices in the participating countries

• study how/if they meet the needs of rural SMEsstudy how/if they meet the needs of rural SMEs

• Based on the above:Based on the above:• to identify to identify training needs & requirementstraining needs & requirements for for

SMEs in the participating regionsSMEs in the participating regions



• To develop a set of proposed To develop a set of proposed training training scenariosscenarios, combining: , combining:

• traditional forms of learningtraditional forms of learning• ICT-based learningICT-based learning

• To develop To develop digital training contentdigital training content that that will support the proposed scenarioswill support the proposed scenarios

• reuse existing content from previous training reuse existing content from previous training initiativesinitiatives

• develop content particularly introducing SMEs to develop content particularly introducing SMEs to eGoveGov



• To design and develop a web-based To design and develop a web-based observatory (observatory (Rural-eGov ObservatoryRural-eGov Observatory))

• will collect and categorize already deployed eGov will collect and categorize already deployed eGov services that can support SMEs in rural areasservices that can support SMEs in rural areas

• to be used as both a training & a business toolto be used as both a training & a business tool

• To implement the training scenarios through a To implement the training scenarios through a number of number of pilot sessions pilot sessions with thewith the user groupsuser groups

• To produce a set of recommendationsTo produce a set of recommendations• for EU agencies, national governments, rural for EU agencies, national governments, rural

administration, other involved stakeholdersadministration, other involved stakeholders


Rural-eGov observatoryRural-eGov observatory


usersusers





some numbers some numbers

• the Repository in Numbersthe Repository in Numbers– 77 Digital Training Objects77 Digital Training Objects– 74 eGov Services74 eGov Services

• the Portal in Numbersthe Portal in Numbers– 7 Registered Visitors7 Registered Visitors– 15 DTO Developers15 DTO Developers– 7 eGRO Collectors7 eGRO Collectors

……visit, register, use, evaluate! visit, register, use, evaluate!

http://egov.aua.gr:8080/observatory/http://egov.aua.gr:8080/observatory/


Rural-InclusionRural-Inclusion


the projectthe project

• Rural-InclusionRural-Inclusion: e-: e-Government Lowering Government Lowering Administrative Burdens for Administrative Burdens for Rural BusinessesRural Businesses


aboutabout

• funded by the CIP Pofunded by the CIP Policy Supportlicy Support Programme (PSP)Programme (PSP)

• 2008 call for proposals2008 call for proposals• Pilot B Project, duration 36 monthsPilot B Project, duration 36 months

• starting starting (est.)(est.): 1/3/2009: 1/3/2009• ending: 30/2/2012ending: 30/2/2012

• overall budget: overall budget: 4.800.000 euros4.800.000 euros• community funding: community funding: 2.400.000 euros2.400.000 euros

(50%)(50%)



relevant issues to explorerelevant issues to explore

• how do you develop training how do you develop training repositories for rural SMEs?repositories for rural SMEs?– how do you populate them with how do you populate them with

training resources?training resources?– how do you convince SMEs to use how do you convince SMEs to use

them?them?• how do you integrate them in the how do you integrate them in the

Web portals of the regional Web portals of the regional agencies/authorities?agencies/authorities?


conclusionsconclusions


potentialpotential

• digital training resources for rural digital training resources for rural SMEs: SMEs: usefuluseful

• having them organised in training having them organised in training repositories: repositories: goodgood

• exploring ways to introduce them exploring ways to introduce them into into formalformal and and informalinformal education education & training of rural communities:& training of rural communities:– challenging challenging and and worthwhileworthwhile


““buts”buts”• the technical issues are severalthe technical issues are several

– interoperabilityinteroperability– requires requires standards, technologies, standards, technologies,

protocolsprotocols, … , …

• rural communities lackrural communities lack– connectivity/infrastructureconnectivity/infrastructure– trainingtraining– motivationmotivation– ……


for more infofor more info

Nikos ManouselisNikos Manouselis

[email protected]@ieee.org

Documents

Online training repositories for rural SMEs Rural-eGov and Rural-Inclusion initiatives