Presented By: Mohamed A. Azzammazzam@softwarefromegypt.com

Quality eLearning ContentQuality eLearning Contenta Principal Component of the Universal Digital Library “UDL”a Principal Component of the Universal Digital Library “UDL”

Highlights on Egypt’s Regional RoleHighlights on Egypt’s Regional Rolein the Arabic eContent Developmentin the Arabic eContent Development

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About eLABsAbout eLABs

Egyptian NGO established in 2003 More than 35 member-companies operating in the

software industry under one BANNER and has collectively: More than 3,000 Staff Members More than 2,000 Products & Titles More than 18.0 Mil Users Licenses More than 15.0 Mil US$ investment in R&D

Main stakeholder in most of the ICT national initiatives under the auspices of MCIT, Egypt (PCFEH – LTFEP – eEnterprise -Arabic eContent)

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ChallengesChallenges… The Globalization …… The Globalization …

During the last 5 decades Mankind experienced a unique pace of development unprecedented since the industrial revolution in the 18th century. Thanks to the ICT revolutionThanks to the ICT revolution

ICT revolution made the World as a “small village” that led to the “Globalization” Phenomena

Globalization was meant to integrate economics & societies around the World to reduce poverty, minimize gap between North & South, and increase the overall development around the globe … BUTBUT

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ChallengesChallenges… The South …… The South …

Globalization put more pressure on the South to keep abreast of the pace of the knowledge economy … ASAS

Ambitious development plans of the South are always challenged by: competitive global economy tough competition on both

regional & Int’l levels increased public expectations ICT advancement that has be

fully utilized

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In addition to many other local challenges: lack of resources, especially the qualified

human resources needed to lead and implement the change

bureaucracy & stagnate P&P poor quality education system low per-capita incomes rapidly growing population high illiteracy rate political instability … and many inherited problems from the past

ThereforeTherefore, the implementation of the UDL should consider the needs & concerns of the South as well as the North

ChallengesChallenges… The South …… The South …

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Good education & training systems present the main vehicle for nations to: reach their objectives and overcome

obstacles facing the desired development build the required qualified human

resources needed to carryout the development & manage the change

AccordinglyAccordingly, we see that a quality eLearning Content should be a principal component in the UDL, as it could: present a real added-value to many

countries, and form a base of good education & training

systems for these nations that would help them to achieve their development goals

ChallengesChallenges… Education & UDL …… Education & UDL …

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eLearning Content & UDLeLearning Content & UDL… A Wide Spectrum …… A Wide Spectrum …

Basic EducationBasic EducationK-12K-12

Higher EducationHigher Education

Life Long TrainingLife Long Training

Vocational Education & Vocational Education & TrainingTraining

EdutainmentEdutainment

Illiteracy EradicationIlliteracy Eradication

Corporate TrainingCorporate Training

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Content development should follow the latest Int’l trends, such as: building “a Resource Library of Learning

Objects & Educational Aids” that contains hundreds of thousands or even millions of structured LOs covering the different topics & syllabi related to education & training

curricula independent modular, flexible and reusable compliant w/SCORM that released by

Advanced Learning Initiative (ADL) to insure interoperability, accessibility and reusability of web-based learning Content

eLearning Content & UDLeLearning Content & UDL… Structure …… Structure …

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LOs are considered as key to technology-based revolution in education & training, as it: empowers mentors and

minimizing the digital divide between them & their learners

helps learners to grasp information by understanding and not memorizing and linking theories to practice

consequentlyconsequently, mentors & learners around the world would share the global knowledge and reuse the LOs’ library to experience quality education & training

eLearning Content & UDLeLearning Content & UDL… Usage & Utilization …… Usage & Utilization …

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Source: UN e-Gov Readiness Report 2005

BUTBUT, there are other concerns that should be considered while implementing the project that are: high digital illiteracy, and digital divide in the South

ThereforeTherefore, it’s imperative to consider innovative approach to tackle such concerns, such as: introducing initiatives to make

technology more affordable & available for large sectors

applying different awareness & training programs to the public

EgyptEgypt experience in this regards is very rich, as GoE launched many initiatives based on PPP to reach the knowledge society & economy

eLearning Content & UDLeLearning Content & UDL… Things to Consider …… Things to Consider …

Free Internet

PC4EH

Broadband

Public IT Clubs

ICT Training

Arabic eContent

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The development of rich & effective resource library of LOs is a quite lengthy process and needs huge investment & large pool of qualified resources

Yet again, this could represent another major obstacle to many nations on both financial & professional levels

ThereforeTherefore, int’l & regional cooperation powered by the involvement & commitment of the concerned institutions (e.g. UNESCO, UNDP, WB, BA, Arab League, …) is needed

Int’l Cooperation & UDLInt’l Cooperation & UDL… The Effective Impact …… The Effective Impact …

The Development Cycle of the Resource Library

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Int’l Cooperation & UDLInt’l Cooperation & UDL… ROI & Achieving Goals…… ROI & Achieving Goals…

to overcome many financial & technical obstacles that might face many countries while developing such library

to minimize the duplication of efforts & expenditure

to assure the critical mass required to achieve the UDL’s objectives & the best ROI

ThenThen, there’ll be a knowledge transfer between North & South via an applicable scheme of collaboration for making human knowledge equally accessible to ALL and accomplishing the ultimate goal of realizing prosperity for Mankind

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Int’l Cooperation & UDLInt’l Cooperation & UDL… Scheme of Cooperation …… Scheme of Cooperation …

Int’l cooperationInt’l cooperation should focus on developing the general topics, especially those related to science & math, as Ohm’s law developed as a LO won’t change neither in US nor in China nor even in a small country in Africa. All what we need is the localization of these LOs

Regional cooperationRegional cooperation should focus on developing topics, such as languages, culture, social studies … across certain regions of the World that have common interests, sharing same culture and facing same social & economic challenges

This arises the importance of considering Egypt as main regional hubEgypt as main regional hub for Arabic eContent development

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Egypt a Main Regional HubEgypt a Main Regional Hub… is it true? …… is it true? …

“Egypt has a great advantage in Egypt has a great advantage in becoming a leader in Arabic Content.”becoming a leader in Arabic Content.” A.T. Kearney’ study to MCIT – June 2006

Now the question” Is true that Egypt has all the qualifications to be the main regional hub for Arabic eContent development?”

The answer is YES but Why?YES but Why?عع

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Egypt a Main Regional HubEgypt a Main Regional Hub… cultural perspective …… cultural perspective …

Egypt has a solid culture & language proximity across the whole Arab world

Egypt has always been acknowledged as a regional leader in the field of Arabic Content traditional production

Egyptian writers, novelists, artists, publishers and producers have gained regional recognition and acceptance for centuries

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Egypt a Main Regional HubEgypt a Main Regional Hub… economic perspective …… economic perspective …

Egypt by far is the largest Arab country in population

Egypt is the heart of the ME and hosts well-educated labor force in different areas, especially those needed for the Content industry

Egypt experienced a noticeable economic growth lately, as GoE took serious steps toward executing an aggressive economic reform program

GoE introduced variety of legislations that facilitated the private sector activities & better enabled the multinationals to expand in the local market

Yr 1998 Yr 2004

Capital investment in ICT US$ 1.0bn US$ 1.6bn

Local ICT firms 185 1,132

ICT labor force 10,244 35,201

Source: GAFI

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Egypt a Main Regional HubEgypt a Main Regional Hub… ICT infrastructure perspective …… ICT infrastructure perspective …

Source: MCIT

55 out of 400 IPs in Africa are from Egypt

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Egypt a Main Regional HubEgypt a Main Regional Hub… ICT infrastructure perspective …… ICT infrastructure perspective …

Source: MCIT

Solid infrastructure ICT sector growth of ~ 35% It’s a clear vote of confidence

by the private sector in GoE’s act in this strategic sector

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Egypt a Main Regional HubEgypt a Main Regional Hub… ICT infrastructure perspective …… ICT infrastructure perspective …

advancing 37 points in the global ranking from 136th in 2004 to 99th in 2005, which considered by the UN as “one of the greatest advances among all countries of the world in 2005”.

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Egypt a Main Regional HubEgypt a Main Regional Hub… YES, it should be true …… YES, it should be true …

From the pervious indicators & statistics, it is evident that the size of achievement accomplished by GoE to advance the economy in general & the ICT sector in particular is remarkable

All present a perfect base for Egypt to take the lead and play the central role in the development of the Arabic eContent in MENA region