THE SASAKAWA PEACE FOUNDATION

Forming a Distance Education Alliance for Progress in the Western Pacific

8,700,000 yen[Grant Project]
University of Guam (USA)

This program has been administered in three phases over the five-year program period with the aim of developing a framework for regional cooperation among island nations in the West Pacific and improving the quality of distance education in the region. Needs assessments and policy formulation on distance education in the first year was followed by a conference for establishing a distance education alliance for the Western Pacific and regional policy on distance education in the second year. The third year focused on research into satellite networks for distance education and capacity building. In the fourth year, a telecenter was established on one of the islands and distance education texts were developed in cooperation with local educators. In its final year, the program will aim to 1) strengthen the distance education alliance and 2) develop educational video programs.

Strengthening the Distance Education Alliance:
People will be brought together to discuss the organizational administration of the alliance, including the creation of bylaws etc. (June 2005 at the University of Guam)
Educational Videos:
Two videos will be produced: one on ICT development and welfare improvement, and another summarizing the past five years of this program. These videos will be distributed to local television stations etc.
Test operation of the telecenter established on a remote island in the fourth year will be continued. The program will also devise a strategy for sustaining the operation of the center over the long-term.

(Final year of a 5-year project)