SARDEC PROJECTS

SARDEC PROJECTS (July to November 2005)

The following projects would be the main flagships of SARDEC at the next CCEM.  SARDEC believes they will make tremendous impact in opening up access and delivery of ODL programmes in the Southern Africa.

    1   Title:               Copyright issues in Southern Africa.

UNISA  has tentatively agreed in principle to host the training for this project.  Dates are still being considered by both UNISA and SARDEC.

Venue and Duration: South Africa (UNISA) Two days

Target:    Editors and material development managers [30 people]

Project Manager: SARDEC Coordinator

1.1    Goal: To assist the Centre in ensuring adherence to copyright rules and    monitoring of the same.

1.2    Purpose:  The project will assist Southern African ODL institutions to share ODL materials fully   understanding copyright to avoid its infringements and possible litigations.  It is hoped that the sharing of materials would further increase access to education opportunities to many communities within the sub continent.  Furthermore, the quality of materials developed in the region is expected to improve as institutions will be able to compare shared materials leading to refinement and adherence to international standards in material production.  The Distance Education Association of Southern Africa (DEASA), has as one of its principles the sharing of materials by member institutions. It is hoped that this project will assist the organisation and its member institutions to develop a frame work that will facilitate the sharing of materials.  This course therefore, is intended to empower writers, editors and institutions by alleviating the fears they have had on copyright. 

1.3.   Output: Skilled editors and materials developers in copy right issues in all Southern African countries

1.4    Funds will be needed to cover flight and accommodation of the Technical Support Team (Resource Persons) and SARDEC official(s). SARDEC will negotiate for free facilities at UNISA as venue. Participants will be expected to pay for their travel and subsistence for the duration of the workshop.

1.5    Monitoring and Evaluation:  Each institution would be requested to write a  statement of intent. This will         assist the centre in measuring outcomes and the impact made. A tracer study will also be carried out by SARDEC

 2     Title:              Developing a Bandwidth Model for Southern Africa.

     Duration:      3 days

     Venue           Botswana (BOCODOL)

    Target:          ICT personnel [25]

     Project manager:    SARDEC Coordinator

2.1    Goal: Develop a model for the Southern African ODL institutions.

2.2    Purpose:  Many countries in Southern Africa have limited bandwidth capacity.  This project will go a long way in finding a lasting solution to the challenges that ODL institutions in the region experience when they attempt to offer and access courses online or learner support online.  The project will give ODL institutions in Southern Africa an alternative route to circumvent their bandwidth problems and as such will fast track plans by institutions to offer some of their services and programmes online.  

2.3.   Output: Reduced challenges in the implementation of ODL online services.

2.4    Funds will be needed to cover flight and accommodation of the Technical Support Team (Resource Persons). The Centre will negotiate use of facilities at BOCODOL for free as venue. Participants will pay for their travel and subsistence for the duration of the workshop.

2.5    Monitoring and Evaluation:  Each institution would be requested to write a  statement of intent. This will assist the centre in measuring outcomes and the impact made. A tracer study will also be carried out by SARDEC.

3      Title:   Supporting Distance Education Through Policy Development

SARDEC has started a dialogue with South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE) that will lead to the development of a SARDEC Policy Development Course for ODL CEOs and Managers in Southern Africa, an online course that will have a five (5) days face to face contact.  SARDEC hopes to launch the course in October/November 2005.

    Duration: 4 months     

    Target:    CEOs, Directors, Managers              

    Venue:     South Africa - SAIDE                                           

      3.1    Goal:     Build a pool of qualified ODL Policy Developers in all Southern African Countries

      3.2    Purpose: The project is aimed at empowering ODL policy makers in Southern Africa with the skills of policy formulation.  Such an empowerment, it is hoped, will ensure that policies that guide the implementation of ODL are formulated by knowledgeable and competent individuals in the process of policy formulation bearing in mind the unique circumstances of each Southern African State.  At the end of this course, participants would have achieved the following outcomes;

                          §   Analyse a given educational context.

§   Develop a vision for opening learning in a given educational context

§   Construct practical, realistic educational opportunities that meet the requirements/needs of a given educational context, and define management and resource needs to implement such opportunities.

§   Develop a policy that articulates realistic achievement of a policy vision within an analysed context

§   Analyse changing roles of policy implementers and evaluators.

3.3     Output: Skilled and informed policy developers in Southern African ODL  institutions

    Funds will be needed to pay SAIDE for the development and delivery of the course, lunches and teas for participants during a five (5) days face to face interaction in Johannesburg, and flight and subsistence of the SARDEC officials. The SAIDE fees are an approximation based on time to be invested. 

    3.4    Monitoring and Evaluation:  Each institution would be requested to write a  statement of intent. This will assist the centre in measuring outcomes and the impact made. A tracer study will also be carried out by SARDEC.

     4.     Title: Situational Assessment of ODL institutions in the SADC region

Officers from the SARDEC intend to visit ODL institutions in the SADC   region.

          Target;   July and September 2005  

          Estimated Cost: $ 28 816.00

          Project Manager:  SARDEC Coordinator

4.1    Goal: To understand the context under which the ODL institutions are  operating under.

    Purpose: The visits are aimed at conducting situational assessment in the regional ODL institutions as well as familiarizing themselves with the region. It has been observed that conducting situational assessment at a distance normally yields less than when the assessment is done on the spot. During the visit the officers will ascertain availability of materials and resources/ expertise that could be utilized in capacity building activities.

    Out put: Data base of resources and training needs of ODL institutions  in  the region.

         Costs:  Funding will be needed to cover:

A)       Flights for SARDEC officers to and from the 12 countries (excluding Botswana)         

B)       Per Diem for the 2 officers spending 2-3 days in each country meeting conducting meetings at individual ODL institutions                                 

NB: Officers may have to spend weekends away from the base   (Botswana) to save flight costs.

  5.     Title:        Development of the SARDEC Web site

        Target Date: SARDEC hopes to have the web site up and running by the   end of October at the latest.

5.1     Goal: To build a user friendly web site that will provide the ODL fraternity in Southern Africa with scholarly references to enhance research and knowledge building capacity as well as to provide information on ODL.  

5.2    Purpose:      The web site is an essential tool to perform the functions of the Centre such as advocacy,   information clearing house, promotion of research in ODL, and forging partnerships and establishing links with various organisations that can promote and improve ODL access and its capacity in the region.