| | | Annual Report 1993 | |
The institutional build-up has not been without problems: (i) severe delays in installments of funds is resulting in far lower than expected income, (ii) 11 months wait for appropriate temporary premises at times brought much frustration to an otherwise extraordinarily dedicated and loyal staff and hindered especially local programmatic actiions, and (iii) severe delays in obtaining lodgings for trainees likewise brought very much extra pressure on management and personnel. All are items pledged in signed (March 11, 1991) and ratified (May and August 1992) agreements.
But the rewards are now clearly visible: (i) the very comfortable and well appointed temporary premises, with a splendid, 18th floor, 360 degree, unhindered view over all of Macau, into Guangdong province, over to the Hong Kong islands and "down" the South China Sea, (ii) together with the (internal) humming life of 2-3 times a day project and full institute seminars, colloquia and design meetings, and (iii) the external, off-shore activites both behind us and in store, testifies that the concept: UNU/IIST, an institute for securing the self-reliance of developing countries in software technology: (a) own development of advanced software, (b) state-of-the-art university computer science teaching, and (c) computing science research, is right.
In closing it is very important for UNU/IIST to express its sincerest thanks to the Government of Macau for their continued support during 1993:
installment of UNU endowment funds in respect of UNU/IIST, operating contributions, provision of temporary office space, remodelling of said space, acquisition of furnitures and fixtures: telephone system, ether-net cabling, uninterrupted power supply, etc., architectural preparation for renovation of permanent premises, acquisition of fellow lodgings, and many other things.
We also thank the Macau Government authorities for their kind patience in dealing with a new situation: the energetic presence of UNU/IIST -- a rather new kind of institution, the first UN, in Macau.
| | | Annual Report 1993 | |