| | | Annual Report 1996 | |
Generally UNU/IIST intends to further consolidate the offshore and Macau (i) Advanced Courses, (ii) Research and (iii) Advanced Development Project actions as outlined for 1996.
UNU/IIST will also, after some years of preparation, commence its publication & software (iv) Dissemination Programme.
No (v) Events are currently planned for 1997.
In the period 1992-1995, approximately, UNU/IIST focused on establishing scientific and technological ties with individual scientists and technologists in public and private sector institutions in a number of developing countries. This was then an efficient form of establishing UNU/IIST's reputation. From around 1994, approximately, UNU/IIST, as its reputation became increasingly established, turned increasingly to institutional ties (usually in the form of MoU's: Memoranda-of-Understanding). This was done to secure stability of our relations, including partner commitments to follow-up on our joint work. As from 1997 UNU/IIST will try to establish direct government ties: to secure highest mutual benefits and commitments.
In 1997 UNU/IIST suggests to launch the following kinds of efforts locally in Macau:
UNU/IIST, in connection with the above three joint programmatic activities welcome also closer collaboration between UNU/IIST, UoM and INESC-Macau (the Macau Branch of the National (Portuguese) Institute for Systems & Computing R&D).
UNU/IIST enjoys particularly successful relations with the People's Republic of China. This is witnessed through the last four and a half year's very extensive programmatic activities in China: many advanced courses, many fellowships, many joint research and advanced development projects, many events, and significant dissemination. UNU/IIST has several MoU's (Memoranda of Understanding) with Chinese institutions: Universities and Research Centres. UNU/IIST now believes that time has come to further raise the level of its China Engagement! It is therefore presently starting up discussions with highest level Chinese authorities on a three year plan of action. The authorities are: The SSTCC (State Science & Technology Commission for China), Academia Sinica, The State Education Commission, and the NSF (Natural Science Foundation) of China. Although possibilities are wide open, UNU/IIST would welcome for example an agreement, or a set of agreements, which spell out a stepwise mutual commitments, for example, but this is only an example, subject to discussion, one that would plan for increasing joint (i) advanced development projects through the good offices of SSTCC with Chinese industry [for example: one new such two-three year project per year over three years, for a total of three core industry projects], (ii) research project with Academy institutions [for example: one-to-two new such two-three year project per year over three years, for a maximum of four research projects], and (iii) university curriculum developments [involving for example three-to-four new two-three year curriculum development actions per year over three years, for a maximum of 10 universities].
UNU/IIST is active in many other developing countries and in countries whose economies are in transition. Government agreements like the one proposed in section 7.2.2 above can be envisaged with a limited number of other countries, and for limited time periods. UNU/IIST will start opening up for such discussions with one or two other countries during the spring of 1997.
The outgoing Director will launch a vigorous, two-pronged fund-raising activity:
UNU/IIST will assist its partners in formulating and hopefully obtain World Bank funding -- through the infoDev programme -- for one or more of the following projects which are to be submitted by our partners:
Common to all of these systems is:
It should be emphasised (alpha) that the above projects -- some or all - will be submitted not by UNU/IIST, but by its partners; and (omega) that the grants applied for will in the first case go to these partners, but that they are expected to cover UNU/IIST's expenses in connection with the consultancy & training given by UNU/IIST to these partners.
UNU/IIST is seeking consultancy with the international aid system to assist them in their various infrastructure programmes -- such as transport (railways, etc.), manufacturing, public administration, etc.
UNU/IIST can help advise, at one level, on proper requirements capture and description procedures, proper IT -- including software -- procurements procedures, and proper IT training procedures.
At a higher level of conceptualisation, UNU/IIST can help these institutions in (in-house and external propagation of) management techniques for significantly improving the understanding of the high complexity of infrastructure systems. This understanding is necessary, we believe, in order to more efficiently prioritise amongst IT sub-systems for, and interfaces between such sub-systems of large scale national and regional infrastructures.
Additional fellows, for fall 1997 and especially starting from 1998 will be solicited, during 1997, from some or all of:
| | | Annual Report 1996 | |