| | | Annual Report 1997 | |
As part of the involvement of UNU/IIST in the local community, two projects were recently initiated to design Internet information centres about Macau and for Macau (as well as for the outside world).
The first is the "Information Network Centre of Macau" (INCoM) project, the collaboration agreement for which was signed on 30 May 1997 between Macau Foundation, the State Science and Technology Commission for China (SSTCC), and UNU/IIST. The project is to establish an Internet information centre about Macau and China, to be operated, on hardware donated by SSTCC, on the premises of Macau Foundation. UNU/IIST's role is to organise the team for the development of the centre and to offer Fellowships and supervision by UNU/IIST staff for suitable candidates, at least one from NCIC (National Research Centre for Intelligent Computing Systems, where the hardware is from). Towards the implementation of the agreement, two meetings took place in Beijing, the first on 17 July 1997 between representatives of UNU/IIST and SSTCC, the second on 28 July between all three partners. Apart from the technical issues, both meetings provided useful input for the information which could be included and publicised by the centre. The first INCoM Fellow, Mr. Fu GuoYi from NCIC, arrived in UNU/IIST at the beginning of November. The hardware was delivered by NCIC in September. The Centre is expected to start operation in 1998.
The second is the "Sino-Latin Net Project", for which the collaboration agreement between UNU/IIST and Macau Sino-Latin Foundation was signed on 19 June 1997. The project is to explore, experimentally design and install an Internet information server that could bring together, via the World Wide Web, the Chinese and Latin (Romance-based language speaking) communities worldwide. The server is to promote research on arts and humanities in Macau; expand programs in teaching Chinese, Portuguese and other Latin Languages; promote research on relations between Macau, China and other countries in the region; publish the results of this research and acquired knowledge, and encourage and facilitate interactions between people interested in Macau. UNU/IIST is offering its technical expertise in the design of the system and for the installation of the server which is finally to operate on the premises of the Sino-Latin Foundation.
A third project is being discussed between Macau Foundation, INESC Macau and UNU/IIST. This aims to design a database which records the presence of Macau and its citizens overseas, as well as helping to update, search and analyse the data. The project would be a cooperative effort between the three partners. It is expected to start in 1998.
At the request of Macau Foundation, UNU/IIST has presented a proposal to the Government of Macau for the establishment of a Fellowship scheme for Lusophone countries of Africa. Such a scheme would provide Fellowships for scientists from Lusophone countries of Africa to receive training and undertake research at UNU/IIST for periods of 6-12 months. It is expected that this activity will be initiated by organizing a training course in one of the countries concerned at the beginning of 1998.
UNU/IIST has continued to cooperate with the University of Macau's Software Engineering Programme through lecturing and M.Sc. thesis supervision. Between February and April 1997, UNU/IIST organized a series of weekly Computer Science Seminars, involving 7 UNU/IIST staff. This cooperative activity has been increased in the first term of the 1997-98 academic year. Starting in October, three staff of UNU/IIST have taught a weekly three hours' course to M.Sc. students on the Fundamentals of Software Engineering. Both the course and the seminar lasted for about 13 weeks and involved some 20 students.
| | | Annual Report 1997 | |