The Food and Agriculture Organization and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation invite applications from the e-agriculture.org Community in Asia to participate in a free four-day Online e-learning Course:

NETWORKING IN SUPPORT OF DEVELOPMENT

A Course for Applicants in Asia will be held in late 2008.

Only open to e-agriculture.org community members. If you havent yet joined e-agriculture.org, please do so here. If you are already a member of e-agriculture.org, you can apply for the course here. The Networking in Support of Development Online Course will cover how different information and communication technologies (ICT) in a country - local, national and international - fit together to provide a workable means of communication, and the issues that affect each level. The course will include e-learning materials, online discussions, and individual assignments. It is one of many modules offered in The Information Management Resource Kit (IMARK), a partnership-based e-learning initiative to train individuals and support institutions and networks world-wide in the effective management of agricultural information.

Who should take this Course?
Anyone who is currently, or would like to be, involved in the development and use of information and communication technology to support existing communication traditions and networks, especially in rural areas. No prior knowledge of ICT is required.

What are the topics to be covered?

· Day 1 - Information and Communication Technology as media looks at how ICT can be used in support of development as a medium for communication and information exchange.

· Day 2 - ICT's influence on the shape of the future looks at traditional and new media and how ICT might change information delivery over the next 3-5 years.

· Day 3 - Costs and effectiveness of the links in the ICT chain looks at the different links in the network chain: international, national and local, the different technologies used, and the costs involved.

· Day 4 - Impact of regulatory frameworks on ICT choices and costs looks at the areas of ICT policy and regulation where there are strategic choices to be made that will help unlock lower cost communications.



Partcipants will need to show they have:
· Professional involvement in ICT networking in Agriculture and Rural Development in Asia
· Individual access to the Internet
· Ability to read and write English fluently
· At least 4 hours available each day of the four-day course
· Be a member of the e-agriculture.org Community.

To register and apply, please visit: www.e-agriculture.org