•Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

1.0.1.            Presently, Sida/SAREC is exploring the possibility for providing support to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects at four universities in Nicaragua already having long-lasting relations with Sida through ongoing projects.

1.0.2.            The universities concerned are:

·             Universidad Nacional Agraria (UNI) in Managua

·             Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN-León) in León

·             Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN-Managua) in Managua

·             Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria (UNI)  in Managua

1.0.3              The Sida/SAREC cooperation program for ICT is still relatively young in its existence. At present the program is preliminary oriented towards stimulating free democratic information flows and promoting counterparts universities to become change agents contributing to building the Internet Society. For this purpose the Sida intends to deliver support for areas such as the development of ICT policies, the setting up of comprehensive data communication infrastructures, as well as providing full Internet connectivity, the setting up of information systems supportive to management, education and research (Library Information Systems, Academic Register Management Information Systems, other). Finally, the program intends to support its counterpart in acquiring necessary ICT-expertise for implementation, exploring, operating and maintaining comprehensive ICT services and infrastructures.

1.0.4              To secure proper and motivated decision-making concerning support to be delivered, Sida has invited the Delft University of Technology (DUT), the Netherlands, to execute a quick scan survey at the four universities. For this purpose Mr. Bert Geers, DUT project supervisor for various ICT cooperation projects between the DUT and counterpart organisations in Africa and Asia and Ms. Patricia Maresch, professional translator and editor, carried out a mission to Nicaragua from February 9th-19th 2000.  Next to funding from Sida/SAREC, the mission was financially supported by the Dutch MHO program for inter-university cooperation.

1.0.5       The main objective of the mission was to explore possibilities for starting new initiatives in the area of ICT contributing to the further institutional building of the universities and the improvement of its educational and research programs through:

·            The collection of data on the present status of the existing ICT human and technical infrastructure available at the faculties and departments of the four institutions;

·            The elaboration of the priorities defined by the management of the respective institutions for further development of ICT aiming at improving managerial, administrative, educational and/or research business processes;

·            Providing assistance to the management of the respective universities in formulating possible scenarios of how priority areas can be developed;

·            The collection of data concerning the availability of ICT resources (ICT suppliers, local training and consultancy capacities) in the country which may be of use in future ICT projects supported by external financial support;

·            Making available an overall estimate of suggested development scenarios for each of the institutions.

1.0.6        As the main output of the mission, the DUT team has drafted underlying document giving the observations, conclusions and recommendations to Sida/SAREC concerning the opportunities for future cooperation in the area of ICT between Sida/SAREC and the four universities.  The document consists of 3 parts:

·         Part 1: Introduction, Approach, Observation, Recommendations and Conclusions, Activities for the short term;

·         Part 2: Project-proposals on information policy development and on the setting up of common Internet and networking facilities;

·         Part 3: Quick Scan Survey data: feedback of each of the universities to the questionnaire.

1.0.7              The consultants wish to stress that the report is based on a global assessment of the present ICT-programs and infrastructure at four Nicaraguan universities and the visions, ideas and plans existing at the universities. As such it does not pretend to be complete (more detailed analysis will be needed in time) but to assist in defining the main direction how ICT projects addressing the real needs of the counterpart institutions can be successfully be implemented and the role the Sida/SAREC could have in delivering adequate support. 

1.0.8       The consultants wish to express their sincere appreciation for the support received proceeding and during their visit to Nicaragua.  Firstly, to the participants of the launching workshop who have been the main task force for collection the data. Next to Ing. Leonel Plazaola Prado, who has taken care of all preparations and communications proceeding and logistic support during the missions.  The consultants also wish to thank all the management of and key ICT staff being interviewed, for giving their valuable inputs, suggestions and opinions. Finally, the representatives from Sida/SAREC (Mr. Afzal Sher, Mrs. Cecilia Scharp) and the Nuffic, the Dutch organisation responsible for the overall executing of the  the Dutch MHO assistance program for their efforts and support making the execution of the quick scan survey possible.  

2.  APPROACH

2.0.1              As preparation to the Quick Scan Survey, the DUT has developed a questionnaire in close consultation with Sida.  The questionnaire was meant to be the main instrument for retrieving information on the institutional data of the universities, on the existing ICT-infrastructure and on the ICT-priority areas of the institutions. Two weeks ahead of the mission, a copy of an English version has been made available to all the universities with the request to study the questionnaire carefully and to start collection of data. Upon the arrival of the consultants in Nicaragua, also a Spanish version of the questionnaire has been made available.

2.0.2              The questionnaire consists of four parts to be filled in by different persons or groups at the universities:

·             Part A: institutional data, to be filled in by somebody having good knowledge of the organisational structure of the university;

·             Part B: strategic management/identification of priority areas, to be filled in by staff representing top management;

·             Part C: inventory of existing ICT-technical infrastructure, to be filled in by staff having good knowledge of the ICT-infrastructure;

·             Part D: inventory of existing ICT-human infrastructure, to be filled in by staff having good knowledge of ICT expertise available in ICT oriented services centres (such as the computer or network centres of the university) and within ICT oriented academic of professional training programs.

2.0.3              A second means of retrieving the necessary information were the launching and warp-up workshops, held respectively at the beginning and the end of the visit of the consultants.

2.0.4              During the launching workshop the goals and objectives of the quick scan survey have been explained in details and approaches for collection data have been discussed. Finally, a discussion about the use of the questionnaire in developing project-proposals was held.  At this workshop 18 representatives of all four universities, UNI, UNA, UNAN-Leon and UNAN-Managua, were present (see annex A of this report).

2.0.5              A third means of retrieving the necessary information were visits to all four universities. Meetings with representatives of the universities’ management and key ICT-staff were planned at the workshop and arranged by the participants of the workshops. The consultants have visited all four universities in the week following the workshop.

2.0.6       At the end of the visit of the consultants to Nicaragua, a wrap-up meeting was held with representatives of all four universities. Invited where the participants of the workshop and other interested parties. This meeting was hosted by UNAN-Managua. During the wrap-up meeting the observations, conclusions and recommendations, as described in underlying document, have been presented and discussed.

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3. REVIEWING THE SURVEY OUTPUTS

3.1   General observations

3.1.1              The group of 4 universities represent a community exceeding the number of 36.000 students, 2250 academic staff (lectures and researchers) and 4000 support staff (management and administration, service support centres such as libraries, computing centres, student health centre, sport facilities etc). As such the group represent a major national resource for developing the human potential of Nicaragua.

Total number of:	Students	Academic Staff	Administrative Staff	ICT technical support Staff
UNA	2,685	201	127	1
UNAN-Leon	6,880	630	490	19
UNAN-Managua	17,774	1,061	800	7
UNI	9,000	365	333	17

3.1.2              Accordingly, the scale of operations of the group as a whole is impressive. The student populations of the universities range from 2.600 (UNA) to 17.800 (UNAN-Managua). The UNA is physically located on one campus only. The UNI does have two campuses, both in Managua and UNAN-Leon three, all in Leon. The operations of UNAN-Managua are spread over 10 campuses distributed over the whole country.

3.1.3       The importance of the application of ICT is recognized at all levels within the universities: from lectures and researchers to the highest management levels.  In particular the exposure of students to ICT (in particular Internet technology) and the integration of ICT in ongoing academic and professional programs is given top priority. Next, the setting up of advanced management information systems is felt to be of utmost importance for improving the institutional performance in the area of management and administration.

3.1.4       Significant efforts and investments have been made in the past by all members of the group in setting up networking facilities, e-mail and Internet services, information systems supportive to management and administration etc.  Despite of these efforts and due to the scale of operations of the four universities and the availability of limited financial resources only, Student/PC and Staff/PC ratio’s and number of access points to Internet and/or e-mail services are yet far from comfortable and acceptable levels.  Still significant investments will be required for extending data communication infrastructures and ICT services to realistic –not exaggerated- levels taking into account the local context and the overall stage of development of the universities. 

3.1.5              So far and in most cases, new developments in the area of ICT have been initiated in the past by groups directly belonging to (or embedded in) the primary processes of the universities: research groups, individual lecturers, computer centres belonging to faculties, library centres etc. The overall result gives a view of isolated infra structural segments and in some case parallel existence of comparable but partly not compatible services. Furthermore, expertise, ownership and control mechanisms scattered throughout the institutions.

3.1.6                Albeit the disadvantage of limited scope of initiatives started by isolated groups having a severe impact on the long run in building coherent and transparent ICT services for the institutions as a whole, the importance of the direct involvement of actors or groups directly belonging to the primary business processes (education and research) can not be underestimated. Next, it has delivered expertise relevant for the further expansion of services and infrastructure and created awareness and commitment to intensify the efforts aiming at the implementation of an integrated approach of concerted actions on the short term. 

3.1.7              With the exception of UNAN-Leon, the scope of the initiatives started so far did not exceed the boundaries of individual campuses, resulting in the non existence of inter campus networking facilities at UNAN-Managua and UNI (note: the UNA is having only one campus).

3.1.8              Considerable valuable but mainly technical oriented expertise has been created through external donor programs such as Sida in the areas of data communication technology, networking, Internet technology etc. Next, various ICT suppliers with a good and proven reputation are active in the commercial sector of the country. However, expertise oriented towards a managerial approach to the application of ICT is yet limited available within as well as outside the respective institutions.

3.1.9              The application of ICT is valued by all four universities as of utmost importance for staying part of the global academic community and for offering academic and professional training programs matching at least minimal standards. As mentioned before: this importance is not only felt on the highest management levels but at all levels. As a result the respective management of the four institutions are all confronted with a variety of initiatives proposed by various groups, lacking the financial resources to approve all these initiatives.  At the same time the management does not have the instruments for defining the benefits to be expected, for evaluating the feasibility of initiatives proposed and for measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of proposals.

3.2   ICT for management and administration

3.2.1              Information is regarded as a main, strategic resource for managing an institution of higher education and research by all four universities. In case of UNAN-Managua and the UNI, no strategic plans (or comparable documents) were available giving directives and guidelines for developing ICT and information resources. In case of the UNA such a plan was available in which the access to the Internet is given high priority, but formulation of directives and guidelines were lacking. The UNAN-Leon has formulated a plan dedicated to the university wide development of the application of ICT in the recent past. At present, the UNI does have a strategic plan (10 years plan) under development.

3.2.2              The management of the respective institutions do have high expectations about the potential ICT may have for improving the institution’s performance in the area of management and administration.  The priorities for the implementation (or rehabilitation) of corporate management information systems are defined as follows:

Priority areas for development 10 = top priority   0 = no priority	UNA	UNAN-Managua	UNAN- Leon	UNI
Implement (or rehabilitate) a  financial information system	7	8	8	7
Implement (or rehabilitate) a  library information system	available	7	available	9
Implement a human resource management information system	4	6	6	5
Implement an academic register information system	8	9	7	8
Implement  public and external relations information system	--	2	3	4

3.2.3              Although strong intentions exist to set up comprehensive facilities providing access to Internet and e-mail facilities to staff and students and to start the implementation of corporate information systems supportive to management and administration, actual implementation is hampered so far by:

·         The complex character of the internal organisation: All of the four universities comprise of various faculties, departments and/or regional centres assigned (or claiming) a certain level of autonomy and accountability, thus complicating the condition for gaining institution wide support and commitment for the implementation of corporate wide management information systems;

·         Lack of expertise on the execution of such major innovations, uncertainty about benefits to be expected and the impact it will have on the organisation when the information systems or facilities become operational, resulting in

·         Lack of confidence if such major innovations can be successfully implemented;

·         Strong dependency on its own mainly technical oriented ICT advisors for the implementation of major ICT innovative projects but lacking complementary managerial advisory support.

·         Expectation that high costs will be involved and at the same time having only limited financial resources available.

Comment: although the positions of the management of UNA, UNAN-M, UNAN-L and UNI as described may sound dramatic, it should be noted the management of most of the counterpart organisations in more development countries (for instance the Netherlands) are confronted to equally of very similar difficult conditions. Next, it should be noted that the described situation is more manifest within the 2 universities of the group operating on a larger scale (UNAN-Managua and UNI).    

3.3   Assessment of Internet technology

3.3.1              As illustrated in the following table, the importance of Internet and Internet technology is valued as follows:

Priority areas for development 10 = top priority   0 = no priority	UNA	UNAN-Managua	UNAN- Leon	UNI
Internet and/or e-mail facilities for students and staff	10	10	9-10	10

3.3.2              In brief, the importance of Internet and e-mail for the respective universities is motivated as follows:

• Staff and students will be exposed to ICT;
• Cost efficient communication with researchers in other parts of the country and at international level;
• Staff and students will get access to external data bases and electronic information resources, hence a greater access to scientific information;
• Divulgacion de actividades academicas e investigacion de la  the academic and investigative actions of the university;
• Availability of distant learning programs;                                        
• Publishing of services and research results on the Internet, as an instrument of promotion;
• Access to data bases through the WWW;
• Improve communication with external organisations;
• Improve internal communication;
• Facilitate the exchange between the university authorities.

3.3.3              In all cases access to Internet is provided by commercial Internet Services providers (ISP) such as IBW, Telematix and Datatex, in most cases through 56 or 64 kbps dial-up telephone lines and in a few cases through leased telephone lines (providing 128 Kbps bandwidth) and 128 kbps radio links. Capacities provided by the local ISP are shared with other customers making it difficult -if not possible- to claim fixed portions of bandwidth. According to system managers from UNAN-Managua, UNAN-Leon and UNI, capacities actual offered by the commercial ISP’s are defined by the at that time existing workload at the ISP and often not by the capacity of the link between the university and the ISP.  This situation indicates the existence of heavy congestion in the commercial Internet segments, in particular in the links between the national segments and the outside world. It implies that the universities will not gain from upgrading the capacities of the links to the local ISP in the present set up.

3.3.4              The UNAN-Managua, UNAN-Leon and UNI do have local Internet servers providing access to Internet and/or e-mail to one of more of clusters of PC’s in one or more faculties or departments. Costs for operation and maintenance are in all cases taken care of by the cost centres operating the local servers, so far no internal cost accounting systems for distributing the costs over the actual users are put in place.

3.3.5              Anticipating on the future and assuming that Internet/e-mail facilities will become available on a larger scale, all universities are considering the option to introduce a system in which students will pay (for instance one a hourly basis) for the use of facilities put in place. Taking into account the very limited financial resources students in general do have, it is the opinion of the interviewed persons that such system should be regarded a worst case scenario which should be avoided or –if not possible- be implemented only with a tariff structure affordable for the majority of the students. 

3.4  Present situation at UNA

3.4.1          The UNA is the smallest of the group of 4 universities. At present it serves a community of 2,600 students. The UNA is the only state university of agriculture in Nicaragua and it academic sector consists of 4 faculties (natural resources, animal science, rural development, agronomy) and one research institute.  The UNA is situated at one campus located in the direct neighborhood of the international airport of Managua. A public main road divides the campus into two parts.

3.4.2          The present situation concerning the application of ICT can be summarized as follows (for details: see part 3, chapter UNA)

·                Present number of PC’s available: Administration 19, Central Library (CENIDA) 20, Education and Research 100;

·                The university does not have a campus-network. Two small sized  local area networks  are available; one at the financial department  (6 connections) and one at the central library (18 connections);

·                The UNA does have access to the Internet through dial up links to commercial ISP-s at the library and in the office of the rector;

·                Small size applications supporting administration (student- and teacher registration, finance) consisting of (a combination of) self made software and office suite modules are in use;

·                For the library information system use is made of CDC/ISIS package (Unesco);

·                Approximately 50% percent of the PC’s are older than 3 years;

·                ICT-expertise is only limited available (1 full time staff member for ICT technical support).  UNA does not have a Central Computer Centre

·                ICT facilities for education and research mainly consist of clusters of PCs located in the various offices running standard office suite programs. One laboratory is using specific GIS (Geographical Information System) software for digitising maps.

3.4.3          At present internet/e-mail service at UNA are very modest, but the university intends to set up common Internet facilities serving the entire campus. Access to Internet is regarded an important instrument for improving communication with institutions in the country, the region and abroad.  Internet as instrument for getting access to databases, libraries and education material is clearly recognized and valued. It is the intention of the UNA to use the Internet for publishing (articles, thesis documents, but also announcement of seminars and newsletters informing local farmers on prevention of actual agricultural of forestall diseases etc) as soon as facilities become available. 

3.4.4          High priority is given to the setting up of a network that connects all the academic and administrative divisions. At present such network is not in place. Through an internal network, UNA expects to improve communications between the administrative and academic division. It is also expected that improved internal communications supported by an adequate data communication network will result in reduced processing cycles for administration and decision-making. 

3.4.5          Another priority area for UNA is the setting up of an academic register management information system.  Severe problems exist with the registration of student and curricula data, at present implemented through a manual system characterized by long processing cycles. UNA expects that an academic register system will reduce these processing cycles and that information concerning fees, examination results and curricula can be made more easily and timely available. Next, it is expected that an academic register information system will become an important instrument for analysis of student- and program- performance.

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3.5   Present situation at UNAN-Managua

3.5.1                The UNAN-Managua is by far the largest of the group of 4 universities. At present, it serves a community of almost 17.800 students and its’ operations is spread out over 10 campuses distributed over the whole country. The UNAN-Managua is a general university and its’ academic sector consists of 4 faculties (Health Science, Economy, Education, Sciences), 6 research institutes and 4 regional centres (Esteli, Carazo, Matagalpa and Chontales).

3.5.2                The present situation concerning the application of ICT can be summarized as follows (for details: see part 3, chapter UNAN-Managua)

·         Present number of PC’s available: Administration 150, Central Library 10, Education and Research 457;

·         A modest campus network is available on the main campus at Managua only;

·         For the administration a small LAN (9 connections) is available;

·         For education and research (various faculties and departments) 8 LANs are available (total: 134 connections);

·         Access to Internet is provided through a 128kbps radio link to the commercial ISP IBW and a dial up connection to the commercial ISP Telematix;

·         Full Internet services (full functionality but with limited bandwidth) are available only at the main campus in Managua;

·         Main applications supportive to administration are computerized financial information system and a student’s grade control system. Both systems are development in house by the computer centre;

·         Office automation systems are in use at all faculties and departments using computers;

·         Approximately 75% of the total number of PC’s is older than 2 years;

·         Significant ICT technical expertise (qualitatively) in various areas is available at the computer centre, the various system management groups of the facilities and the central library and the two faculties offering courses on computer science related subjects, but a significant expansion of expertise (qualitative and quantitatively) will be required for starting major ICT innovations and for securing continuous operations and maintenance of new services and facilities to be set up;

3.5.2             UNAN-Managua intends to provide Internet access on a larger scale to all of its 10 campuses, but lacks at this moment networking facilities on 9 of the campuses and between all of the campuses.  Access to Internet is regarded an important instrument for promotion of its services through publishing on the web. Next, a strong positive impact is expected on the overall institutional performance from having Internet/ e-mail facilities available for internal, external and international communication. Last but not least, exposure of students to Internet as part of the curricula is felt to be an absolute must.

3.5.3          Rehabilitation of its present administrative sector through the setting up of efficient information processing facilities is given a 2^nd top priority, in particular the setting up of an adequate academic register management information system. Severe problems exist with the procedures and related data processing when students change from one curriculum (or training program) to another (for instance when students change from one campus to another). The lack of an students performance management system, uniform codes for curricula programs, course modules, examination results etc are expected to be resolved with the implementation of an Academic Register Information System at all campuses.

3.5.4          Another priority area defined is the implementation of a computerized library information system. At this moment, UNAN-Managua is lacking such a facility, hampering the further expansion of the library collection and limiting student and staff possibilities for accessing catalogues and materials available at its own but also other (external) library and documentation centres.

3.5.5          As may be clear from the impressive scale of operations and the situation that its operations are spread out over 10 campuses distributed over the whole campuses, the main challenges for UNAN-Managua for starting comprehensive ICT innovations will be firstly, to set up a networking system providing data communication facilities connecting the campuses mutually and secondly, to build up the require expertise and manpower to implement such as system and to maintain it. As such, UNAN-Managua will obviously be the university who will get most of the benefits of the proposed project on connectivity. May the question if an Internet exchange and related infrastructure may be profitable for the group, be a luxury question (in principle each university may decided not to make use of such Internet exchange but to continue to make use of the services of commercial ISPs), for UNAN-Managua it is a must. In one or another way, UNAN-Managua needs to set up a communication centre being the focal point for its internal data communication infrastructure.   

3.6  Present situation at UNAN-Leon

3.6.1          The UNAN-León University is the 3rd largest of the group of 4 universities. Presently it serves a community of 6880 students. Its operations are spread out over 3 campuses in the city of León.  The UNAN-Leon offers a wide spectrum of curricula varying from engineering to dentistry. Its academic sector consists of 8 faculties (engineering, mathematics, sciences, law and social science, health science, dentistry, chemistry and educational sciences).  

3.6.2          The present situation concerning the application of ICT can be summarised as follows (for details: see part 3, chapter UNAN-León).

·                Present number of PC’s available 100, Central Library 20, Education and Research 400;

·                At the main campus a data communication network exists connecting two buildings;

·                A wireless communication (radio) link connects the main administrative building at the main campus with the faculty of health science. The campus of the faculty of health science is located 3km from the main campus.  A dial up connection bridges the 22 km distance between the main campus and the faculty of micro-biology;

·                UNAN-Leon has a 128 kbps connection between the common Internet server of the university and the commercial ISP Telematix.  Internal users can get access to the common Internet server through 28.8 Kbps dial up connections;

·                All Internet services are concentrated in the computer centre located at the main campus.

·                The main computerised application use at UNAN-Leon is the library information and documentation system. This system is used by students, as well as the academic staff;

·                Approximately 50 % of the total number of PC’s is older than 3 years, and nearly 30% is less than 2 years old;

·                ICT technical support expertise is available at computer centre, the unit of Information of the Central Library and at the unit of Information of the Accounting Department.

·                General ICT expertise is available at the faculty of Sciences. This faculty offers a BSc program on computer science, covering operating systems, data base management systems, software engineering and programming as main subjects..

3.6.2       UNAN-León wishes to improve its facilities providing access to Internet services to students and academic staff quantitatively as well as qualitatively. This improvement is considered to be highly important for ongoing scientific research programs and academic outputs to be delivered. It is felt that due to the insufficient access to Internet, the quality of of some research programs is decreasing.  Exposure of staff and students to Internet as part of the curriculum is considered an absolute must.

3.6.3       Another high priority area of the UNAN-Leon is the implementation of a computerised financial information system. At present the financial system of the university is characterised by duplication of data in various registers and sections and backlog in processing. As a result up-to-date and reliable information is not readily available and this situation deteriorates every year. By computerising the financial information system, UNAN-León expects to shorten the processing cycles and to get access to up to date and reliable financial data supportive to adequate decision making. One important requirement of the computerized system to be set up is that it will provide access to the central financial database for budget queries to budget holders within the faculties.

3.6.4 UNAN-León also wishes to rehabilitate its computerised academic register information system. At present the path processing of data is slow and no integration exists between the sub-systems pre-enrolment and enrolment.  Also difficulties exist with the processing of student data of graduated students.  The university wishes to have more reliable system so to control these situations better and to process the academic data more rapidly.

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3.7   Present situation at UNI

3.7.1          In terms of student population, UNI is the 2^nd largest in the group of four universities. At present it serves a community of 9,000 students and its operations are spread out over two campuses in Managua.  As reflected in its name, the UNI is oriented towards engineering and technology. 

3.7.2          The present situation concerning the application of ICT can be summarized as follows (for details: see part 3, chapter UNI).

·                Present number of PC’s available: Administration 5, Central Library 40, Education and Research 350;

·                Each campus has one main computer centre and a modest campus network;

·                No data communication facilities are available interconnecting the two campus networks;

·                Access to internet is provided through telephone line connections at 28.8 Kbps and/or 36.6 Kbps with the commercial ISP’s IBW, Nodo Nicarao and Alfa-numeric

·                Full internet services are available at both campuses.

·                At the RUPAP-campus approximately 50 % of the total number of PC’s is older than 3 years. At the Simón Bolivar-campus is the ration approximately 80 % (older than 3 years) / 20 %.

·                Because of its orientation towards technology, ICT-expertise can be found at almost all levels within the university. However, ICT expertise is mainly oriented towards technical subjects such as information system engineering (design, development and implementation) and data communication technology.

·                The UNI does not have any major computerized applications in use supporting administration and management.

3.7.2       UNI intends to provide Internet access on a larger scale to its 2 campuses, by upgrading the existing computer capacity for research and education to a minimum standard of 1 PC per 3 teachers and 1 PC per 20 students.  All PC’s should be connected to Internet and e-mail. UNI feels that not having high capacity access to Internet is turning the university into an island without having any chance to become part of the global knowledge factory and to bring its own academic production to  levels matching common quality standards.

3.7.3       The setting up of a computerized library information system is a second priority of UNI. The university wishes to set up computer facilities at the central library at each campus for students and academic staff. These facilities should provide access to its own electronic catalogue and data bases systems next to similar resources available at other universities in and outside the country.

3.7.4       A third priority area for development is the implementation of ICT based distant learning programs. At present there is limited education available in cities far from Managua. This situation leads to a migration of rural population to the capital. UNI believes that by setting up videoconferencing facilities, educational services in remote areas of Nicaraguan and in cities without a university can be strengthened and expanded. UNI wishes to set up distant educational programs about prevention of natural disasters, community development and community projects in dedicated areas outside Managua.

4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 Scope and orientation of Sida/SAREC assistance

4.1.1          At present Sida/SAREC is considering the possibility of assisting those universities in Nicaragua (namely: UNA, UNAN-Managua, UNAN-Leon and UNI) already having long-term Sida supported research cooperation with Sweden to improve their ICT infrastructure, ICT capacity and get Internet connectivity. Considering the

·            present (more and less equal) stages of development of the individual counterparts,

·            the strong commitment of all universities to become change agents contributing to building the Information Society,

·            the strong commitment of all universities to expose its students adequately to evolving new ICT technologies such as the Internet as part of the academic or professional training and

·             the absence of obvious discrimination factor justifying why one or more of the counterparts should be given a less privileged position,

it is recommended that all four of the present universities in principle should be considered equally for receiving assistance in the area of ICT from Sida/SAREC.

4.1.2          The group of four represents a major resource for developing the human potential of the country. The individual members of the group face equal challenges in making the next step for structuring and further boosting the development of ICT resources. Because of strong commitment of each member for making the next step, a common approach is suggested as first step for addressing the present (common) problems and challenges each of the members are facing. For instance: at present all universities are confronted with the question how to introduce an approach of concerted actions, securing optimal coordination of various areas needing innovation. Expertise in this area is only limited available within the universities and even in the country, making it difficult if not impossible to contract such expertise. Through external expertise made available through support from Sida, workshops can be organized supporting the four members the developing detailed plans and proposals being at the same time platforms for exchange of experiences.

4.1.3          Next to common problems and challenge, specific needs do exist at the four universities in the particular in the areas of supportive information systems for management and administration, campus networking, local area networking and human resource development.  As such it is suggested that a common approach, as first step, should be follow up by individual support, as second step, addressing specific needs of the each member of the group.

4.1.4          In the view of the consultant, considerable external assistance (in particular during   preparation phase) will be required for carrying out proposed identified activities. Significant expertise, particular in various technology oriented areas, is available within the country: within the universities either the commercial sector. Contributing to a long term approach aiming at creating a financial and technical self sustainable situation, it is the consultant recommendation that preference should be given to contracting local available external expertise above contracting technical assistance from abroad. Next to its cost-effectiveness, it will stimulate local work relations between the universities and the local private and commercial sector. However for some specific areas the assistance of experts from Europe or the United States (USA) will be necessary, in particular in the preparation phase of detailed Information Policy Planning.

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4.2  Priority areas recommended addressing common needs

4.2.1              Reviewing the present stage of development in the area of ICT of all four universities and the challenges the universities are facing, it is recommended that on the short term support will provided by Sida/SAREC for addressing the following needs:

·             The need to establish more adequate mechanisms for coordination and control of isolated ICT initiatives. Transformation from present implementation strategies mainly initiated by individual groups to an approach of concerted actions in which the management of the universities will become guiding and coordinating factor;

·             The need to explore more adequate solutions for providing high capacity bandwidth and Internet connectivity, inter campus and inter university connection.

4.2.2       In correspondence, two projects are proposed in which all four universities will participate:

·               A project on Information Policy Development and;

·               A project comprising a study to alternatives for providing data communication connectivity between campuses and high capacity Internet access to and between universities

4.2.3              The project on Information Policy Development will provide each individual university with a policy plan giving guidance to the development of ICT and information resources in the coming 4 years.   As such the information Policy will be an instrument for the management of the respective institutions for controlling and coordinating major innovative developments such as the setting up of information systems for management, administration, education and research, the extension of infrastructures and ICT services and the further building of required expertise, work experience and other professional skills.

Next, the information policy will be an important instrument for attracting necessary financial support from national (government) and international donor organisations for the implementation of the policy. The time span of the project on information policy development is estimated 6-8 months. Required budget: approximately US$ 100.000,-. Significant inputs from external consultancy support are regarded necessary, expertise which is hardly available in the country. For this purpose it is suggested to contract consultancy capacity from a reputed and specialized consultancy firm either counterpart universities in Europa or the USA. A brief outline of the proposed project can be found in part 2 of this document.

4.2.4          Apparently the setting up of an national Internet exchange being the focal point for inter university data communication and providing access to the global internet has attractive advantages compared to the present set up in which each university has access to the global Internet individually. In particular it will help the universities to solve the problem of obtaining fixed bandwidth exclusively for education and research not shared by other (not university) users. Similar Internet segment exclusively for the sector of education and research exists in many other countries including countries in the region. Other pro’s for setting up such a Internet exchange are:

·             Having available of a group of experts managing the internet exchange able to deliver expert’s assistance to universities connected to the exchange;

·             Having mirroring services available hosting web-pages, data bases and special publications produced by individual universities, thus de-loading physical capacities between the exchange and the individual universities (for instance: web pages accessed by end-users from foreign countries will not occupy data communication and server capacities from local servers and physical connections between the exchange and the individual universities);

·             Having proxy services available de-loading the capacity requirements and costs of the international link (web-pages and data bases accessed frequently by individual staff and students from the connected universities can be mirrored at the proxy server of the Internet Exchange);

4.2.5          At first glance, the setting up of an Internet exchange seems to have more pro’s than contra’s. However, the successful setting up of an Internet exchange exclusively for education of research requires strong involvement of the participants and a comprehensive preparation. Next to various technical and human resource management problems to be solved, attention has to be paid to the legal status/institutional position of the Internet exchange, decision making concerning the (level of) services to be provided by the exchange, setting up of a cost accounting system acceptable by all participating actors securing the financial sustainability of the exchange etc. For this purpose the 2^nd project, study on connectivity is proposed.

4.2.6          The project on providing high capacity connectivity will comprise a study exploring alternatives for providing high capacity inter campus connectivity and for getting full access to the Internet. It will also consist of a study investigating the pro’s and contra’s of setting up a national Internet exchange dedicated to the sector of education and in case of a positive output, followed by a financial feasibility study for setting up the internet exchange and inter university data communication links including the specification of a system for cost accounting. As such the output of the study will be complementary to the outputs of the project on information policy: next to information policy plans for each university a document will be available for addressing the common problem of inter connectivity and high capacity to Internet. The time span of the project on providing high capacity is estimated 6 months. For the executing, local consultancy capacity will be contracted through the publishing of a request of proposal. Indicative budget required: US$ 25.000. A brief outline of the proposed project can be found in part 2 of this document.

4.2.7          It is expected that the two projects will provide a sound basis for executing various other ICT projects addressing specific needs of the individual universities. Examples of such projects are: the setting up of university wide Internet facilities, the implementation of academic register management Information system comprising student registration, curricula registration and examination results, the implementation of computerized library information system, the setting up of university wide data communication infrastructures, comprehensive end user skills development and technical support development programs etc. However, the urgent need exist to start such projects as soon as possible. In order to avoid further delays, it is recommended that funding for the proposed projects is made available on a very short term preferably before June of this year, thus enabling the four universities to start and finalize the development of adequate information policies and the formulation of an approach for solving the common connectivity problem before the end of 2000. Subsequently, the actual implementation of the policies through the execution of inter-related sub-projects can start at the beginning of 2001.

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4.3   Support for solving individual universities specific needs (*No Available)

5.           PROPOSED ACTIONS FOR THE YEAR 2000

5.0.1              Commenting on proposal by four universities (February)

5.0.2              Formal assignment of contact persons by the four universities (February)

5.0.3              Approval of the commented proposal by each of the four universities (beginning of March)

5.0.4              Presentation of commented proposal by representatives of the four Universities to Sida/SAREC during the visit of Mrs. Cecilia Scharp to Nicaragua (end March).

5.0.5              Formal approval of commented proposal by Sida/Sarec (April-May)

5.0.6              Publishing of request for proposals on Information Policy Planning and (study) on Connectivity (April)

5.0.7              Identification, contract negotiation and selection of consultants (May-June)

5.0.8              Start project on Information Policy Planning (June)

5.0.9              Start project on connectivity (July)

5.0.10           Finalize project on Information Policy Planning (beginning of December)

5.0.11           Finalize project on connectivity (beginning of December)

5.0.12           Approval of conclusions and recommendation of both project by management of the four Universities (beginning of December)

5.0.13           Presentation of project to Sida/Sarec (mid December).

ANNEX A:  Participants of the launching workshop/members of the workgroup

                                                           

Name: Eveling del Carmen Espinos Aragón                                             Name: Gladys Téllez Baca

University: UNI                                                                                        University: UNI

Faculty: Facultad de Ciencias y Sistemas (FCYS)                                   Faculty: FCYS

Function: Responsable del Laboratorio de Cómputo                                Function: Resp.Dpto. Lenguaje y Simulación

                                                           

Name: María Mercedes García Bucardo                                                  Name: Fátima González

University:UNI                                                                                         University: UNI

Faculty:Electrotecnica Y Computación (FEC)                                          Faculty: FEC

Function: Jefatura Dpto. de Inglés                                                          Function: Especialista en Comunicaciones

                                                           

Name: Oscar Manuel Somarriba Jarquín                                                 Name: Norman Antonio Vargas Chevez

University: UNI                                                                                        University: UNI

Faculty: FEC                                                                                             Faculty: FEC

Function: Investigador de datos de comunicación                                  Function: Especialista enComunicaciones

                                                           

Name: Leonel Plazaola Prado                                                                  Name: Luis Ernesto Palma

University: UNI                                                                                        University: UNI

Faculty: FEC                                                                                             Faculty: FEC

Function: Coordinador proyectos ASDI/TUD                                           Function: Comisión Técnica Centro de Cómputo

                                                           

Name: Jeanette González                                                                        Name: Sergio Gamez Guerrero

University: UNI                                                                                        University: UNI

Faculty: FEC                                                                                             Faculty:  FEC

Function: Dirección Académica                                                              Function: Director PIDMA

                                                           

Name: Gloria María Lanzas Espinosa                                                      Name: Ruth Velia Gómez

University: UNAN-L                                                                                 University: UNA

Faculty:     …….                                                                                       Faculty: CENIDA

Function: Capacitación                                                                                               Function: Director CENIDA

                                                           

Name: Aguiler Centeno García                                                                Name: Roberto Blandino Obardo

Universidad: UNA                                                                                   Universidad: UNA

Faculty:                                                                                                    Faculty: DIPLAN

Function: Resp. Area Informática                                                           Function: Director Planificación

                                                           

Name: Amparo Herrera García                                                                Name:  Ines Valverde Mendoza

University: UNAN-M                                                                                University: UNAN-M

Faculty: Ciencias                                                                                      Facultad: Edu y Humani

Function: Jefe Dpto.Computación                                                           Function: Docente

                                                           

Name: Eduardo José Díaz                                                                        Name: Cesar Rodriguez Lara

University: UNAN-M                                                                                University: UNAN-M

Faculty: Centro de Cómputo                                                                     Faculty:

Function: Director                                                                                    Function: Vice-Rector Administración

ANNEX B: List of interviewed persons

UNI

Ing. Mario Caldera Alfaro                                - Rector

Ing. Marcia Vargas Hernández                       - Vice rectora general

Eveling del Carmen Espinosa Aragón           - Resp. del Laboratorio de Computación

Gladys Téllez Baca                                        - Jefe del dpto. de Inglès

Leonel Plazaola Prado *                                - Coordinador proyectos Sida/SAREC

Leonardo Aguirre                                            - Resp. Centro de Cómputo

UNA

Francisco Telémaco Talavera Siles              - Rector

Roberto Blandino Obardo *                            - Director Planificación

Aguiler Centeno García                                  - Resp. Area Informática

Ruth Velia Gómez                                          - Director CENIDA

UNAN-Managua

Francisco Guzmán Pasos                                           - Rector

Cesar Rodriguez Lara *                                 - Vice rector Administración

Amparo Herrera García                                  - Jefe Dpto. Computación

Inès Valverder Mendoza                                 - Docente Fac. Edu y Humani

Eduardo José Diaz                                        - Director Centro de Cómputos

Sidar Rivera Marín                                          - Director Biblioteca Central

Giovanni Peñalba Navas                                - Resp. del Nodo

Luis Sandoval Mendoza                                 - Administrador Nodo

UNAN-León

Marcos Cárcamo Narváez                             - Director División de Informática

Ricardo Espinosa                                          - Director Dpto. de Capacitación

Ana Reyes                                                      - Resp. Unidad de Capacitación

Danilo Dadilla Contreras                                - Resp. de Oficina, División Informática

Cesar Real                                                     - Administrador Nodo-Internet

(* Persona de contacto)

ANNEX C: Location of campuses at Managua