Study of ICT Infrastructure in Syria: Impact on Higher Education

1
Study of ICT Infrastructure in Syria Impact on
Higher Education

• Nawar AL-AWA
• Faculty of IT
• University of Damascus

2
Plan

• Definition
• Case Study Japan
• Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
• National Initiatives
• Conclusions

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E-Infrastructure versus ICT-Infrastructure

• E- infrastructure
• Research environment
• researchers have access to scientific facilities
• Components
• ICT infrastructure
• ICT research
• Technology for knowledge sharing
• ICT infrastructure
• Computer Networks (Internet - email)
• Computers
• Fixed Telephone lines
• Mobile networks
• Educational Institutions
• Research Skills
• Scientific Libraries

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Case StudyJapan

• Cybernetic Sciences Infrastructure (CSI)
• Launched in 2004
• Objectives
• Develop High-Speed networks for Research and
  Education
• Develop Databases for Researchers and Digital
  Libraries
• Promote Scientific Research

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Case StudyJapan

• Computer Networks
• SINET
• In 2005 722 connected institutions. Link 1Gbps
• Connection with GEANT. Link 10Gbps
• In 2006 connection with Asia. Link 622Mbps
• Super SINET
• Network Infrastructure for Scientific Research
• Link rate 10 Gbps
• Testbed for Grid Computing Initiative
• Initiatives for Network Security (ex. PKI)
• SINET3
• started in April 2007
• Multi-layer network services, multi-VPN services

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Case StudyJapan
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Case StudyJapan
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Case StudyJapan

• Digital Academic Content
• Database
• Scientific and academic topics
• Textbooks and research papers
• e-journal for university libraries
• Digital university archives
• Applications
• Space and Astrology
• Nuclear Fusion and High Energy
• Genome Analysis
• Supercomputing
• Nano-technology

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Plan

• Definition
• Case Study Japan
• Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
• National Initiatives
• Conclusions

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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries

• Infrastructure Indicators
• Number of PCs
• Fixed and Mobile Phone density
• Indicators of Science and Technology Resources
• Budget of Research and Development
• Number of Engineers and Researchers
• Enrolling rate
• Output Indicators (Performance)
• Patents
• Number of Scientific Publications (accepted
  papers,)
• High-Tech percentage in Exportations

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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesICT Infrastructure in Higher Education

• Priorities
• Email
• Information Resources
• Internet-based learning
• On-line courses
• Video-conferencing
• Wireless Networks

An international comparative survey on the
current and future use of ICT in Higher Education
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesSyrian Universities
Source National Conference on Scientific
Research Damascus - May 2006
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesCurricula
Source National Conference on Scientific
Research Damascus - May 2006
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesInternet Users
Syria
Source Ministry of Communication and Technology
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesInternet Users (per 1000 Inhabitants)
- 2006

• Internet Obstacles
• Arabic Content
• Language barrier
• Infrastructure
• Cost

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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesInternet Users (per 1000 Inhabitants)
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesPCs (per 100 Inhabitants) - 2006
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesPCs (per 100 Inhabitants)
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesFixed Phone Lines
Syria
Source Ministry of Communication and Technology
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesFixed Phone Lines(per 100 Inhabitants)
- 2006
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesFixed Phone Lines(per 100 Inhabitants)
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesMobile Subscribers
Syria
Source Ministry of Communication and Technology
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesMobile subscribers (per 100
Inhabitants) - 2006
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesMobile subscribers (per 100
Inhabitants)
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesExports

• RD
• Less than 0.5 of GDP
• Migration of Skills

• Percentage of Hi-Tech and Mid-Tech products in
  Exportations

Source Adapted from UNDP, Human Development
Report 2001, Making New Technologies Work for
Human Development, New York, Oxford University
Press, Inc., 2001.
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesPatents
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesEnrolment Rate
Algeria
90
Egypte
Finland
USA
80
India
Finland
70
Iran
Korea
Jordan
60
Korea
Kuwait
50
Lebanon
Malaysia
40
Morroco
30
Oman
Lebanon
Pakistan
Syria
Egypt
??
20
Syria
KSA
Jordan
UAE
Sudan
10
Kuwait
India
Syria
Tunisia
Pakistan
Tunisia
0
UAE
1980
1985
1990
1995
1998
2003
2006
USA
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesEnrolled Students at IT faculties
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
MADAR indicator

• Called also Arab ICT Use Index
• Number of Internet Users
• Number of Fixed phone lines
• Number of Mobile subscribers
• PC installed

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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
Madar Indicator - 2006
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesICTDI (ICT Diffusion Indicator)

• Proposed by UNCTAD
• Connectivity (Infrastructure)
• Access (Use)

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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring
CountriesICTDI (ICT Diffusion Indicator)
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
E-Readiness

• connectivity and technology infrastructure
• business environment
• consumer and business adoption
• legal environment
• social and cultural environment
• e-services

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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
E-Readiness
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
Info-state Indicator

• Fixed and Mobile phone Lines
• Internet hosts
• Available bandwidth per capita
• Illiteracy rate
• TV-equipped houses (per 100 Inhabitants)
• PCs per 100 Inhabitants
• Internet users (per 100 Inhabitants)
• International phone call per capita

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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
Info-state Indicator
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
Digital Opportunity Index (DOI)
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
Digital Opportunity Index (DOI)
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
Digital Opportunity Index (DOI)
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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
ICT-OI(Opportunity Index) - 2007

• Merge of DAI and Info-state
• Network
• Fixed, Mobile, Internet bandwidth
• Skills
• literacy, enrolment
• Uptake
• PC, Internet users, TVs
• Intensity
• broadband internet subscribers, outgoing intl
  calls

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Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
ICT-OI(Opportunity Index) - 2007
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Plan

• Definition
• Case Study Japan
• Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
• National Initiatives
• Conclusions

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National InitiativesICT Strategy

• Programs included
• Re-structuring of Telecom sector
• Regulating agency
• Telecom law
• STE restructuring
• IT sector building
• Internet support
• IT regulation law
• IT profession organization
• Support for PC penetration

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National InitiativesICT Strategy

• Initiatives
• Capacity building
• Enhance Syrian Universities capacities
• Capacity building in ICT
• Link RD with business

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National InitiativesICT Strategy

• DAI (Digital Access)
• Infrastructure
• Telecom cost
• Enrolment rate
• QoS
• Internet Use

Target
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National InitiativesSHERN

• SHERN (Syrian H.E. Research Network)
• Collaboration with UNDP and UNESCO (2002)
• Objectives
• Build an advanced network connecting
  universities. Research centers, and Institutes
• Promote distant learning and collaborative
  research
• Provide researchers students with easy
  access to information resources

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National InitiativesSHERN
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National InitiativesSHERN

• Potential services
• Internet Browsing
• E-Mail
• E-Libraries
• E-Learning
• Video Conference
• Multimedia Broadcasting
• Administrative Information Exchange
• Research Data Center

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National InitiativesSHERN
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National InitiativesEUMEDCONNECT
Connection of 12 Mediterranean countries with 25
European countries
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National InitiativesEUMEDGRID

• Objectives
• Formation of National Grid Infrastructures in
  the Mediterranean Countries.
• Exploit the infrastructure provided by the
  Gigabit Network (GEANT) and the Mediterranean
  (EUMEDCONNECT) initiative

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Plan

• Definition
• Case Study Japan
• Indicators for Syria and Neighboring Countries
• National Initiatives
• Conclusions

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Conclusions

• ICT infrastructure is in continuous development
• evolution in PC, Mobile, Fixed Network
• Available ICT Infrastructure suffer
• Insufficient capacity for the huge number of
  Students
• Lack of digital Arabic content
• Comparison with neighboring countries
• Modest ranking (infrastructure and skills)
• Modest position (scientific research outputs)

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Proposals

• Encourage Linking with regional and
  international infrastructure
• Develop SHERN performance to be adapted to
  number of students
• Develop the Digital Scientific Content on SHERN
• Develop Services on the Infrastructure
• Develop a Local Body to measure the dynamics of
  e-infrastructure.
• Encourage the partnership with Industry sector.

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• Thank you
• alawan_at_scs-net.org
• www.fit.edu.sy