Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)

IATP News from the Caucasus

January 22-Februrary 3, 2005

AZERBAIJAN

Minister of Youth
Minister Abulfas Garayev dictates
answers to his assistants

Minister of Youth, Sport, and Tourism Discusses Youth Issues in an Online Forum
On February 1, Abulfas Garayev, the Azeribajani Minister of Youth, Sport, and Tourism, met online with 72 representatives of local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), journalists, teachers, and university students at 11 IATP access sites across Azerbaijan. IATP, the Regional Library Information Centers Program, and Gelejek Namine, a local NGO, organized the online forum dedicated to Youth Day. Two assistants helped the minister type answers to questions so as to address two questions simultaneously and as many concerns as possible. Forum participants had spent several days planning for the event and had prepared a long list of in-depth, thought-out questions. During the chat, participants asked what steps the ministry is taking to organize more summer camps for university and secondary school students as well as what plans there are to increase opportunities for physically disabled youth. Questions ranged widely, including even a discussion on the huge unemployment problem and how the ministry is working toward providing youth with jobs stipulated by the “Social-Economical State Program.” NGO representatives from Ganja capitalized on the opportunity to inform the minister about their innovative new project that is developing ecotourism in Azerbaijan and asked the minister what support there is for such initiatives. As there was not enough time for Garayev to answer everyone's questions, the minister made a promise to answer unanswered questions at his earliest convenience. The event was covered by two Azerbaijani television channels, three radio stations, and more than ten newspapers.

Lankaran students learn about the
UGRAD exchange program

UGRAD Participant Discusses Exchange Experience Online with Lankaran Students
On January 22, the IATP access site at Lankaran State University (LSU) hosted an online chat about what it is like to attend a college in the United States. Elchin Musayev, who is currently studying at Lees-McRae College in North Carolina on the UGRAD program, was the guest expert. Twelve participants, mostly students, participated in the event. The seminar allowed students to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of American and Azeri education systems and the challenges people can face if they are not fully aware of some of the differences in the systems. Musayev was a student at Lankaran State University and did his best to compare both educational systems objectively. Participants met at the www.bakililar.az chat room. Participants who are applying to American universities discovered that studying there is not as easy as they thought, but at the same they became excited when they learned about the career, professional, personal opportunities offered at the US universities. They thanked Musayev for the valuable comparison he gave and for answering their questions in an informative and interesting manner.

ARMENIA

FLEX Alumna Gains Management Skills through IATP Distance Learning Initiative
As a participant of IATP’s distance learning (DL) initiative, Armine Karakhanyan (FLEX 97) is currently enrolled in the DL course “Project Management Fundamentals,” offered by the University of California San Marcos. Although Karakhanyan is just beginning the course, she already feels that this training is a rewarding experience. The lessons are well-organized and naturally develop into deeper aspects of project management. Karakhanyan particularly appreciates that the instructor keeps the explanation under each subtitle short and to the point. After just three classes, Karakhanyan has already noticed a significant change in the way she perceives her position at the new US Embassy Compound and the construction project on which she is focusing. She used to look at the current project from the perspective of an assistant. Now she sees things from the perspective of a project director. She realized how complicated the project is and is looking forward to contributing her new management skills to improve the implementation of this and future projects.

orphans
Two boys from the Huys Orphanage
gain computer skills that will help
them further themselves
academically and in society

Children at Huys Orphanage Gain Computer Skills
On January 25, the IATP access site in Gyumri began a series of trainings on computer basics for children of Gyumri Huys (Hope) orphanage. Collaboration between IATP and Huys started with the celebration of Christmas. Youth For Achievements Association and Yerevan and Gyumri Alumni Council members joined efforts to make Christmas a bright and unforgettable one for the 69 children of Huys orphanage, which opened after the devastating earthquake in Lori Marz in 1988. They collected donations of toys, books, puzzles, and other gifts and delivered them to the children on Christmas day. After spending the holiday with the children, the alumni invited them to participate in computer training at the IATP access site. Thus, on January 25, the orphans visited the IATP Gyumri site. They began discovering the world of information technology and learned to use basic computer software. Having mastered many aspects of working with this word processing software, the children were quizzed on their new skills. The month-long training series will provide an opportunity for the orphans to feel that they are full members of the society and the technology skills will improve their academic and career prospects.

GEORGIA

College professors find results of
reforms carried out in high
education online

Poti Engineering Lecturers Finds Legislation Changes Online
On January 27, lecturers from Poti Engineering-Economical State University came to the IATP access site in Poti in order to find online materials concerning reforms in higher education. Following the velvet revolution, changes to Georgian legislation has become available online. Thus, IATP users have been using IATP resources to find how the changes will affect them. With the assistance of IATP staff, the lecturers browsed the Internet and found the website of the Georgian Ministry of Education. Here the participants found information about new laws in higher education. On February 2, Rusudan Gogonia, a professor at Poti Engineering-Economical State Institute, returned to the IATP access site to obtain information from the Internet about new changes in Georgian legislation. Gogonia, who teaches Economical Analysis of Agriculture Activities and Accounting, navigated the official website of the Ministry of Finances of Georgia and found the new tax law. The materials gleaned from the Internet will help the professors teach based upon the most up-to-date information and to keep their university compliant with the Ministry of Education. It is this access to centralized information that makes it possible for regions of Georgia to develop their higher education models without falling behind Tbilisi.

children on a computer
Children perform English language
exercises online

IATP in Telavi Host Third Group of Secondary School Children
On January 27, IATP access site in Telavi, Georgia, hosted 15 third-graders from Telavi Secondary School No. 4. It has become necessary for schools to keep current with technology in order to best educate their students. However, rural schools often lack modern technology and methodology. Teachers rarely know how to use computer technology and thus, cannot pass on that knowledge to their students. Nana Dakiashvili, an English teacher at Telavi Secondary School No. 4, asked IATP to conduct an Internet English lesson for her class. The IATP staff taught the children to use computers and the Internet. Then they introduced the children to language puzzles and complex English exercises that are readily available on the Internet. IATP plans to continue to organize such events for other schools, especially in rural areas.