Accomplishments
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- 2001- Conducted a detailed survey in 7 representative DCs to study the problems and issues in their education systems and identify their training and ICT needs.
- Identified the key barriers to e-learning; (i) very high cost of “expert content”,
(ii) piracy, (iii) bad end-user experience due to low Internet bandwidth and disconnection problems in the DCs (i.e. good content with interactive audio and video does not stream well over the Internet, leaving students frustrated and disillusioned); and (iv) lack of awareness of e-learning due to its inaccessibility.
- Developed the technology platform together with an educational content provider to address ALL the barriers to e-learning and give access to nearly 500 professional development and IT courses.
- Negotiated the price barrier. The same e-learning courses that, at the time, cost US$100 - US$540 each in the US, were made available at negligible costs each to sponsors who would distribute them for FREE to people in marginalized sectors.
- 2003- United Nations Industrial Organization (UNIDO), in an effort to promote skills acquisition and workforce development in Pakistan, joined forces with ICWFD to introduce the program in Pakistan.
- 2004- Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and a local bank sponsor the first courses and disseminate them FREE of cost to locals under a high profile CSR initiative.
- 2005- Etisalat (the UAE telecom provider) launches a CSR program with ICWFD’s library of 400 + courses to train 500,000 people in the Middle East.
- 2006- ICWFD and UNITAR sign an agreement whereby UNITAR would offer certifications ( a huge value add and incentive to students to study the skills).
- 2008- ICWFD established National Program Coordinator relationships in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, with NPC relationships being negotiated in other DCs.
- ICWFD and TechSoup Global enter into partnership to provide e-Skills360° courses to non-profit organizations and libraries in the US and Canada.
- Since 2002, ICWFD has made it possible for over 3 million underprivileged students across the world to gain access to high-end IT training for FREE!
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