On-Line Resources & Building Community Partnerships for Development Some Canadian Experiences mantova, italy mantova, italy23/6/99 Dr. Michael Gurstein, Director Centre for Community and Enterprise Networking (C\CEN) University College of Cape Breton, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada 10/2/99

Background n Canada one of the most connected countries u telephone u cable u Internet n widespread in home computer ownership n concerns u access u competitiveness u excluded populations--rural, poor, aboriginals

Policy Framework: Policy Framework: “Connecting Canadians” n Federal Dept. of Industry u Community Access Program (CAP)--rural and urban u Volnet Program u Smart Communities Program n Human Resource Development Canada u Community Learning Networks n Canadian Heritage--concerned with content n Health Canada n Others--CIDA, IDRC,

Community Access Program (CAP) n funds for local communities for I-net access n 3000 across Canada, 100 in Nova Scotia n Y2K rural and remote urban n $30,000 grants--initially for POP access now for developing “community” access n partner with local organizations eg. economic development organizations--key role of libraries n so what happens next…? n

Volnet n Grants to voluntary organizations u for training, connectivity, hardware n Hub model n

Smart Communities n Twelve to be chosen n $5,000,000 each over three years n Two rounds--initial then funding for second round n Community “partnerships” n Need support of key community institutions--libraries n

Role of Libraries n an “enabler” u doing old things in new ways u links to the world u links to one’s neighbours n a “resource” u doing new things u for knowledge work u for remote work

Community Enterprise Networks n CAP site based (telecentres, CCC’s, etc.) n in rural or small communities n institutional link--school, YMCA, college n computer access, Internet access, training, software support, , telework sites n general business services n students for training and development n job creation funds for interim staffing n self sufficiency/sustainability through sale of services, training, fees-- , use of software

Centre for Community & Enterprise Networking (C\CEN) n University College of Cape Breton based n R & D and enterprise incubation n linking to CEN’s for R&D and incubation n training programs n linkages--provincial, national, global n pilots, evaluation, proposal/project development u WiNS, small business support, “Healthnet” u

Wire Nova Scotia: WiNS//NetCorps n 70 young people with a “virtual organization” n Internet support, training, administration n outcomes u 4000 people/250 businesses Inet trained u careers, experience u enterprises--tech support, e-conferencing, Virtual Centre for CB Music u university/college credit n NetCorps--pilot for IDRC & Govt. of Canada u I-net support for Angonet--NGO access in Angola u two young unemployed Cape Bretoners trained in UNIX, GIS--offered jobs, remote tech support

Sharing, Extracting, Re-using Knowledge n by-product of virtual management system u collaborative/virtual structures--transparent, explicit, lateral u base for developing, sharing, distributing knowledge for technical support, common solutions for their work, enterprise approaches n tools u , listserves, web-board, chat--organized to an explicit plan u human facilitation of electronic multi-logues n outcomes u very low cost successful remote management u explicit, visible, accessible re-usable knowledge base for on-going activities (logs)--semi-automatic report generation u rapid distribution of successes, mistakes/corrections u lateral communication, sharing of knowledge, trust

Some Questions n Infrastructure? n are the lessons transferable? u lagging regions in leading economies u knowing what/knowing how n long term sustainability? u but “sustainability” is necessary not sufficient n can “access” be “indigenized” or will it only be a tool for the adminstrators not the adminstrated?

Some Lessons Learned? n It’s the technology, stupid… n language is an opportunity not a risk n giving fishermen the “net” n what works (is sustainable/useful/acceptable) in Tompkins’ Cove doesn’t necessarily “work” in Timbuctoo or even in Tompkins’ Harbour n many hands make short work--small biz, educatn, health etc. n things don’t just “happen” n mediation, mediation, mediation n information IS power/knowledge IS freedom n “think local, act global” n

Dr. Michael Gurstein ECBC/NSERC/SSHRC Assoc. Chair: Technology Management Director: Centre for Community & Enterprise Networking Associate Professor: Organizational Management University College of Cape Breton Sydney, NS, CANADA

Centre for Community & Enterprise Networking C\CEN “Using Information and Communications Technology for Local Economic Development”