18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 1 Distance learning as a tool for improving the readiness of utilization of ESF funds Riga Technical University, LATVIA J. Lavendels V.Minkevicha V. Shitikovs

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 2 Introduction In this presentation is described the approach and measures by what Riga Technical University within co-funded by European Social Fund (ESF) project intends to improve ability of regional entities and inhabitants to uptake opportunities provided by ESF

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 3 Description of current state Applications for ESF projects usually are written by specially prepared people, whose are inhabitants of big cities Frequent and informal consultations, which practically is possible only in Riga It is difficult for province inhabitants to attend special courses in Riga because of their immobile lifestyle Participation in seminar is as obligation to prepare application for project

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 4 Problem ESF statistics shows that more than half of approved projects and more than half of amount of funding is realizing in Riga It is very hard for rural inhabitants to prepare application paper in accordance with –overall ESF requirements –distinctive feature of currently opened call

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 5 Our experience ESF project “Informational technologies for inclusion of the young people with special needs into education and society” ; post-graduate education E-programme, approved by the Ministry of Education and Science, for secondary school teachers of informatics

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 6 One way to improve the situation in regions is the appropriate continuing education of inhabitants, giving them the same knowledge and skills as in metropolis in issues related to submission of applications This education envisages distance learning which would increase their competitiveness in National programs, open calls and grants Proposed solution

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 7 Main idea of campaign is implementation via Internet -distance learning course about overall issues of project management -distance learning courses about particular features of currently opened calls -infrastructure for support of rural inhabitants to be involved in ESF activities

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 8 Co-funded by ESF project ESF activity “Enhancement of the economically relevant continuing training opportunities” RTU project “Information Technologies for motivating Latvian provinces to take advantages of opportunities provided by ESF”

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 9 Project’s activities prepare E-course about main principles of project management record informational part of centralized seminar about ESF activity prepare E-courses about particular ESF activities for potentially interested all over the country create an environment for distribution of E- courses in rural part of Latvian Republic

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 10 Target group are employees of Latvian province state and municipality institutions, who are interested in ESF offered opportunities (schools, state services, local governments, libraries …).

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 11 Levels of educational grid

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 12 Steps of work Selection of equipment for preparing materials accordingly with project needs setting up of supporting points and responsible persons – coordinators (teachers, librarians etc.) in all Latvian areas development of computerized learning course about ESF project organization and implementation implementation learning courses on the Web using the network of supporting points

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 13 creation of on-line information about recently opened ESF activities in computerized form and its distribution via supporting points deployment on the Web prepared information to motivate Latvian province inhabitants to participate in currently opened call(s) Steps of work (continuation)

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 14 Conclusions learning-communication environment on the Web will is developed this environment will be further maintained and expanded acquired abilities in project organization and information technologies skills will provide growth of Latvian province inhabitants’ economic activity in longer period of time

18th April, 2007 Riga, Latvia Workshop “Towards an Information Society in the Baltic States" 15 Thank you for attention !