On 7/7/06, Otto Spaniol < spaniol@informatik.rwth-aachen.de> wrote:

Dear Ana and dear other delegates,
>
>After our last meeting in Coimbra and with the excellent contact given
>by Augusto Casaca (thanks again, Augusto) I contacted the Rector of the
>/Instituto Superior de Transportes e Comunicações (ISUTC)/, in Maputo
>(Mozambique) (http://www.transcom.co.mz/isutc/investigacao.html), in
>order to explore the opportunity of new activities for WG 6.9.
>
>In a first attempt I suggested him the possibility of organizing some
>kind of events there, as for instance, some postgraduate courses in the
>area of networking that could be organized in the framework of
>continuous training offered by the University, or a set of
>seminars/tutorials.
>
>I convey to him that my idea is not to organize the better for TC6 but
>the most profitable for them. So in my opinion, first we must hear from
>ISUTC. Because they are who better know their needs and lacks.
>So, enclosed is the answer of the Rector. He gives us an accurate idea
>of their reality and suggests us some possibilities of cooperation. He
>also suggests the possibility of sending a "fact finding mission" to
>explore the situation.
>
>(My comment to this: the mission could be the opportunity to offer them
>some tutorials of their interest)
>
>But, I do not know about the capacity of TC6 of assuming possible
>agreements neither about our final intentions.
>
>So, I would like to hear from you before sending an answer to the
>Rector. I promise to write him by mid-July.
>
Thank you very much for your very promising initiative.

I suggest to do the cooperation in association with
the United Nations University (Antonio Cerone <antonio@iist.unu.edu >)
whose email of Jaunuary 26 is attached since I don't know whether this
message went to all delegates.
In his email, he mentions Maghreb, China or other Asian countries
but I suppose that he would be happy with South Africa ( i.e. Mozambique)
as well as with North Africa (i.e. Maghreb).
The fact that UNU favours formal methods should also not be serious.
He has mentioned that by himself in his email. And TC6 has conferences
such as FORTE (Formal Techniques). Thus no problems here.

The language problem mentioned by Andre Danthine is of importance.
Here is an excerpt of his message which was not transmitted to all
delegates:

-----
What is the situation of Mozambique ? Is the portuguese still the official
language ? As Mozambique is now part of the Commonwealth, is English used
in the Universities for lecturing ?

Lecturing in a block arrangement of 2 to 3 weeks is possible but I believe
that the best framework to do it, is through from existing cooperation
program of education sponsored by European Programs or National Programs.
I do not see how IFIP or TC6 will be able to provide the resources.

For TC6,supporting the travel expenses for seminars or tutorials for a
very limited number of people is possible assuming that the accomodation
expenses will be supported locally. However I doubt that a stay of several
weeks will be possible for many people of the TC6 and its working groups.
-----

Concerning the resources:

1. UNU appears to be willing to contribute - also financially.

2. TC6 could (as usual) pay for the travel cost for some
   tutorialists; hard seats please.

3. Accomodation cost should be covered by the host country.

Course duration:

1. It will be rarely possible that delegates can do two week courses
   since this will be in conflict with other duties.
   On the other hand, courses of 3-5 days duration might be possible
   for many.

2. A particular problem is related to practicals, exercises,...
   This may hardly be done by the tutorialist. At least
   I believe that she or he is not really enthusiastic
   about that. Thus the ideal case would be to find someone
   in the host country who might help here. But this
   person (if existing) would ask for payment.
   Maybe it would then be better than nothing if we
   organise tutorials withour exerceise (not really perfect but....).

My recommendation is that you contact André Carvalho (Reitor do ISUTC)
encouraging him to set up such a cooperation - maybe for
second half of 2007; this would give us enough time to
finalize the details together with United Nation University.

Best wishes
Otto

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Email received by Antonio Cerone:

Dear Ana,

UNU-IIST would be very happy to collaborate with the IFIP TC6
working group 6.9 - Communication Systems for Developing Countries.

UNU-IIST training programs are addressed to developing countries by
organising courses and schools in developing countries and inviting
researchers, lecturers and postgraduate students to Macao to
undertake a research project for 9 months. We also have a joint
PhD programme with the University of Pisa for students from developing
countries and also postdoc positions open to people from any countries.
You can find more information on our activities at our website
http://www.iist.unu.edu/
in particular under "School and Courses".

>From what I have seen at
http://www.ifip.tu-graz.ac.at/TC6/handbook.htm#AS69
it looks like your working group and my institution have
similar goals toward developing countries. (Please let
me know if there are better links that describe the
mission and activities of your working group.)

UNU-IIST focus more on formal methods rather than communication
systems, but we have experienced in the recent school
on Advanced Topics in Networking, Security and Verification,
held in Indonesia (Prof Otto Spaniol was among the lectures),
that the two areas can be successfully combined within the
same event. So there is definitely scope for cooperation.
Moreover, we are also happy to give our support in
organising events in areas other than formal methods.
So, if you have in mind specific places or specific events,
please let me know and we can help with support and in finding
local contacts.
Do you have any specific event in mind to be organised in Magreb,
China and other Asian countries?
One possibility for a permanent collaboration would be to create
a regular school to be held in a different developing country
(possibly a different continent) every year. Maybe something like
the school we organised in Indonesia.

Regarding Magreb, at the moment we are organising a School in
Tunisia ( http://www.iist.unu.edu/ICTAC2006/School/), associated
with the ICTAC 2006 conference. Please let me know if you
are interested in supporting the event or in being actively
involved in the organisation and in which form. I can talk
to the local orgnisers and the other sponsors about it.

Looking forward to collaborating with you.

Best regards.

Antonio

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