1. Grant-making
1.1 Approval of the Grant Proposals
In November, AEF approved US$719,500 to six projects designed to enhance the capacity of small and micro enterprises to use ICT more effectively. Nineteen APEC member economies participated in the projects under the management of six member economies (Australia, Canada, Korea, Mexico, Thailand and the United States), which separately supervised each designated project. The awarded projects are as follows:
(UNIT : US$)
Member
Economies
Involved |
Institution |
Project
Title |
Grant
Approved |
Matching
Funds |
Korea
(15 other APEC
economies) |
Asia
Pacific
Women’s
Information
Network
Centre
(APWINC),
Sookmyung
Women’s
University |
ICT
Capacity
Building
for Women’s
Micro
and Small
Enterprises |
160,000 |
165,670 |
Australia
(Chile,
China,
the Philippines,
Vietnam) |
APEC
Virtual
Center
for Environmental
Technology
Exchange
(APEC-VC)
Australia
Inc. |
Human
Capacity
Building
Project
for Small
and Micro
Environmental
Business |
150,000 |
149,860 |
| Mexico |
University
of Colima |
Micro-business
and Micro-banking
information
web site |
150,000 |
596,587 |
Canada
&
Korea
(12 economies
participating
in the
APEC-IBIZ) |
The
Acadia
Centre
for Small
Business
&
Entrepreneurship
in association
with The
Korea
Management
and Technology
consulting
Association
on behalf
of APEC
Network
of Small
Business
Counsellors |
To
create
and deliver
relevant
programming
intended
to enhance
the use
of ICTs
by new
and existing
small
and micro
businesses
operating
in the
APEC region |
100,000 |
39,000 |
| Thailand |
Thai
APEC Study
Center,
Thammasat
University |
Internet
and Communication
Technology
for Community
Enterprise
Development
Project |
60,000 |
15,000 |
| US |
Center
for Internet Studies, University of Washington |
Establishing
an Asia-Pacific
Network
of University
Internet
Studies
Program |
99,500 |
175,652 |
| Total |
719,500 |
1,141,769 |
|
1.2 Consortium
for APEC Cyber Education Cooperation
(ACEC)
While continuing the projects to which AEF had made grants, the Consortium launched a new project, “APEC Learning Community for Shared Prosperity”(ALCoM), which integrates two former projects, the APEC Cyber Education Network (ACEN) Webzine and International Internet Volunteers(IIV). The objectives of this project are 1) establishing groups of “APEC Learning Community Builders (ALCoB)” to contribute to the solution of the digital divide problem, 2) enhance cooperation in extending knowledge of ICT, and 3) eventually construct and operate a community for shared prosperity within APEC through on-line and off-line activities. ALCoB, the core members of ALCoM, are qualified teachers, learners and supporters selected from each economy. The project was presented by EdNet at the 25th HRD WG Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 1-4 July 2003.
2. Fundraising
The Korean government contributed KRW1.2 billion (about US$1 million) to the Foundation following approval of the grants by the Board of Governors in November. In 2002, the Korean government had decided to provide up to US$1 million of funding on a matching basis. The six projects awarded by the Board provide in-kind matches equivalent to a total of US$1,140,000.
3. Participation in APEC Activities
3.1 The
11th APEC Leaders’ Meeting
and the 15th Ministerial Meeting
The AEF submitted a progress report on recent activities and its initiatives to the 15th Ministerial Meeting held on October 17-18 in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr. Choong Yong Ahn, Chair of the Board of Governors, and Dr. Deok Ryong Yoon, Executive Director, participated in the meeting. While in Bangkok, Dr. Ahn and Dr. Yoon had a productive meeting with Mr. Anand Panyarachun, Honorary Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Governors and former Prime Minster of Thailand.
The Leaders and Ministerial Meetings acknowledged the accomplishments of the Foundation and the Consortium for APEC Cyber Education Cooperation (ACEC). The Leaders’ Declaration and Ministerial Joint Statement recognized the Foundation and ACEC as follows:
“We voiced support for science
and technology innovation,
the upgrading of English-language
and computer skills among
the workforce for effective
use of the Internet, advancing
cyber-education and ICT capacity
building, including for small
and micro enterprises.”
“Ministers expressed their appreciation to the APEC Education Foundation for its initiatives to enhance Information and Communications Technology (ICT) capacity building of small and micro enterprises. Ministers also recognized the Foundation’s potential as a useful vehicle to enhance APEC education and human capacity building cooperation. Ministers also recognized the achievement for the Consortium for APEC Cyber Education Cooperation (ACEC) in reducing the digital divide in the APEC region and welcomed the Consortium’s new directions towards building a wide learning community of teachers, learners and researchers/administrators in the region. Ministers encouraged member economies, business, academia and other stakeholders to actively participate in the activities of the Foundation and the Consortium.”
4. Public Outreach
Efforts to enhance public outreach were accelerated through both printed and electronic media to help member economies better understand the Foundation’s activities. The third issue of the AEF e-Newsletter was distributed to APEC members and relevant institutions in March 2003. The on-line newsletter is designed to keep APEC members and interested institutions informed of the Foundation’s developments and recent activities.
The Foundation’s brochure was published with updated content and a new design in October 2003, and then distributed at the Concluding Senior Officials Meeting and the 15th Ministerial Meeting to help further understanding of the activities of the Foundation.
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