Partnerships for online community's benefit<\/p>\n
Vishnu K. Mahmud, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In this heyday of hype and hypocrisy, it is sometimes refreshing
\nto see a project that is created with the public's interest in
\nmind.<\/p>\n
Universitas Terbuka (Open University) Indonesia, a government-
\nowned institution, has been offering programs through distance
\nlearning in which busy professionals can study during their free
\ntime.<\/p>\n
Using facsimile machines and traditional postal system,
\nstudents can communicate with their teachers and each other to
\ndiscuss and collaborate. Now the university is looking to the
\nInternet as an additional medium for teaching.<\/p>\n
Recognizing that many of its students live in remote areas,
\nfar from the many educational institutions located in major
\ncities, UT has designed a new Information and Communications
\nTechnology (ICT) supported distance learning application
\naccessible from its website (www.ut.ac.id).<\/p>\n
Students can view certain lectures, tutorials, video
\npresentation and discussions from this web-based application.
\nThey can even communicate and pool resources with other students
\nwith this application.<\/p>\n
According to Dr. Tian Belawati, the university's vice rector,
\nthe main reason for taking advantage of the Internet is its
\ncapability and flexibility in delivering supporting material for
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
\"(The) Internet offers the opportunity for UT to provide a
\nfast and reliable communication channel as well as other support
\nto our students,\" she said. \"Now, since Internet access points
\nare increasing (as they are provided by warnets, or Internet
\nkiosks), we think it is time to enhance its utilization and to
\npromote it to our students.\"<\/p>\n
Acknowledging the fact that PC ownership penetration is very
\nlow in Indonesia, UT has forged partnerships with infrastructure
\nproviders, namely warnets that are scattered throughout the
\narchipelago. One such partner is the Association of Community
\nInternet Center (APWKomitel), which has members all over
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Rudy Rusdiah, chairman of APWKomitel, said that by
\ncollaborating with UT, both parties help each other. UT would be
\nable to effectively and efficiently service their students while
\nthe many small and medium enterprises (SME) that focus on the
\nInternet trade would be able to build their businesses and
\ncommunities.<\/p>\n
\"This opens the opportunity for UT to cover all of Indonesia
\nwithout any money from donors or loans, saving the government
\nlots of money for other purposes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Furthermore, this project helps solve (the) digital and
\neducational divide issue ... a big gap between the people who
\nhave access to education and the people who do not have access to
\neducation in remote areas.\"<\/p>\n
Having a warnet as an extension for an educational institution
\nis perhaps a new business model for struggling Internet centers.
\nAfter the initial dot-com boom, Internet-related companies are
\nnow dropping likes flies, warnet included.<\/p>\n
APWKomitel hopes to make the warnet a Multipurpose Community
\nInternet Center (MCIC), which not only provides Internet
\nbrowsing, gaming, chatting and e-mail but for other tasks such as
\nshopping, e-business and e-learning.<\/p>\n
For distance learning students, these MCICs may be ideal to
\nmeet their study groups. As they rarely go to class and meet each
\nother, study groups offer a social environment for distance
\nlearning students to meet and discuss their topics and
\nassignments.<\/p>\n
Meeting up in their local warnet to download their latest
\nassignments and share ideas is not only a good idea, but also
\nmore cost effective since they can pool their resources for
\nprinting and computer rental.<\/p>\n
APWKomitel pledges special discounts for UT students and their
\nstudy groups. It also hopes to provide training to students on
\nhow to access and use the application. For students living in
\nremote areas, getting a degree may no longer be a pipe dream but
\na reality.<\/p>\n
This joint venture should perhaps be an example of how
\npartnerships can work. Too many times do we see companies, in the
\nquest for quick profits, abandon their core competencies and join
\nin the fray.<\/p>\n
For example, why should a telecommunications company start up
\nan Internet center or web-hosting business unit when there are
\nabundant companies that already offer the same service? Why not
\nfocus on wiring the countryside where phone penetration is low?<\/p>\n
By concentrating on each other's strengths, businesses in the
\nIndonesian Internet economy would have a better chance of
\nsurviving and coexisting in these difficult times. Unfortunately,
\nas pride and greed continue to influence the corporate goals of
\nmany businesses, we should expect to see more bankrupt businesses
\nin the future.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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