CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: Regional Institutional Linux Training of Trainers for Linux Professional Institute (LPI) Level 1 - Vientiane, Lao PDR

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Do you want to be a certified Linux trainer (LPIC-1)?

Are you interested in creating business by offering trainings on Free and Open Source Software?
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CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
Regional Institutional Training of Trainers for Linux Professional Institute (LPI) Certificate Level 1 with E-Learning and Re-entry Plan
(Code: LAO-LTOT-LEVEL1)


Applications are open for nationals and residents of CAMBODIA, INDONESIA, LAO PDR, PHILIPPINES and VIETNAM

DEADLINE OF APPLICATION:
01 AUGUST 2008, 1800H (GMT+8)

The ASEAN node of the International Open Source Network (IOSN ASEAN+3) in cooperation with InWEnt Capacity Building International, Germany and the National University of Laos are holding a Linux Training of Trainers (LToT) workshop in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

This course prepares participants for Linux Professionals Institute (LPI) certification as well as to become Linux trainers in their own right. After the training, the trainers will sit for examination to be certified as Level 1 Linux professionals.

The LPI community certification exam (LPI 101 and 102) will be held on 20 September 2008. Testing venue and individual exam schedules will be announced later.


Venue: National University of Laos, Vientiane, Lao PDR

July 21-August 01 (application period)
August 04-29 (e-learning component)
August 30-September 01 (selection and notification of qualified applicants)
September 07 (arrival of participants)
September 08-12; 15-19 (LToT LPI-1 proper)
September 20 (LPI community certification exams)
September 21 (departure of participants)


IMPORTANT:

EVERYBODY IS REQUESTED TO READ CAREFULLY AND UNDERSTAND FULLY THE CRITERIA, OBJECTIVES AND CONDITIONS PRIOR TO SUBMISSION OF THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR EVALUATION AND CONSIDERATION.

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BACKGROUND

Why become a FOSS trainer?

A major barrier against adoption and deployment of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in in the Asia Pacific region is the lack of human resources with FOSS skills. This programme aims to address the problem by qualifying trainers, so that these trainers in turn will be able to multiply their expertise for a self-sustaining development of FOSS human resources.

The training of trainers is offered to institutions with a strong commitment to introduce the knowledge of Linux to their staff members and communities. This should be done by implementing trainings by the LPI 1 certified representatives within three months after this programme, Monitoring and supervision will be provided by an IOSN initiative (OpenTRAIN).

This action proposes an advanced training program on LPI Level 1 in Lao PDR and prepares the participants for the LPI Level 1 certification exam. The action is targeted towards trainers and FOSS experts from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Vietnam, which will be enabled to obtain certification in Linux systems administration and to develop, adjust and enhance material, that prepares others for LPI certification.

The Linux Professionals Institute (LPI) community certification program is a non-distribution specific program that certifies the competency level of Linux practitioners. It has three levels.

For this training, information about the LPIC-1 (101 and 102 exams) is available at the LPI website.

LPI 101:
http://lpi.org/eng/certification/the_lpic_program/lpic_1/exam_101_detailed_objectives

LPI 102:
http://lpi.org/eng/certification/the_lpic_program/lpic_1/exam_102_detailed_objectives


APPLICATION CRITERIA

Participants who will attend are to be determined on the following criteria:

• Trainers and FOSS experts AFFILIATED with academic institutions, government agencies, small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), and non-government organizations (NGOs) as well as Network and systems administrators and FOSS advocates
• Minimum of 2 to 3 years of relevant experience in administering a Linux PC
• Good command of English, including technical terms used in ICT
• Residents/citizens from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines and Vietnam
• Positioned in their organizations to facilitate the adoption of FOSS-based applications
• Must have training experience and the ability to train others after the course
• Non-local applicants must possess a passport with at least 6 months validity period to allow overseas travel.


During the selection process, a high score will be given to institutions which will be able to embed the ToT into their regular plantilla of activities and services offered. These will be expected from the follow-up action plans they will be submitting as a requirement for application.

Though applications of institutions will be prioritized, individual FOSS trainers and experts are also eligible to apply.

Training Institutions are invited to designate one representative/trainer. The Institution is also ask to clearly signify their commitment to designate their representative/participant to train other staff members/communities upon their return within three months.

Organizations are ENCOURAGED to nominate and give preference (where appropriate) to FEMALE participants.


COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF E-LEARNING MATERIAL

Materials of former LPI TOTs in stable format (mostly in a wiki) will be transferred to a Moodle Course Management System that is accessible by the public, and editable by LPI certified alumni of IOSN. This e-learning tool will also be used for a pre-training e-learning phase.

Your performance in this e-learning phase will be a selection criteria for the face-to-face training phase. This will assure that the participants are of the level of quality to take the certification exam right after training with higher chances of passing.


FOLLOW-UP PLAN

The programme provides monitoring after the Training of Trainers (through their institution) for a sustainable implementation of follow-up activities. The monitoring will be done through the OpenTRAIN initiative.


OBJECTIVES

• A corps of Linux experts is prepared for the LPI Level 1 exam by a ONE-MONTH e-learning course as well as by an intensive 10-DAY training course.
• Training material for LPI Level 1, which can be used by others online, is developed by the participants, guided by an LPIC-1 training expert.
• The Participants are able to develop a strategy for implementing advanced Linux training programs that prepare other Linux systems administrators for the LPI Level 1 exams.


TRAINING DESIGN AND MATERIALS

The training design will be participatory and the materials will developed, adjusted and enlarged by the participants themselves. The LPI Level 1 instructor and the e-learning experts will agree on a generic structure for the content prior to the event but will allow the participants to modify as they see fit.

A pre-face-to-face wiki and mailing list will be created for this purpose.

As the participants already have good Linux knowledge, they would have the means to install, configure, and maintain this wiki amongst themselves on a server provided by IOSN.


COSTS

IOSN-InWEnt may bear the following costs for the training:

• Board
• Lodging for non-Vientiane residents
• Training course
• Basic training materials

The participants should bear the costs for the LPI exam in the amount of US DOLLARS 60.00 as well as the travel costs. However, IOSN-InWEnt may bear the travel costs of selected non-Vientiane residents, in case they are not able to pay these expenses


HOW TO APPLY?

Interested institutions and individual FOSS trainers/experts are invited to apply for participation as soon as possible by sending your responses below to asean3@iosn.net

OR

CLICK here for the ONLINE Linux Training of Trainers application form or copy and paste this link to your web browser: http://iosnasean3.wufoo.com/forms/iosninwent-linux-training-of-trainers-for-lpic1/


For the LPI Level 1 (LPI 101 and 102) examinations:

CLICK here for the ONLINE LPIC-1 examination application form or copy and paste this link to your web browser: http://iosnasean3.wufoo.com/forms/iosn-asean3-lpi-community-exam-application-form/


To apply, please provide us with the following information until 01 August 2008, 1800H (GMT+8):

1) Personal Details
Name:
Gender:
Nationality:
Country where you live and work now:
Affiliation/organization, please include designation/position:
Email:
Address:
Mobile phone number (or any contact number) and emergency contact number:

2) Have you trained others on the use of information and communications technology?
- If yes, what was the topic of the course and when was the last time you gave this course?
- How many people have you trained over the past year?
- Have you given courses on Linux administration?
- For all past training activity, please provide lists of participants, course evaluation + links to course websites, course materials, testimonies, references from trainees if applicable.

3) Are you an ICT training institution or affiliated to one? If yes, which and what is your role?

4) Please describe your plans to implement LPI training courses after the training and give the approximate number of trainees.

5) Please briefly describe your experiences in administering a Linux PC.

6) Will you be able to bear the travel costs to Vientiane? If not, please provide reason.



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FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS







INTERNATIONAL OPEN SOURCE NETWORK

IOSN is a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Centre of Excellence in Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) for the Asia-Pacific region. It was established by UNDP Asia Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) in 2002 through the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada. Through a virtual secretariat - and now a network of sub-regional centres, IOSN South Asia (based in India), IOSN Pacific Islands Countries (Fiji), and IOSN ASEAN+3 (Philippines), it shapes its activities around FOSS technologies and applications; awareness and advocacy; and capacity building initiatives.

IOSN ASEAN+3 sub-regional centre for the Southeast Asian countries is based at the University of Philippines Manila. The geographical mandate of IOSN ASEAN+3 encompasses Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan and Korea. IOSN ASEAN+3 is tasked specifically to facilitate and network FOSS advocates, experts, and developers in these 13 countries to foster the adoption of FOSS. The vision is to have developing countries in these countries achieve rapid and sustained economic and social development with the utilization of affordable yet effective FOSS ICT solutions to bridge the digital divide.

URL: http://www.iosn.net




NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LAOS
Lao People's Democratic Republic

By responding to the Government policy towards socio-economic development plan to moving step forward approaching regionally and internationally bench marking; there is indeed a need to reform national education system throughout its Human Resources Development Hence, national education policy has been set up. To bring in the national education policy into reality; the ideal for rationalizing all higher education institutions to meet the same standard has been seriously taken into account.

Therefore, National University of Laos (here in after referred to as NUOL) has came about as a result of merging 9 higher education institutions together in November 1995 including former University of Pedagogy DongDok, University of Polytechnic, University of Health Sciences, School of Agriculture Nabong, School of Forestry Dong Dok, School of Irrigation Tad Tong, School of Architecture, School of Communication and Transport, and School of Electronic Lao-Germany. All these higher institutions and Universities were previously operated under different ministries whereas its current situation is under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education. Since its unification to NUOL, the first started academic year has been taken place on the 5th November 1996. Since its opening with 9 founding faculties including School of Foundation Studies; NUOL has continued to augment its organization structure with regard to premises, faculties, centers, offices, the range of program offered; and student enrollment.

Today NUOL has 11 faculties, 7 centers and central library operating in different campuses where Dong Dok is the head quarter and the office of the president. Very recently, the government of Laos has seen the importance of training qualified health physicians to serve the needs of the nation and hence endorsed a decree assigning Setthathirath hospital to be the university hospital.

NUOL English homepage: http://www.nuol.edu.la/nuolstart.jsp?id=1&lc=en



INWENT CAPACITY BUILDING INTERNATIONAL, GERMANY

Through its it@inwent programmes, InWEnt helps multiplying partners in Africa, Asia and the Middle East to provide advanced knowledge in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The key objectives of the programmes are to strengthen IT sectors in various regions of the world, foster key innovations in ICTs for development and use ICTs as enabling tools for poverty reduction.

Within its it@foss project (URL: http://www.it-foss.org),InWEnt supports the development and application of local innovative software solutions and business models based on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in the ASEAN region.

URL: http://www.it-foss.org and http://www.inwent.org




BMZ (German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development)

The BMZ is the core financer and main shareholder of InWEnt, representing the Federal Republic of Germany. All it@inwent activities are integral part of the German development strategy, including the action plan 2015. The BMZ develops the guidelines and the fundamental concepts on which German development policy is based. It lays down the long-term strategies for cooperation with the various actors involved, and defines the rules by which these are translated into practice. Official development assistance (ODA) embraces all technical and financial cooperation projects which are agreed on in contracts entered into with the governments of partner countries. The BMZ commissions „implementing organisations“ (such as GTZ, KfW Development Bank, and InWEnt) to realise these projects.

URL: http://www.bmz.de/en/