President Rupiah Banda yesterday launched a highly advanced video conferencing system that will enable lecturers from Japan to teach students at the Copperbelt University and the University of Zambia at the same time.
The technology is the first ever to work in any part of the World while universities in the United States of America will be linked to the system next month.
President Banda was delighted that Zambia was pioneering a technology that would keep Zambia at an advanced stage in technology advancement ahead of the launch of the e-learning Africa conference, taking place at the Mulungushi International Conference.
Mr Banda and delegation attended a lecture which was conducted by a lecturer from CBU whose presence appeared too close and intimate to believe it was a distance lecture that was meant for his class in Lusaka and another at CBU.
[pullquote]“Let all our citizens be assured that my Government is striving to ensure that equitable and accessible education is provided to all citizens of Zambia,” President Banda said.[/pullquote]
The president learnt about the classification of copper minerals, derived from a system that was designed by Professor James Dana in 1848 in which eight different metals were listed and there chemical make up explained.
President Banda said he delighted that a project that he had discussed with directors from the World Alliance Forum had finally materialised.
“Let all our citizens be assured that my Government is striving to ensure that equitable and accessible education is provided to all citizens of Zambia,” President Banda said.
He said his Government’s commitment towards education takes from the decision to turn the former Mulakupikwa Police Training College in Chinsali and turn it into a centre that would offer mathematics, science and information and communication technology at a university level.
The president urged Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa to ensure a speedy implementation of the ICT policy he launched when he was vice-president because information technology was a catalyst for economic development, which helps farmers monitor trends in agriculture.
Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hideto Matamura said the cost of putting up the technology was offered under the Japanese official development assistance.
He hoped the system would be broadened to allow for teaching agriculture and other matters in the rural areas and this would reduce on the cost of travels to conduct education matters.
Prof Lungwangwa said the innovation was part of President Banda’s success stories and commitment towards education.
[ Times of Zambia ]
if only RB can do the same instead of spending hours and hours in the air. :)>-
Well done. At least we talking development for a change
Why only Japanese Lecturers teaching Zambian student? Why not the other way round? He is saying there no qualified lecturers in Zambia (at CBU and UNZA) who can teach Japanese students?
This is serious development by a focused and committed government with a vision to improve the standard of education in Zambia. It is far from the utopia 90 day miracles promised by some lumpenic fringe. Forward with RB! :)>-
Bravo to His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda for his leadership with value for education, technology and equitable national development. He has selflessly championed and delivered this borderless learning opportunity to the country. This is technology is extraordinary national developments that should excite every ambitious citizen. World over ambitious nation’s education sectors are investing heavily in technology-enhanced learning. This investment actually has the potential to deliver tangible benefits for learners, teachers, institutions and to the country as a whole. Evidently it is an investment with unbeatable return on investment.
While this is a good development, it is important that the president also realises that the people that will be listening to these lectures are in good health with atleast a sound living condition. Infrastructure at our universities is in dilapidated state. With 5 – 7 students in a room, installation of such technology cannot be received with maximum appreciation.
This system should be placed at state house also. Imagine how much it will save us by cutting on unnecessary trips made by the one and only Nyama soya
Let’s foresee the benefits of this investment. For instance a project led by CBU or UNZA researchers in partnership with Zambians researchers in the Diaspora and indeed other networks of world research Higher Education Academies on subject areas of mutual interest to research on, could put Zambia in intellectual and research leadership. Such technology driven research has clear evidence of a range of significant benefits.
By the way Zambian students in Russia have not been paid their may allowances. The money arrived in Moscow early april but authorities in Moscow are keeping it for whatever reason. This is a practice that has been going on for a long time. This has left students speculating that the money is being kept in some official’s account to gain interest.
Ladies and gentlemen this technology comes with innumerable benefits to our country if smartly applied. These benefits we can identify and map onto a spectrum which ranges from activities that are easy to quantify in terms of both cost and benefit through to exploratory and developmental activities.
Take a serious look at our country and make a large scale assessment on developmental challenges, this learning technology offers a solution to a well-defined logistical problems, it may give readily measurable cost savings as well as delivering pedagogic benefits to the country.
I’ve been on sabatical leave downloading and watching 24 season 8 finale,but this cannot pass without my comment
Its Called CISCO TELE-PRESENCE, LT dont cheat,about it being the first technology to ever work anywhere in the world,Kenya has been using it in its universities in conjuction with australian uni’s.
This is not a MoE initiative,not even government funded venture for some people to come out and say Bravo Mr President.RB didnt even know about it,he was just asked to go and officiate,keeping up appearances
#9
Its not a speculation but FACT.Short-term borrowing by the Russian govt and other institutions yields high returns.The official are now swimming in extra dollars.Wake up!!!
I’m looking at the challenge of expert knowledgeable staff shortage in certain disciplines around the country. In the same vein where other more pedagogically-motivated, interventions may manifest improvements in terms of improved recruitment and retention, the ball is on the policy makers and the country’s intelligentsia to drive the benefits. Certainly, some of the most innovative developments and gains out of this may involve more investment and less immediate return but are expected to bring benefits in the future.
wow,thats is a great occurance.congrats mr president.I think that the number of computers should also be increased and computers should be made cheaper if students are to answer there questions effectively
#12 RED CARD-Smoothcriminal
Dude,you are a sad and miserable pessimist!! Change atase!!
This said, there is indisputable evidence in today’s world that e-learning technology has brought offers increased opportunities for formative assessment leading to real benefits in terms of student retention and achievements. Actually in many developed societies like the US where technology has taken precedence, there is also overwhelming evidence of improvements in pass rates and overall marks and a high degree of student engagement with the process.zambia must count herself privileged with this technology. Lets use it for the best national good.Those of us in the diaspora that have passed through some research institutions should help connecting Zambia so that our siblings at UNZA, CBU, Mulungushi university etc can start benefiting from Global think tanks.
Elo lwanya nomba kuli ba Senior Citizen aka BK, epo balapwishila ichifukushi, since he hasnt had anything to comment on Kalumba’s conviction, the MMD chief executive, he is venting his anger on something he has got no idea about,he will rave and rant all day like a mad dog he is
Mrs Mwanawasa alekufwaya uko,ukaye mukulubulula, we mukalamba naban walikwata pamulomo kwati li ule
# 16 # 12 is just stating the facts. do you have any facts to dispute what he has just said or you just like arguing from without.
#16 Fact
Oi, whats so pessimistic about my comment, have i struck a plastic nerve somewhere
This is extraordinary resource development that locks some of us the willed in. Fundamentally the appropriate use of technology in national development always leads to significant improvements in learning and teaching across the sector and this is translating into improved satisfaction, retention and achievements in a country. Technology driven e-Learning facilitates the expansion of the intellectual sector without necessitating corresponding increases in the footprint of the physical estate and it is allowing broadly the same numbers of staff to educate a larger and more diverse student body. The country is on the road to mass economic gains.
To our higher institutions of learning in the country privileged with this technology, be advised that the challenges to your institutions, and the education system more broadly, are significant if you are to keep pace with the developments in technology which has so much to offer to the country through you as intellectuals. To the private sector and GRZ, I say continued investment and innovation in the field of e-learning is essential if as a country we have to transition out of poverty to real and measurable-tangible development through education and research.
It’s very amusing, the Japanese pay for this system, and install this system then this humpty dumpty comes and takes the credit for it. I bet doesn’t even understand what it is
Too many benefits in technology other which may appear less immediately tangible, but nonetheless significant, include the external (international) recognition of the quality of Zambian education this may foster. This is without forgetting benefits of the professional development of staff, improved pedagogic approaches and beneficial effects on the development of researching communities UNZA and CBU may be accommodating.
BRAVO RB and his administration!
GOOD MORNING FELLOW BLOGGERS, MY QUESTION IS HOW LONG WILL THIS FACILITY LAST BEFORE IT PACKS UP FOR LACK OF MAINTENANCE?
EVEN IF CHI BWEZANI Rupiah Banda yesterday launched a highly advanced video conferencing system, We shall vote for the PACT !!
#7 you are so spot on. You couldnt be moer right.
On the flip side, this is really a good development that i hope will be put to very good use
Not ati very soon ati the system has broken down and it cant be reapared cause the government has no money when humpty is busy in the air going nowhere
Most of you are so gullible!! Technology? Do you know the deputy of ministry of science and technology? Hon Mangani. Unperforming. They bring him this facility, aka tambilapo bola ya chelsea.
Come on people.
These same universities are crying foul. The rich are taking their lowly IQ children to go and watch the thing under 100% bursary and the intellegent poor on streets of LSK and Kitwe barely on nothing.
Bring it on and you will see what benefit it contributes to this side of intellect. NISIR has been there long enough and i bet there are lots of projects those guys have and nothing seems to take off.
e-learning, this latest, never before done anywhere in the world is ok but show us what you got. Technology? Albeit, lots of bloggers are abroad and none can afford to make a pin!!
The University of Pretoria with the University of Gonzanga (Florida) had this system setup as afar back as 2001 so its nonsensical for RB to claim that it is the only one to work in any part of the world. Pleaseee!
Wot, no PF cadres blogging this item? Ha, ha, ha! Check the other thread on the economy – even fewer PF cadres! Too complicated fro them…
“The technology is the first ever to work in any part of the World while universities in the United States of America will be linked to the system next month.” =))
So we’re ahead of United States because of RB! Bravo
anyway classification of copper minerals is not University level
I can smell roten eggs. Someone has egg on their faces.
this guy RB really reminds me of Kaunda, just getting useless information to say “we are the first in the world” when it is totally wrong information. I remember when we were the first in the world to make diesel out of grass oh dear…
#33 The Saint
Check your pants or maybe you just farted…a mirror might help too
:d/ DEUCES Bane
If only he can be innovative in all spheres of running Zambia like what he has done to these two universities, I would have supported him for 2011, but this is too little too late. Deal with tribalism, corruption and good governance,then you will definately get my vote.
Video conferencing has been around for ages. What system is this? Is it a Cisco product or a Japanese one?
Also thought that we could have a minister of Education launching this unit, not RB monopoly!!!
Video conferencing has been around for ages. What system is this? Is it a Cisco product or a Japanese one?
Also thought that we could have a minister of Education launching this unit, not RB monopoly!!!
RB, we also need to take Internet access to every primary school in Zambia! Give me a call if you need free labour and technical info.
Get it from me…if you are looking a good lecture, Japan is not the best for that. If you want to know how to make a Toyota, a Toshiba etc. then Japan is best… definately not a lecture…sooooo boring
I am in the U.S. My classes I took last semester were all on the video conference system! Students in another town learned with us while they watched us and we were watching them too. They followed our lectures from our class or we followed theirs in our class. That technology has been here a long time so the author of the story should have had his facts checked! Anyone on either side can ask questions and you can hear “a pin drop” because of the sensitivity of the microphones! Not new Sir!!!
RED CARD-Smoothcriminal,right on point man,there even people here in Zambia like me who can implement video conference over IP networks ,we have Zambians who can implement MPLS networks and yet we went to bring in some Chinese to do it at ZAMTEL,and yet we have CCIE caliber Zambians who have left the country coz of dull politicians who can make use of them.
Since when did technologies like Telepresense become the first in Zambia…many other methods exit like University of the People,which is a virtual university. Anyways,let me continue doing my BGP labs,
I thought the president was also going to congratulate the zambian people for accepting Dr Katele Kalumba’s conviction???? :)):)):))
The technology of CBU,UNZA Video systemis ideal once it is used for the intended purpose as it is going to assist in the padagogical and adragogical delivery.However it should not be a loop hole to our security system.Its good to emblance techology when it is not harmful. Deeply concerned sldr