 People, Innovation and Sustainability – these are the 3 major themes of Spark, the 4th Global Forum on Telecentres that will take place from May 28-29 in Granada, Spain.
During this 2-day event, you will get the chance to:
- learn from experts in ICT for development (ICT4D)
- build strategic partnerships
- explore new opportunities
- discover the latest technology and business models for telecentres
- develop new solutions and services
- showcase your work
Aside from plenary sessions, panels and workshops, Spark will also feature participatory activities and interactive spaces such as the Marketplace of Projects, the Telecentres of the World gallery, the Apps Lab exhibition space and The Hub which will be the main area of interaction. Take a peek at the program.
Hosted by Telecentre.org Foundation, Telecentre-Europe, Consorcio de los Rios -Red Guadalinfo, and the National Information Society Agency of Korea, Spark will bring together participants from the ICT4D sector as well as public and private agencies from all over the world.
» Registration is free, so come join us! To register, visit the Spark registration page.
» For more information and updates:
» For any questions or concerns, email spark@telecentre.org. See you at Spark!
 Coworking is growing in the Catalan Network of ICT Points. This new way of working has attracted the interest of some points of the Catalan network of telecentres and they are spreading the new model based on collaboration and synergies between workers.
One of them is an ICT point in the City of Girona “Emprèn Girona”. “Emprèn Girona” accompanies and advises entrepreneurs who have a business idea and want to implement it. They spawn on regular workshops and conferences related to team management, business presence on the Internet or legal issues. Within this cycle, a talk on coworking opportunities has been presented.
» Read more on our community site
 The Library Development Program in Poland, managed by TE’s member organization the Information Society Development Foundation (FRSI) will be extended until March 31st, 2015.
 A rational management of funds provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a financial contribution made by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation have made this extension possible. Additional activities broadening the scale of the Program and consolidating its effects will be undertaken.
With the extension, 60% of the libraries in Polish villages & small towns will now become active and modern centers of access to knowledge, information, culture and education!
» Read more at our community site
 The Spark conference, also known as the 4th Global Forum on Telecentres, is set to take center stage in Granada, Spain this coming May 28-29 at the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos.
Organized by Telecentre.org Foundation (TCF), Telecentre-Europe (TE), Consorcio Fernando de los Rios-Red Guadalinfo and the National Information Society Agency of Korea (NIA), the conference is expected to bring together over 1.300 participants from the information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) sector as well as private and public agencies from around the globe.
Talks in the conference will revolve around the theme of “People, Social Innovation, and Sustainability”. Among the anticipated events in the program are the launch of the 1st Global Telecentre Awards and a special focus on initiatives that contribute to women empowerment through the meaningful use of ICTs, including TCF’s Telecentre Women Program.
» Read more on our community site
 Telecentre-Europe has partnered with TechSoup Global to connect telecentre organizations in European countries with technology product donations, and with the free learning resources they need to make informed decisions and operate at their full potential.
Once registered and qualified with a local donation program, an organization can access donated and discounted products and services, including software from partners like Microsoft, Symantec, Cisco, and SAP.
» Read more at our community site
 This fall, the Czech partner EPMA launches the final phase of the Innotrain IT project, which aims at increasing the effectiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in terms of their IT usage.
The emphasis of the project lies in improving IT Service Management (ITSM) in these companies, which should lead to the strengthening of their innovation processes and products. In general, the project aims at improving knowledge about ITSM and at tackling barriers to innovation present in SMEs in Central Europe.
Most of the participants who attend the training approach the topic with reserve; many have little idea what to expect from ITSM; and many are afraid to show this uncertainty; therefore, it tends to be difficult for the trainers to “break the ice” in the initial stages of the lessons.
» Read more at our community site
 In 2011, the Danish government agreed on an ambitious eGovernment strategy stating that by 2015, 80 % of the communication between citizens and public authorities should be digital. As a consequence, the focus in the Danish telecentres has been moved from solely general ICT skills to a broader action supporting the e-government strategy.
Digital communication will cut costs in government now used on stamps, letters, and telephone calls in order to free means to be used on welfare service instead. Keeping in mind that in 2011, 82 % of the Danish population used the internet every day or at least once per week, the 80 % digital communication goal is feasible.
For the part of the population who have never or only very rarely been online a “Help Plan for the transition to digital communication” was formulated in Spring 2012. This “Help Plan” comprises telecentres such as the public libraries and organisations for the elderly who are the largest group among those not online. It also increased the societal importance and relevance of the telecentres, and thus of the members of the Danish Learn more about ICT network .
» Read more at our community site
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