OMAR ANDERSON, Staff ReporterTHE MONA Campus of the University of the West (UWI) has entered into a partnership with the computer firm IBM, that will see IBM providing the university with up to $240 million worth of continuous information technology service through IBM's Scholars Programme.
With that large input of information technology, plus what is already in place the principal, Professor Kenneth Hall, said yesterday that in less than five years time, every student graduating from the UWI will be computer literate.
In showcasing what his company will be offering, Norman Naar, IBM's advisory client representative, told reporters yesterday that the Scholars Programme is designed to keep educational institutions abreast with emerging technology, provide an online job search for qualified students and provide an opportunity to generate skills required by industries to fill local and worldwide job requirements.
Mr. Naar added that the Scholars Programme is to mainly benefit lecturers and students.
Lecturers will get free training, free programme membership, access to research material, free software and discounts on computer hardware, plus having online resources, including news groups, tutorials, case studies, etc.
Students on the other hand will be able to search for jobs and fellowships, get free downloads, plus have access to journals and magazines. Mr. Naar said there is no termination date to the contract which, he said, is to cost between $US2 million-$US5 million. He added that he couldn't state the exact cost of the Scholars Programme.
"IBM is constantly adding new products so the value is ever increasing," he said. "The greatest benefit to be derived from this programme is that softwares IBM is offering."
Mr. Naar said the Scholars Programme has been successfully implemented at the Pennsylvania State University and Florida University in the United States; the South China University of Technology in Asia; and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics and the Boston University in Brussels, all in Europe.
Speaking earlier, Professor Hall said he couldn't vouch now that all students leaving the UWI are computer literate, however, he said that in less than five years all graduates ought to have a fair grasp of how to use the computer.
"Five years ago, we had less than 200 computers, last year alone we had 1,000," he told a meeting with journalists to discuss the UWI 2000/2001 Principal's Report.
He said there are dedicated labs at the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences and computers rooms at the various halls of residence. In addition, he said the Government has funded the university's three-year information technology drive, which will see the university providing more access to data.
