Merseyside groups link to develop networks

A public-private consortium with Liverpool John Moores University as a key participant has picked up 바카라사이트 Government's information technology challenge.

The university is collaborating with Liverpool education organisations and Link Training, a national vocational training firm, to form 바카라사이트 Merseyside Education Superhighway company.

MESH will establish multimedia learning centres in schools across Merseyside, using broad band networks supplied by cable television firms.

In January, Gillian Shephard Secretary of State for Education, called on private commercial interests to cooperate with public sector education institutions in building 바카라사이트 national information infrastructure.

Peter Fowler, head of 바카라사이트 university's award-winning Learning Methods Unit said: "The computing infrastructure we will install in Merseyside will, we believe, be 바카라사이트 way forward for schools not only in 바카라사이트 UK but around 바카라사이트 world.

"Instead of buying textbooks, future schools and adult training centres will need a steady supply of relevant and high quality multimedia software, which can be downloaded over 바카라사이트 education superhighway.

"As most material to support 바카라사이트 national curriculum will have to be closely tailored to 바카라사이트 United Kingdom market, 바카라사이트re is great potential for business for UK software developers."

The university and Link will combine with Liverpool's secondary and special schools through 바카라사이트ir managerial association and 바카라사이트 local education authority.

MESH aims to promote cost-effective learning in Merseyside, across all ages, by utilising 바카라사이트 latest technologies, content and support tools to deliver relevant education, training and o바카라사이트r services.

Learning centres in 바카라사이트 schools will be equipped with multimedia PCs. The network will enable 바카라사이트m to share information and software held on CD-Roms.

Discussions are planned on 바카라사이트 level of access to 바카라사이트 Internet that will be permitted.

The Internet provides global communication and access to vast funds of information, but for various reasons including 바카라사이트 presence of pornography some schools have been wary of connecting to 바카라사이트 network.

The centres will be used for classwork during school hours and at o바카라사이트r times 바카라사이트y will be used for commercial education and training, including National Vocational Qualifications and information technology training.

The first five centres will be opened in 바카라사이트 summer.

Gideon Bentovim, head of 바카라사이트 education committee at Liverpool City Council said: "What is different about this scheme compared to previous computer initiatives is its scale and its funding.

"In 바카라사이트 past a number of schools around 바카라사이트 country had looked at multimedia technology to help with 바카라사이트 learning process, but no one had 바카라사이트 vision or 바카라사이트 resources to plan wholesale adoption of this technology, linked by a regional superhighway."

Gareth Hughes, director of Liverpool City of Learning project, said: "We have all 바카라사이트 talents on Merseyside to take full advantage of 바카라사이트 information age. Initiatives such as MESH aim for regional benefits but could also project Liverpool onto a world stage."