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Re: [Masterlibre-list] Prospective funding for the master program


From: Jesus M.
Subject: Re: [Masterlibre-list] Prospective funding for the master program
Date: 09 Feb 2004 01:51:25 +0100

On Sat, 2004-02-07 at 12:32, Nils Ulltveit-Moe wrote:
> Hi Jesus

Hi, Nils,

> 
> We discussed the Master in Libre Software in a meeting at HIA in
> Norway last Wednesday, and we still have a way to go until management
> at the University College is convinced, and funding was one of the
> objections. If this could be done via Erasmus Mundus, then this is
> really good news! 

In fact, I guess we should explore several funding strategies, including
public and private funding. But yes, Erasmus Mundus is a good
alternative, if we can match its requirements.

> 
> Most other objections were practical matters, like how to deal with
> different study terms The Nordic countries have two course termins - the first
> starts in August and ends at Christmas, and the second starts in
> January and ends in June. This is maybe different to your course
> termins? Other objections were that the Masterlibre course had more,

We have terms which seem to be about one month delayied (first starts in
September/October and ends in February), second is Febraury-June/July.
In any case, the structure of the current proposal is having two
face-to-face periods (ob about two months each), which could be timed
according to teachers schedules. And we could explore other models as
well.
 
> and smaller subjects on 3-4 credits, whereas HIA try to standardise on
> 10 credit subjects. Another practical issue, is that for now, it would

This could be a problem, but maybe we can discuss about it. However, I
guess that having those 3-4 ECTS credits subjects is going to be
difficult to change, if we want to maintain the idea of one-semester
subjects, with enough variety each semester. OTOH, that "size" could
make it possible to also "sell" subject to students willing to follow
only some of them, and not the whole master study (which could be also a
way of financing).


> be easier to work in subjects from the Masterlibre course into
> existing Master studies in ICT than getting another Master degree accepted by
> the authorities. To work the courses into our modules might mean
> sequencing a string of courses into one module. 

I see.

> 
> Getting the Master in Libre Software accepted would take more time
> than adjusting existing courses, but if the Master study was accepted as
> it is presented here, then many of the practical issues may be less
> problematic. 
> 
> We did a poll during Installuken2004, which is a local Linux and Open
> Source conference about the interest for an International Master study
> in Open Source. The students could choose from 1 (least interesting)
> to 6 (most interesting). We also added some other subjects, and polled
> some other factors, like the interest for international students
> exchange. We got 20 replies, and one company that wanted to support us.

RAhter interesting, thanks for that dissemintation effort ;-)

> 
> The results are:
> 
> 5,6   Security        
> 5,35  Master thesis   
> 5,3   Courses given by famous, international experts  
> 5     System administration   
> 5     Configuration management, version control and cooperation       
> 4,95  Advanced project development    
> 4,95  General experiences related to libre software (multidiciplinary)
> 4,95  Possibility to take the course via distance learning    
> 4,95  Development environment and tools       
> 4,9   Standards (e.g. HTTP, XML or video formats)     
> 4,9   International student exchange  
> 4,9   Programming languages and language theory       
> 4,85  Software architecture and software engineering  
> 4,8   Advanced operating system theory        
> 4,75  Introduction to Open Source software    
> 4,65  Case studies (analysis of Open Source projects, companies,
>         organisations.)        
> 4,65  Project management of collaborative Open Source projects        
> 4,63  Web systems     
> 4,58  Embedded systems        
> 4,58  Possibility to take intensive courses at other universities     
> 4,55  Legal matters, licences, legislation, intellectual rights       
> 4,5   Database systems, database architecture 
> 4,5   Compiler systems        
> 4,45  Distributed systems     
> 4,3   Office system architecture, standards and programming   
> 4,25  Distributed course with IT semesters in Grimstad and IS
>         semesters in Kristiansand.     
> 4,1   Economy and business models     
> 4     Sociology and ethics  motivation, organisations etc.    
> 3,95  Multimedia      
> 3,55  Mathematical tools      
> 
> Conclusion: All subjects are more than average interesting for the
> students. The students attending the conference were mostly computer
> engineering students, so they seem to prefer the techical aspects to
> business, economy, law, sociology and math. However, since we advertised
> with Linux in developing countries in a newspaper ad for the
> arrangement, we actually got some women attending that came for that
> sole reason, so focusing on the right subjects may recruit more women
> to technical studies. As another side note, we have already got our
> first student, a Danish man, provided that we get the course up and
> running. 

Good. Thanks for the poll. These data are really, really interesting. An
dcongratulations for the first student (which I guess is the first one
in any of the would-be participating institutions ;-) ).

> 
> We will also like to suggest some new subjects for the Master in Libre
> Software:
> 
> - Open Source in e-government and development aid.
> - Mobile Systems based on Open Source.

I guess that (in case we naitain the current structure), the list of
optative subjects would be dependent on the availability of peopole with
enough experience and time to prepare and teach them. But indeed both
are rather interesting topics, thanks for the suggestion.

Saludos,

        Jesus.

PS: Are some of you comming to the meeting in Madrid?
> 
> Mvh.
> Nils Ulltveit-Moe
> 
> "Jesus M. " Gonzalez-Barahona writes:
>  > Hi,
>  > 
>  > I've been exploring some opportunities for helping to fund the master
>  > program. In addition to institutions and companies which could be
>  > interested in it, there is a rather interesting program which the EC is
>  > (probably) starting in a couple of months: Erasmus Mundus. See
>  > 
>  > http://www3.socleoyouth.be/static/en/info/eras_mundus.htm
>  > 
>  > http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/mundus/index_en.html
>  > 
>  > In my opinion, this program seems to be written exactly for a master
>  > like ours. I've been told that first call will be probably launched in
>  > late March.
>  > 
>  > In addition, there are some programs related to Socrates which could be
>  > interested in our "mixed" learning activities (partly in-place, partly
>  > distance). I'll give you more info about this when I have something more
>  > detailed.
>  > 
>  > In case some of you is familiar with these (or other suitable) programs,
>  > let me know. In case some of you want to help to find opportunities for
>  > financing, please go ahead. 
>  > 
>  > Saludos,
>  > 
>  >    Jesus.
>  > 
>  > -- 
>  > Contribute to keep Europe free of software patents!
>  > EuropeSwPatentFree - http://EuropeSwPatentFree.hispalinux.es
>  > -----
>  > Jesus M. Gonzalez Barahona                | Grupo de Sistemas y
>  > Comunicaciones
>  > address@hidden / address@hidden | ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan
>  > Carlos 
>  > tel: +34 91 664 74 67                     | c/ Tulipan s/n
>  > fax: +34 91 488 70 49                     | 28933 Mostoles, Spain
>  > 
>  > 
>  > 
>  > _______________________________________________
>  > Masterlibre-list mailing list
>  > address@hidden
>  > http://mail.nongnu.org/mailman/listinfo/masterlibre-list
>  > 
>  > 
> 
> 
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-- 
Contribute to keep Europe free of software patents!
EuropeSwPatentFree - http://EuropeSwPatentFree.hispalinux.es
-----
Jesus M. Gonzalez Barahona                | Grupo de Sistemas y
Comunicaciones
address@hidden / address@hidden | ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan
Carlos 
tel: +34 91 664 74 67                     | c/ Tulipan s/n
fax: +34 91 488 70 49                     | 28933 Mostoles, Spain





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