Sponsor: The
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Countries: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia,
Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela
Program focus: Electronic communications
Timeframe: 1991–1998
Description: The Mellon Foundation provided
grants to LASPAU to support the development of electronic communications systems
at universities and research institutions in Latin America and to fund in-country
training programs in telecommunications technology and research techniques
for Latin American scholars. In all, 4,000 individuals and over 80 institutions
in 14 countries benefited from these efforts.
More Information
In the late 1980s, LASPAU noted a growth in
the use of electronic communications among the community of Latin
American scholars. However, there were still four main impediments
to the widespread use of available technologies: the insufficient
telecommunications infrastructure, the lack of awareness, the
dearth of publicly available scholarly content in languages other
than English, and the lack of training. LASPAU was an early facilitator
in adapting available technologies to Latin American university
needs and has been successful in encouraging their use. In implementing
its program, LASPAU received the following grants from The Andrew
W. Mellon Foundation:
- In 1991, the Mellon Foundation provided $210,000 to support
the development of electronic communications systems at and among
universities and research institutions in Latin America over a
period of three years. LASPAU identified and targeted “pacesetter
institutions” to receive hands-on computer training, troubleshooting,
and the facilitating of connections to online services. These
primary institutions were chosen from among educational, research,
and government organizations. Precedence was given to organizations
that had already arranged for Internet access or were in the process
of doing so, the idea being that participating institutions would
be in a position to put their new skills to use immediately. LASPAU
oversaw the training of faculty, researchers, administrators,
and current and former exchange program grantees. The pacesetter
institutions then acted as centers of expertise, helping disseminate
information technology to other hundreds of other Latin American
institutions. The multiplier effect of this strategy dramatically
increased the number of faculty and researchers using electronic
networks.
- In 1995, the Mellon Foundation renewed its grant in
the sum of $300,000, again for a period of three years. Under
the terms of this grant, LASPAU continued to support in-country
training programs in telecommunications technology and research
techniques for Latin American scholars. In addition, LASPAU provided
support as a source of information about networking in Latin America.
The grant facilitated the acquisition of software, books and other
materials (particularly in Spanish and Portuguese), and provided
hands-on technical help. The program was specifically aimed at
developing the number of academic end-users throughout Latin America.
LASPAU’s own web and gopher sites went on line in November
1995, enabling the speedy dissemination of news and opportunities
to scholars all over the world. LASPAU fostered a multilingual
environment on the predominantly English-centered Internet, facilitating
Internet use to non-English speakers.
During the seven-year Mellon Foundation grant period, workshops
on using the Internet as an academic research tool were presented
by LASPAU in Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Peru, and Venezuela. In many cases, the Fulbright Commission,
the United States Department of State, or a local university shared
the cost of presenting the workshop. Through the Mellon Foundation
grants, LASPAU also acted as an advisor and promoter of information
technology public policy concerns, holding network consultation
forums in Latin American countries and participating in information
technology colloquia throughout the Americas.
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