ISSUE48: FEBRUARY-APRIL 2007
network of research and training centres/programmes
UNU offers free courses through OpenCourseWare Portal
UN University is making course materials used by its research and training centres and programmes avaialable free of charge on the Internet through the newly launched OpenCourseWare Portal.
With
the opening of the site, UNU joins more than 100 universities from around
the world committed to supporting the growth of free and open digital
publication of high quality educational materials through the OpenCourseWare
Consortium.
The UNU OpenCourseWare Portal currently offers open access to about a dozen courses developed by UNU International Network on Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), UNU International Institute for Software Technology (UNU-IIST), UNU Maastricht Economic Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT) and the Tokyo-based UNU Media Studio.
Topics covered include e-governance, economic development and innovation, mangrove biodiversity and integrated watershed management. More courses are in production and this year more UNU institutes will join this initiative which promotes open sharing and global benefits for self-learners and educators.
"This signifies our commitment to broadening access to high-quality educational materials and will contribute to the United Nations University's core mission, which seeks to further the generation and sharing of knowledge in order to strengthen individual and institutional capacities to resolve pressing global problems," said UNU Rector Konrad Osterwalder.
© 2008 United Nations University