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

[Nils Ulltveit-Moe]

Interesting thoughts!

Janis will represent HIA at the Madrid meeting. I am focusing on
getting the GUADEC conference on track, so I am unfortunately not able
to come this time, even though I would like to. 

Mvh.
Nils


"Jesus M. " Gonzalez-Barahona writes:
 > 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
 > >  > 
 > >  > 
 > >  > 
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 > >  > 
 > >  > 
 > > 
 > > 
 > > _______________________________________________
 > > Masterlibre-list mailing 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
 > 
 >