The University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre (UWIDEC) is offering the online course on Local e-Governance in the Caribbean for a third time. The course was developed and run for the first time from September to December 2005 and the second from April to June 2006, with the assistance and support of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Mr. Alton Grizzle, the UNESCO officer responsible for facilitating the development of the course for the Caribbean, said that “using ICT in local governance can improve local management and administration, and also lead to greater participation and transparency in local government”.

Professor Stewart Marshall, the Programme Coordinator and Director of UWIDEC, added that “the course on Local e-Governance in the Caribbean is designed to improve the knowledge, skills and capabilities of people in governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations in the Caribbean in the use of ICT in governance and government.

The course does not assume any formal tertiary or higher education qualification, but it does assume that participants will have relevant post-secondary experience and training.

The course will be offered for eleven weeks from September 19 to December 2, 2007. A limited number of UWIDEC scholarships (US$100 towards the registration fee) will be awarded on a competitive basis.

Further details can be obtained from the website at http://e-gov.dec.uwi.edu/or from Professor Stewart Marshall, smarshall@uwichill.edu.bb.