The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has received a grant of $50 000 (R450 000) from USAID to help it establish an open source component in its African Virtual Open Initiatives and Resources (AVOIR) project.
It is envisioned that the AVOIR project will consist of four components: open source software development and advisory services; open content education, research and development; open database development to create freely shared data; and open collaboration and project management.
"This initiative will strengthen the utility of open source approaches across the African continent and expand the knowledge environment for Web-based learning (KEWL) course management software to its fullest utility," says USAID`s Lane Smith.
Professor Derek Keats, UWC executive director, information and communication services, says the AVOIR project is not about the advocacy of open source operating systems. "What we are interested in achieving is to build a cadre of developers who follow an open source approach and philosophy to develop software that is useful to people."
The funds will be used to help create a small network of developers who will work initially on the KEWL system, which was initiated at UWC. However, it is anticipated that as the network of open source developers grows, other projects and tools for use in higher education will become the focus.
The grant comes from USAID`s Leland Initiative - through its Information Technology Public-Private Alliance - and is meant to help get the AVOIR initiative off the ground. It is hoped that an alliance of different sponsors will eventually support the AVOIR project.
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