1. Dr. Tofig A. Babayev e-mail: tbabayev@bstc.az tbabayev@bstc.az http://www.bstc.az Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Advanced Resource Centres for Rural Economic Development (ARCRED)

2. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 On February 7, 2002 the joint project "National Information Communication Technology Strategy (NICTS) development and its initial implementation in the Republic of Azerbaijan" between the Government of Azerbaijan and UNDP was signed. The aim of the Strategy: Via wide application of information-communication technologies promote democracy and build information society in the country

3. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Evaluation of status. Monitoring; Evaluation of status. Monitoring; Development of information-communication Development of information-communication infrastructure; infrastructure; Creation and development of legal base related Creation and development of legal base related to informatization; to informatization; Wide use of Azerbaijan language and ABC in Wide use of Azerbaijan language and ABC in national information space; national information space; Establishment of national information recourses; Establishment of national information recourses; Development of internet and information services; Development of internet and information services; Main directions NICTS

4. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Application and development of information- communication technologies in Governmental organizations. Training of state servants Development of ICT fundamental and applied sciences Informatization of the education. Distant education Main directions NICTS Creation and development of regional and local information centers

5. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Baku Scientific and Training Centre Baku Scientific & Training Centre (BSTC) was established in 1987 y BSTC main activity Training and re-training of IT users and professionals Training and re-training of IT users and professionals Research in new IT Research in new IT Software development and implementation Software development and implementation System integration System integration Preparing of post graduate students Preparing of post graduate students Web-design Web-design

6. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 BSTC main activity Training and re-training of IT users and professionals Training and re-training of IT users and professionals Research in new IT Research in new IT Software development and implementation Software development and implementation System integration System integration Preparing of post graduate students Preparing of post graduate students Web-design Web-design

7. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Establishment of Sumgait Computer Centre for Training and Information and Telecommunications Services (1996- 1999) Establishment of Nakhchivan Computer Centre for Training and Business Information Services (1998-2000) Strengthening of Computer and Technology and Training Centre for Azerbaijan (1995-1997) Projects of UNESCO/UNDP implemented by BSTC Establishment of Regional Academy for Online Network Governance and System Administration (RAONGSA) (2001-2003)

8. CISCO Regional Academy CISCO Regional Academy PROMETRIC Testing Centre PROMETRIC Testing Centre Microsoft CTEC Microsoft CTEC Testing Centre Testing Centre Baku Scientific and Training Centre Azerbaijan Project Management Association Training Centre MOUS Testing Centre MOUS Testing Centre ECDL Testing Centre ECDL Testing Centre Regional IT Academy

9. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 BSTC branches BSTC established 14 branches in different regions of Azerbaijan, including computer centres in two big cities: Nakhchivan and Sumgait

10. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Model devolopped by BSTC for Regional IT Centres establishment Selection of Region, negotiations with local authorities Selection of Region, negotiations with local authorities Holding of ICT Workshops for regional population Holding of ICT Workshops for regional population Choosing of the office for Regional Information Centre Choosing of the office for Regional Information Centre Selection of staff for future RIC from residential population and carrying out training for them in BSTC Selection of staff for future RIC from residential population and carrying out training for them in BSTC Equipping of RIC with computers, furniture etc. Equipping of RIC with computers, furniture etc.

11. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Registration of RIC as a BCTC branch Registration of RIC as a BCTC branch Providing RIC with training materials (curriculum, books, multimedia training courses on CD in Azeri language) Providing RIC with training materials (curriculum, books, multimedia training courses on CD in Azeri language) Carrying out experimental courses with BSTC participation. Carrying out experimental courses with BSTC participation. Model devolopped by BSTC for Regional IT Centres establishment

12. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Main requirements: maintenance of high level of training and services maintenance of high level of training and services financial sustainability financial sustainability

13. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 At present Regional IT Centres render following services: Computer courses Computer courses Internet services Internet services Special courses under the agreement with regional placement departments of Ministry of Labor and social security (business courses, secretary courses, computer courses and English courses) Special courses under the agreement with regional placement departments of Ministry of Labor and social security (business courses, secretary courses, computer courses and English courses) Training for admission to Universities Training for admission to Universities Software development by local organizations request Software development by local organizations request Printing services and etc. Printing services and etc.

14. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Further steps: update infrastructure of local IT centres update infrastructure of local IT centres provide them with leased Internet channel provide them with leased Internet channel promote autonomous activities of local IT centers including resource recovery promote autonomous activities of local IT centers including resource recovery reinforce capacity of local Information Centres for reshaping them into reinforce capacity of local Information Centres for reshaping them into Advanced Resource Centres for Rural Economic Development (ARCRED)

15. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Functions of ARCRED Vocational Training for Grassroots Vocational Training for Grassroots Training for SMS Entrepreneurs Training for SMS Entrepreneurs Information and consulting Service Information and consulting Service

16. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Support for Telematics Application Cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States (1996-1999) New Methods of Working for Information Society Technologies Programme Promotion to Commonwealth of Independent States (2000-2003) Telework Solutions for Promotion of EU Cooperation in Business and Research with the Commonwealth of Independent States (2002-2005) TRISTAN-East Training of IST multipliers and Awareness Nurturing in the 3-rd Countries of EAST Europe (NIS) (2003-2005) BSTC as an NCP of IST EC Programme in Azerbaijan takes part in following p BSTC as an NCP of IST EC Programme in Azerbaijan takes part in following projects of IST EC Programme

17. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 Workshop "Telework in government, business, research and vocational training" 5-6 February, 2004 Baku, Azerbaijan More than 150 participants from 14 foreign countries as well as from different regions of Azerbaijan took part at the Workshop 25 specialists from Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Uzbekistan and Georgia

18. IST 4 BALT Latvia, Riga April 6-7, 2005 IDCs activity in Azerbaijan IDCs are supplied with appropriate releases, books and periodicals Database of organisations, that may be interested in participating in IST Programme of EC was created IDC in BSTC organises workshops and meetings with representatives of local state and private organisations, SMEs and NGO, provides them with information about FP6 priorities, mainly IST programme of EC. Participants of workshops were acquainted with rules of proposals preparation, submitting them to EC, partners seeking and forming consortia.

19. Dr. Tofig A. Babayev e-mail: tbabayev@bstc.az tbabayev@bstc.az http://www.bstc.az Thank you for your attention !