Education - information and communication technology (ICT) asset management and maintenance, management and maintenance of information resources, Academic Records Management Information Systems, Financial Management Information Systems, Human Resource Management Information Systems, data communication infrastructure, end-user computer skills training, management information systems, e-learning and e-library, public sector capacity development, and project management.

This summary is part of a research project carried out between March and October 2006 in support of the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), one of The Communication Initiative (The CI)'s partners.

The Yemeni National ICT Policy for Higher Education was developed through a participatory approach that involved gathering the input of stakeholders from various disciplines of the Yemeni universities, high-level representatives of the MoHESR, and representatives from the private ICT sector during a conference held in Aden in April of 2004, entitled "The Future of ICT in Yemeni Higher Education".

The policy vision is to utilise ICT in the higher education (HE) sector in order to strengthen its contribution to the sustainable development of the country.

The overall objectives of the policy are to improve delivery of the HE sector to the Yemeni society, to strengthen governance in the HE sector, and to strengthen the human and technical resources ensuring sustainability.

Below are specific strategies to achieve the ICT policy objectives for the education sector:

Government co-ordination capacity

Capacity building in areas of project management, ICT application and deployment will be provided to public sector staff on a continuous basis in order to ensure ongoing improvement, effective coordination, and support of the HE sector.

Transforming the educational system through e-learning

The HE sector will become more of a producer of educational programmes and content, as opposed to being a mere consumer. In order to do this the Ministry will encourage extensive use of e-learning practices such as news and discussions groups, ICT support tools for ICT content building and content management, and ICT support tools for self-evaluation and for student performance evaluation (examinations) in all HE institutions. Furthermore, the development of joint education programmes and ICT supported content for these programmes will be encouraged and will take into consideration the demands for human resource development voiced by the Yemeni public. The adoption of e-learning content from abroad will also be stimulated and supported.

E-library

Efficiency and effectiveness of library operations and services in the sector will be addressed by the Ministry through the implementation of an integrated on-line library management information system. The Ministry will also promote the creation of local content, the production of content in digital form and on the Web, and financing licenses.

Management information systems

Administrative and managerial processes will be simplified and streamlined and management reporting facilities will be enhanced at both the national level and the level of the institutions through the implementation of computerised Management Information Systems, namely: Academic Records Management Information System, Financial Management Information Systems, and Human Resource Management Information System. Furthermore, the Ministry will promote data format standardisation and uniform reporting for all institutions and will aim to merge and aggregate institutional data into useful management and control information.

Promotion of office computing

It is the Ministry’s policy to promote office computing utilising programmes and applications such as word processing, electronic mail, spreadsheet processing, document storage and retrieval, desktop publishing, and internet at all levels in the offices of HE institutions.

End-user computer skills training

It is the Ministry’s policy to develop and implement a consistent and skill level responsive set of training programmes, as well as to cultivate an enabling environment in which both organisational and technical conditions required to ensure continuous in-house ICT training capabilities are provided.

The Ministry’s end-user training policy for the sector will also stipulate that all new staff recruits should be computer literate with minimum basic computer skills relevant to their jobs; all existing staff will be trained in computer skills relevant to their jobs; the Ministry will facilitate a computer ownership scheme for all sector employees and students; the use of internet technology for the distribution and presentation of training materials will be promoted; at least one computer per ten undergraduate students and one computer for every postgraduate student will be made available in all institutions of HE; and, ICT basic skills training will be introduced to all academic programmes in all higher learning institutions.

Data communication infrastructure

The Ministry will develop an information data communication infrastructure and services in order to ensure efficient and effective collaboration between HE institutions and access to global knowledge resources. This will be achieved through the development of a National Education and Research Network (NREN).

Management and maintenance of ICT assets and information resources

The Ministry will take measures to secure sustainability of all ICT resources in the HE sector. This will include establishing the Yemen Foundation of Information Technology in Higher Education (YFIT-HE) to manage and maintain all common ICT assets, information resources, and other ICT related services such as training and end-user support. The development of cadres of ICT management and support services staff will be facilitated by establishing training programmes and facilities. Skills in the day-to-day management of ICT resources will be developed and user support services in HE institutions will be provided. Finally, the Ministry will create conditions, enabling public HE institutions to establish their own ‘local’ ICT management capabilities that will be complementary to the national facility.

Title: ICT Policy for Higher Education
Year: 2005
Publication: Higher Education Development Project
Click here [6] to view the report online.

Relevant Links:
National Master Plan Summary ICT Project (2005 - 2008) [PDF] [7]
Higher Education Development Projects website [8]
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Yemen: ICT [9]
ICT Project.org: Yemen's Gateway to Education & Research website [10]
The Republic of Yemen Government website [11]
Yemen Times: UNDP launches ICT project in Yemen [12]