Project Grant 6809C13008

PROJECT PURPOSE:THE COLLEGE OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS (CMI) BROADBAND ACCESS FOR REMOTE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND TRAINING PROGRAM (BARLO) AIMS TO ENSURE ALL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS AND LEARNING CENTERS HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF STANDARD OF LIVING BY PROVIDING HIGHER EDUCATION TO REMOTE COMMUNITIES. ITS PURPOSE IS TO STRENGTHEN THE COLLEGE'S IT TECHNICAL AND HUMAN CAPACITY TO HELP PROVIDE BETTER BROADBAND EDUCATION AND TRAINING, ACCESS, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES. FURTHER, IT INTENDS TO PROVIDE SUBSIDIZED BROADBAND ACCESS TO LOW-INCOME AND IN-NEED STUDENTS. THE PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE STIMULATION AND ADOPTION OF THE USE OF BROADBAND SERVICES FOR REMOTE LEARNING, TELEWORK AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO HELP STIMULATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ACTIVITIES:CMI WILL PROVIDE IMPROVED BROADBAND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT AND ALLOW REMOTE LOCATION ACCESS. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY PURCHASING EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE AND LICENSES NECESSARY TO ENHANCE SUPPORTIVE CAPABILITIES FOR REMOTE LOCATION ACCESS. ADDITIONALLY, THE COLLEGE WILL DEVELOP STRATEGIES THAT WILL TRAIN AND DEVELOP AN IT-READY WORKFORCE IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS WITH SPECIFIC IT NEEDS. NEW JUNIOR ITS WILL BE HIRED, TRAINED AND MENTORED, THEN DEPLOYED TO REMOTE LOCATIONS TO HEAD THE DISTANCE LEARNING CENTERS. FURTHERMORE, CMI WILL CONTRIBUTE AND PROMOTE IMPROVED BROADBAND ACCESS, ADOPTION, AND DIGITAL INCLUSION WITH ANCHOR COMMUNITIES. THE TRAINED AND MENTORED JUNIOR ITS WILL PROVIDE ON-SITE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO NON-EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE HOSPITAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND TO ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS) IN REMOTE ANCHOR COMMUNITIES. CMI WILL ALSO PROVIDE BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS TO ENROLLED STUDENTS, FORESEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN COVERAGE THAT PROVIDES SUBSIDIZED BROADBAND ACCESS AT HOME. LASTLY, THE COLLEGE IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE INCLUSIVE, INNOVATIVE, WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE DESIGNATED ANCHOR COMMUNITIES OF JALUIT, WOTJE, EBEYE, KILI, AND SANTO. AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM COVERING SEVERAL PARTICIPANTS WILL SERVE AS A NURSERY FOR MUCH-NEEDED SKILLED IT PERSONNEL TO BE DEPLOYED INTO BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OUTCOMES:THE COLLEGE OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS (CMI) BROADBAND ACCESS FOR REMOTE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND TRAINING PROGRAM (BARLO) IS EXPECTED PRODUCE NUMEROUS OUTCOMES THAT WILL RESULT IN IMPROVED DIGITAL INCLUSION AND IT WORKFORCE AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. THE EXPECTED RESULTS INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN COURSES BEING AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR ACCESS FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY; SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTED TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY AND DATA SECURITY; DOUBLING OF THE HUMAN CAPACITY OF IT PERSONNEL DOUBLED; NUMBER OF STUDENTS LEARNING FROM THE REMOTE CMI CAMPUSES DOUBLED WITH THE IMPROVED BROADBAND AND SOFTWARE SYSTEMS PUT IN PLACE; AND FULLY SUBSIDIZED STUDENT BROADBAND ACCESS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO STIMULATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEIGHBORING ISLAND AND THE LOCAL ANCHOR COMMUNITY WITH THE USE OF BROADBAND SERVICES FOR REMOTE LEARNING, TELEWORK AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LEADING TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE APPRENTICESHIPS. BENEFICIARIES:ALL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS AT CMI AND LEARNING CENTERS WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS PROJECT'S IMPROVED AND EXPANDED BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS. ADDITIONALLY, CMI AND THE REMOTE ANCHOR IN JALUIT, WOTJE, EBEYE, KILI, AND SANTO IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS PROJECT'S ENHANCED IT WORKFORCE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES (IF APPLICABLE): THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.