Information about this training
program can be found on the WWW starting from:
http://www.vub.ac.be/BIBLIO/itp/
The program is planned to take place mainly in
October 1 - December 19, 2008.
Language used is English.
Our motto is
“Helping educators and innovators to advance knowledge and to enrich
lives”
The initiative has been
approved by the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) and is sponsored by the
Belgian Government (the directorate named DGOS since December 2002). This fits
in a series of similar international training activities that have been
organized since 1991, named MIST 1, 2, 3, KNOW-HOW, and STIMULATE 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6 and 7.
This initiative is aimed
primarily at persons with a university degree (Bachelor or Master), who work in
universities, information and documentation centres, and libraries, including
of course university libraries, and who have a few years of practical
experience.
The term Active Training
Environment in the title of the training program reflects our wish to create an
environment in which each participant is stimulated to get involved actively,
supported by the lecturers and the infrastructure provided by the training
program. This fits well into the general, worldwide trend away from
"teaching" to "learning management".
The main aim and goal of this
International Training Program is to offer a stimulating learning environment
to the participants. These are young scientists and professionals who have a
function as information intermediary in the area of science and technology, so
as to sharpen their skills in collecting, storing, retrieving, presenting and
managing information. This can be of great benefit to the teaching and research
activities going on in their institute and to the further development of their
organisation and region.
This initiative corresponds
well with the basic, general aim of all the International Training Programs
that are supported by VLIR: to train young scientists and professionals from
developing countries in a domain that is relevant for the further development
of the country, and to stimulate the participants to transfer their increased
knowledge and skills to their colleagues and other stakeholders in their home
country.
-- to provide participants
with a clearer view on the importance of information in general and for their
environment in particular, and on how to manage information:
summarised: ”Management in libraries and information centres”
-- to learn the participants
to cope with modern technology, in view of the increasing importance of ICT;
summarised: “Information and
communication technology for libraries and information centres”
-- to guide them in retrieving information that is publicly accessible on an
international scale:
summarised: “Information retrieval/searching”
and
-- to learn them to store, organise, present, manage, publish information
resources at personal, institutional, regional or national level:
summarised: “Information architecture”
After being actively involved
in this International Training Program, every participant will have improved
the ability
-- to appreciate and explain
the importance of access to information for their organisation
-- to present information to
users and potential users, using appropriate information technology
-- to train interested persons in the use and management of information, using appropriate presentation techniques
-- to contribute to the planning of the (further) development of an information service
-- to communicate through the Internet with users of information, information providers, colleagues,…
-- to apply quantitative methods in decision making related to information systems and services
-- to retrieve information
from the Internet
-- to store information for
later retrieval and access by potential users, using information technology
3 months means about 10 weeks or about 50 days.
During about 3 days per week for 10 weeks = 30 days, the participants will be guided by professors and other experts.
During the other 2 days per week for 10 weeks = 20 days, they will work on tasks=assignments as individuals or in groups, and their reports will be presented and discussed afterwards again guided by professors and other experts.
The sessions are organised in
such a way that
--the first month = introduction level,
--the second month = intermediate level, and
--the third month = more advanced level.
Thanks to this approach and organisation, it may make sense to participate
exceptionally during only one or two of the three months, depending on
expertise. However, the available scholarships are granted only to persons who
will participate for the full three months.
To start with, the
participants are offered an orientation tour of the University and the
University Library. Then some of the following subjects are covered. Of course,
due to the limited available time, not all the mentioned subjects can be
discussed in each training program, but a SELECTION will be made by the
organisers. The concrete content of each training program depends on the
availability of suitable expert lecturers from
Statistics to support decision
making for information science and for library management.
Business plans for libraries and information centers.
Using spreadsheets in the management of libraries and information centers.
Collection development.
Consortia of libraries for the acquisition of electronic journals and
databases.
Scientific writing methods.
ISBD = International Standard Bibliographic Description.
Formats for computer-based cataloguing; MARC formats.
National libraries and national bibliographies.
Knowledge organisation: subject classification schemes; thesaurus systems,
ontologies.
Citation analysis.
Assessing the influence of scientific journals; citations and impact factors.
The bibliometric laws.
Scientometrics.
Architecture of libraries and information centers.
Orientation of information users; relations with information users.
Interlibrary lending and co-operation; document delivery.
Development of a national or regional information network.
The information society.
Cultural aspects of the information society and information technology
transfer.
Copyright; information security; trans-border data flow.
Writing a project proposal (for instance related to the establishment of an
information network).
Conservation/preservation of printed documents.
Conservation/preservation of digital documents.
Informetric aspects of the Internet.
Artificial intelligence and knowledge representation in information science.
Electronic journals: implementation in a library.
Integration of e-learning environments and library services.
Libraries involvement in scientific publishing.
International co-operation projects.
Microcomputer systems: evolution of hardware.
Disks for
computers.
CD-ROM.
CD-ROM in a local area network.
CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R,
DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW.
Microcomputer operating systems.
Microcomputer systems:
applications software.
Text editing; word processing; desktop publishing.
Presentation of data, using a microcomputer.
Creating charts to present information.
Image processing; graphics file formats; photo/image editing.
Multimedia / Hypermedia.
Data communication; computer networks; Internet.
Internet services.
Client-server systems.
Electronic mail.
World-Wide Web; hypertext and hypermedia.
Data-communications networks and librarians.
Selecting and procuring a computer system; writing a proposal for a computer
implementation.
Providing access to information through public Internet workstations.
Methods for access to databases through Internet: telnet, http/WWW, Z39.50 and
ISO239.50, Open Archives Initiative - Metadata Harvesting Protocol.
Introductory concepts about
information.
Internet-based information resources: introduction.
Bibliographic databases.
The information industry and the information market.
Online information retrieval and database searching; search tactics and
strategies.
Internet search engines.
Information available free of charge; open access.
Online access databases about books and about journal articles.
Electronic newsletters and journals.
Computer-network based interest groups.
Patent information.
Online systems versus CD-ROM.
Citation searching.
Theoretical and quantitative aspects of information retrieval.
Evaluation of information retrieval strategies and
systems.
Evaluating the quality of information sources.
Basic, fundamental,
theoretical concepts.
Software packages for local storage and retrieval of bibliographic information.
Introduction to the ISIS software package family for information storage and
retrieval.
The application of ISIS: searching, editing data in a database, output of
selected data to file or printer; developing a database structure; indexing
data for fast retrieval; ISIS for Windows; WINISIS; history and future of ISIS;
programming in ISIS.
Formats: MARC; application of MARC in
Databases (and ISIS in particular) through the WWW.
Downloading of information and record format conversion.
Relational databases.
Library automation.
Online Public Access Catalogues (OPACs).
Archives and records management.
Archives in the domain of science and technology.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS): an introduction.
Developing a web site; HTML, CSS, XML, XSL; intranets; developing an intranet.
Evaluating web sites.
Dynamic web pages.
Developing co-operative
community WWW sites; Web contents management systems.
Setting up an electronic newsletter.
Extensions of the classical WWW. (Client-based and server-based).
Greenstone software for
digital libraries.
In addition to the courses
taking place at the university campus, study visits are organised.
A selection from the following possible visits is made:
--to the Royal (National) Library, in Brussels, Belgium
--to the European Patent Office in Brussels, Belgium
--to the Information Service of the Geology Department of the Royal Museum on
Africa, in Tervuren near Brussels, Belgium
--to the inter-university postgraduate school on information and library
science at the University of Antwerp, Belgium
--to the library of the University of Antwerp, Belgium
--to the human sciences library of the University of Antwerp in old Antwerp
city, Belgium
--to the library of the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten in Antwerpen /
Antwerp, Belgium
--to the city library of Antwerpen / Antwerp
--to the old central library and to the modern science and technology library
of the KUL (university) in Leuven, Belgium
--to the VLIZ marine science information and documentation centre near the sea
coast in Oostende / Ostend, Belgium
--to the central library of the University of Gent / Ghent, Belgium
--to the Documentation Department of the KIT (the Royal Tropical Institute),
and to the high school on libraries, documentation and information, both in
Amsterdam, Nederland / The Netherlands
--to the headquarters of IFLA and to the National, Royal Library in Den Haag /
The Hague, in Nederland / The Netherlands
--to the Institute for Social Studies (ISS) in Den Haag / The Hague, in
Nederland / The Netherlands
More culturally oriented
guided visits are also organised; these may include trips to the old cities of
At the end of the course, each
participant completes a presentation supported by slides managed on computer,
with constructive comments on the training program experienced and with
concrete recommendations to the organisers of this training program and to the
director of their own organisation.
About half of the time, the participants
are guided by experts who are invited to the university. They use the other
half time to solve problems, to make exercises, to use microcomputers and the
Internet, to prepare discussions, for self study...
Besides the formal, guided course
activities, the participants have access like any regular student at our
university
--to several rooms equipped with microcomputers connected to the Internet,
--to the university library which offers printed material, CD-ROMs and PCs with
Internet access,
--to the university restaurant and to sport facilities at low student prices.
Soon after the start of the
program, each participant presents to the other participants and to interested
lecturers ongoing activities related to information management in their home
institution, his/her professional interests, working environment, planning,
tasks, experience. This is organised with printed posters created by each
participant, in a small poster exhibition with time allotted for stimulating
and ice-breaking discussions.
In this way, participants and
some professors get to know each other efficiently and the participants learn
to present information in the format of a scientific poster.
Therefore, participants are
encouraged to bring supporting materials like folders, leaflets, photos, maps,
etc… for inclusion in their poster.
Each participant is expected
to present a tutorial presentation during the program of maximum 15 minutes,
with 10 minutes of questions and answers plus discussion foreseen. The audience
is composed of the other participants. The topic of each presentation is one
aspect of their expertise. The aims are the following:
- participants improve their
scientific presentation, teaching and communication skills,
- they share their knowledge
with the other participants,
- participants get to know
each other better,
- the session may form a basis
for possible later co-operation, etc…
The following will be invited.
They may contribute as they did in previous programs, if their agenda and the
limited duration of the training program allow this:
At the end of the program all
participants obtain a certificate stating that they have indeed participated, with
a reference to the full detailed overview of the program contents on the WWW
site of the program.
Several substantial parts of the program are followed by an evaluation by the
responsible expert of the knowledge and skills acquired by each participant;
this can lead to a certificate of active and successful participation.
- Poster presentation by each participant to the other participants and to invited guests, about information management in their home institute, on the same evening as the welcome reception with drinks and appetizers, early in the program.
- Evening with the opportunity to learn more about beer tasting and to taste some of the world-famous Belgian beers and some Belgian food.
- Photography contests.
- Farewell gathering with drinks and snacks. (final evening of the program)
Furthermore the participants can join some of the many activities at
the university and in
Besides the persons who
receive a grant from the Belgian Government through VLIR, 8 persons can
participate after paying a registration=tuition fee that is small in comparison
with similar programs.
The costs mentioned do NOT
include air travel, transport in Belgium, meals and accommodation, but do
include transport from the airport upon arrival, welcome reception, health
insurance, printed study materials, study visits, social activities.
-To participate during the
full period: 2400 Euro
-Exceptionally, persons who cannot participate for the whole period can
nevertheless participate during 2 months only (1800 Euro) or during 1 month
only (1000 Euro). It makes sense to attend for instance the first month or the
first two months only. It makes less sense to participate only during the
second or the third month, as introductions to some activities or topics may be
missed.
-To participate to particular items selected from the program: 30 Euro per half
day.
To register and pay the
registration=tuition fee, send the form (see below) by classical mail or by
private courier, together with an international bank transfer / bank cheque /
bank draft, payable to
University Library, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050
BRUSSEL, Belgium,
with no need for any bank account numbers.
If however this simple procedure is NOT suitable for you, then you can transfer
the required sum of money to the following bank account of the Vrije
Universiteit Brussel:
Fortis Bank located at Warandeberg 3 in B-1000 Brussel, Belgium,
account number 001-0686459-66 or IBAN = BE07 0010 6864 5966
and do not forget (!) to mention as a remark:
for internal
account VOPA21 BIBLINK3 University Library STIMULATE International Training
Program
The money
received by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel financial department must be transferred internally;
this transfer takes about 1 week, which means a delay in the registration
procedure, which is better avoided.
(Without your remark, the money may be not retraceable and lost.)
Realize that some bank
transfer costs are involved and that these should be paid besides the requested
participation fee that is transferred.
There is no formal deadline.
However, we recommend you to register as early as possible, because “first
come, first served”: the arrival of your participation fee determines who can
participate. Furthermore the later a participant is registered, the more
difficult it becomes to find cheap and suitable accommodation.
There is NO need to “apply” prior
to the registration, to request permission to participate or to be accepted,
from the organizers of the program or from their universities. Also there is no
age limit. The decision to participate to the program is to be made by the
person who is interested and NOT by the organizers. This is like participating
to a conference.
Invitation letters can be sent
on request if needed, but in principle only when the participation =
registration fee has been received. This announcement is in fact an invitation.
It is a waste of time to ask
the organisers of the program about sponsors besides VLIR mentioned above.
Every participant who receives
a grant/scholarship from VLIR-UOS receives next to his/her monthly
grant/scholarship a lump sum of about 280 euro from VLIR-UOS for the purchase
of didactic materials (e.g. book needed for a course, printed course notes,
cost of study visit, use of a notebook pc).
Each participant should
ideally bring a notebook pc that includes a wireless network card (Wifi) to connect to the internet through the university
wireless network.
Each participant who receives
a scholarship from VLIR-UOS pays a lump sum of 150 euro to the program for the
didactic costs.
Each participant who receives
a scholarship from VLIR-UOS and who does NOT bring a notebook pc will be
assisted by the program in the sense that the program organisers will try to
provide a notebook pc for duration of the program. This extra service costs an
additional 100 euro.
The cost for the didactic
materials for participants who are participating without a VLIR-UOS
grant/scholarship is included in the registration (=tuition fee).
IMPORTANT NOTE: If a
participant is not able to bring a notebook of his/her own, he/she should well
in advance of the start of the program communicate about this problem with the
program organisers, so that the organisers have enough time available to obtain
a suitable notebook pc before the start of the program.
A participant who rents a
notebook pc from the organisers pays a guarantee of 400 euro, before receiving
the notebook. This sum is refunded if the notebook is returned in its original
condition after the program. The notebooks provided by the program organisers
are suitable for all the tasks required during the program. Each participant
should bring a suitable bag to carry and transport the pc safely during the
program; ideally this should not look like a special pc bag to avoid theft.
Participants are covered
during their stay by a full medical insurance.
This costs about 40 Euro per month.
This is formalised as soon as possible after arrival in
The organisers of this program
normally book in advance a single, cheap, basic room with access to a shared
kitchen, as accommodation for each participant, unless a participant writes us
that he/she wants to take care of accommodation personally, for instance by
staying with a friend or by renting a room that offers more luxury.
Participants pay for their
accommodation directly to the person or organisation providing accommodation in
According to previous participants and in agreement with the grants
provided by VLIR-UOS, 1100 Euro per month should be enough to cover all
expenses, including accommodation, transport, food…
E-mail (Internet): stimulate at vub.ac.be (or in case that this does
not seem to work, to Paul.Nieuwenhuysen at vub.ac.be)
(change at in @ when you want to use an address)
Fax 32 2 629 2693 (or 2282)
Tel. 32 2 629 2629 or 32 2 629 2429 or 32 2 629 2609
Telex 61051 vubco-b
Classical mail:
STIMULATE-ITP (or Paul
NIEUWENHUYSEN), University Library, Vrije Universiteit Brussel,
Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, BELGIUM
However, all correspondence about scholarships should not be addressed to the academic organizers but to VLIR as explained elsewhere in this text.
The training is mainly organized
at the University Library of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
The campus is located south of the older centre of the city of
Information about
http://wikitravel.org/en/Brussels
http://www.agenda.be/
about events going on in
http://www.disgruntled.ca/writings/brussels/
offers information on
http://www.eric-maerschalck.be/Brussels/bruxelles.php?log=NO
offers photos made in
http://www.eupedia.com/belgium/brussels.shtml
http://www.ilotsacre.be/site/en/default_en.htm
offers an interactive map and photos of
http://www.interknowledge.com/belgium/
http://www.sievers.nl/visitbrussels/
shows some photos made in
http://www.timeout.com/brussels/
http://www.trabel.com/brussel/brussels-touristattractions.htm
http://www.virtourist.com/europe/brussels/index.html
Interesting trips are possible
to places in neighbouring countries like The Netherlands and France. Therefore,
participants should try to obtain also a visa for those countries (a so called Schengen-visa).
The course director is Dr.
Paul Nieuwenhuysen, full-time professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and
guest professor at Universiteit Antwerpen, Science and technology librarian of
the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. http://www.vub.ac.be/BIBLIO/nieuwenhuysen/professional/
An official, formal Steering
Committee is composed of members from the co-operating universities in
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Universiteit Antwerpen
- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
This Steering Committee
supervises the organisation, the program and the budget. This committee reports
formally to VLIR.
This version is dated 2008-09
____________________REGISTRATION
FORM_______________________
to STIMULATE,
University Library, Vrije Universiteit Brussel,
Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 BRUSSEL,
I want to participate. Therefore I send this as a letter AND I pay the registration=tuition fee as described in the announcement of the International Training Program on INFORMATION.
(So the following is NOT
the form to apply for a grant.
Use this form only when you
pay the registration=tuition fee.)
a. Family name (surname): ...............................
(married female participants please fill in maiden-name as well as name of husband)
b. First or given names (according to your official passport): ..............
Personal address: ...................................
.....................................................
Country:.............................................
Electronic mail address
Telephone, fax, telex:
Date of birth: Place of birth:
Nationality: Sex: male / female
Present employment:
a. Name and address of employer: .................
...............................................
...............................................
b. Since: ../../..
c. Position – function - specialization
d. Telephone, fax, telex and/or e-mail of the employer:
Education - studies:
Name of institute Degree Date
Knowledge of English: writing: ........ speaking: ........ reading: .......
Have you been abroad earlier? Please specify:
Duties that you will carry out after returning to your country:
.................................................................
.................................................................
Please book a room for me OR
Do NOT book a room for me; I will take care myself of accommodation
Date and signature:………………………………………….
Please include a recent photograph, as this will simplify identifying you upon arrival.