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Virtual Conferencing for Public Sector Reform Trainers

25 November 2004

Virtual Conferencing
The software enables trainers around the Commonwealth to join online conferences at pre-arranged times.
The Commonwealth Secretariat has launched an initiative to maintain continuous support for trainers participating in Secretariat workshops using web-based audio conferencing software.

The 'Commonwealth Village' project is being implemented by the Secretariat's Governance and Institutional Development Division (GIDD) and the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

It uses a software package called 'Chatterbox' to enable trainers around the Commonwealth to join online training conferences at pre-arranged times. The trainers are involved in public sector reform and have participated in Training of Trainers workshops organised by GIDD in Wellington. Several online audio conferences have been held since 2003, bringing together trainers from Cyprus, Kenya, Mauritius, New Zealand, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom and Cook Islands, among others.

Dr Pak Yoong of Victoria University of Wellington, who devised the project and is now running it for the Secretariat, said the aim of the initiative was to create a 'virtual community of practitioners'. Participants hope to meet online periodically to share knowledge that enhances their professional development and practice. It is anticipated the initiative will encourage the formation of an alumni of workshop participants who engage frequently in online discussion.

Sylvia George, a trainer from Cook Islands who participated in several virtual conferences, said: "The Commonwealth Village is an effective tool to keep us informed. It also enables us to achieve and focus on our functions and disciplines, sharing what we have learned, reflecting on our efforts and exchanging ideas."

Professor Victor Ayeni, Director of GIDD, stated: "The Commonwealth Village enables delegates to engage in ongoing knowledge-sharing. Ultimately, we would like to use it as a tool to support the transfer of workshop learning into work-based practice."

The project is supported by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation.

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service - Issue 211 - 24 November 2004

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