Projects Supported by VLIR-UOS
The Flemish Interuniversity Council for University Development Cooperation (VLIR-UOS) supports research and higher education institutions in the South through partnerships with Flemish universities. VLIR-UOS’ specific objectives are to build up the capacity of institutions in the South and to maintain and expand the expertise and support available within Northern hemisphere societies.
VLIR-UOS and Close the Gap have committed themselves to processing proposals in the framework of which refurbished computers would be availed to VLIR-UOS partners in the South. As a result of this agreement a de facto VLIR-UOS Close the Gap ICT Fund has been established.
Through this collaboration following inputs are matched as to generate mutually beneficial value added:
- Expertise and a broader collaborative context as delivered by the Flemish and local university;
- Funding and quality control mechanisms delivered by VLIR-UOS;
- Low cost high quality hardware delivered by Close the Gap.
The collaboration between both organisations is meant to contribute to enhancing:
- The impact of the Interuniversity Co-Operation (IUC) programme at the level of IUC partner universities;
- The outreach and societal orientation of the IUC partner universities in terms of delivering ICT services.
Together Close the Gap and VLIR-UOS have supported the following Universities since 2005:
Jimma University (Ethiopia): 740 desktops, 10 notebooks, 10 printers
Mekelle University (Ethiopia): 382 desktops, 20 notebooks, 10 printers
Moi University (Kenya): 189 desktops, 10 printers
Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania): 486 desktops, 10 notebooks, 18 printers
St Louis University (Philippines): 346 desktops
Universidad Central de Las Villas (Cuba): 1228 desktops, 8 notebooks, 10 printers
University of Nairobi (Kenya): 384 desktops, 18 printers
University of the Western Cape (South Africa): 184 desktops
University of Zambia (Zambia): 218 desktops
University of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe): 492 desktops, 13 notebooks, 12 printers