This new training is taking place in the framework of UNESCO’s activities aimed at promoting a network of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) communities in the Arab region. It completes the previously organized courses on the software provided by the “Miftaah” USB key.
“Miftaah” was developed by the Centre de recherche sur l’information scientifique et technique (Algeria), l'Ecole Mohammadia d’ingénieurs (Morocco) and the University of Birzeit (Palestine) in collaboration with the UNESCO office in Rabat and ICTIDAR. Not only does it contain a FOSS package, but it also provides a storage space for the users’ personal data and a customised and user-friendly interface ensuring the accessibility of its package in Arabic, English and French.
The first series of e-learning courses was put online in 2007 on a dedicated e-learning platform of Tanmia.ma. More than 239 students and members of local associations participated in the training courses on the following software: OpenOffice.org, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird and VLC player.