Academic literature on the topic 'Telecommunication in education'

The article is devoted to the issue of organizing educational activities in the conditions of blended learning for future telecommunications specialists in teaching the disciplines “Switching and Information Distribution Systems” and “Telecommunication and Information Networks”. Due to the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, distance and blended learning has become one of the leading trends in education, providing continuous and high-quality education. The author analyzed the experience of Ukrainian researchers in the use of blended learning and ICT tools in higher education institutions. The author describes digital tools and learning platforms used by teachers in the disciplines “Switching and Information Distribution Systems” and “Telecommunication and Information Networks” at the Kyiv Professional College of Communications. The materials in the areas of study of future telecommunications specialists are described in detail. The advantages of using the workbook in teaching the discipline “Telecommunication and Information Networks” are presented. As a result of the survey, which was attended by 50 students majoring in Telecommunications and Radio Engineering, the following advantages of blended learning were identified: flexibility of the process; increased academic performance of students; gaining knowledge in different ways; combination of distance and traditional learning. In an open question, students were asked to indicate what, in their opinion, needs to be changed or improved to improve the blended learning process; the answers were analyzed by the author and singled out into separate positions.

Research subject. Fifth-generation telecommunication networks are currently the determining direction of telecommunications development as a whole. At the same time, the complexity of the processes of functioning of fifth-generation telecommunication networks increases by an order of magnitude compared to existing networks. All this requires the use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to ensure the stable functioning of telecommunication networks. Method. System analysis. Core results. The scientific tasks for the fifth generation communication networks, in which the use of artificial intelligence seems appropriate, including machine and deep learning, are identified. Practical significance. The results of the work can be useful in the education process in the field of networks and telecommunication systems, as well as for setting new scientific tasks for PhD students.

The paper is an attempt to cover some of the issues of using information and communication technologies (ICT) in foreign languages teaching and learning (FLT/FLL) on the basis of intercultural approach. The facilities of Internet along with computer programs, audio and video devices, interactive whiteboards and telecommunications are considered. Special attention is given to the peculiarities of telecommunication projects; the example of telecommunication project realization is represented. The advantages and disadvantages of distance language learning are considered. Besides, some diffi culties that students and teachers come across during ICT-supported language education are also discussed. Key words: information and communication technologies (ICT), foreign language teaching and learning (FLT/FLL), computer programs, interactive whiteboards, Internet-based (telecommunication) projects, distance learning.

This research sought to examine the strategic planning practice as tool for performance in the telecommunication companies. Strategic planning for that reason offers a much-needed basis on which telecommunication companies can grow and evaluate its success against failures and establish boundaries for efficient decision-making. The research further assessed the level of influence of legal and regulatory framework as a moderating factor on the performance of Telecommunication industry in Rwanda. This study utilized both qualitative and quantitative data as well as applied a descriptive survey design. The study population included the 42 Top and middle level, managers of mobile phone operator companies in Rwanda which comprised of MTN and Airtel company Headquarter and different branches within Kigali City. The data collection instruments were pre-tested using the Cronbach’s alpha and factor analysis of dimensions reductions to determine the validity and reliability of the tests. The data collected was analyzed and presented using tables, by help of the SPSS statistical Package for Social Science. The results on, reliability test, descriptive statistics, demographic information of respondents, correlation analysis, normality test, heteroskedasticity test, factor analysis and regression results were established on all the variables of strategic planning, plus the intervening variable of the legal and regulatory framework. Notably, the correlation results revealed that Strategic Planning had a positive and significant. The results revealed that Strategic Planning has a positive and significant moderate relationship with Performance of Telecommunication industry. The results on linearity test for strategic planning and performance of the telecommunication industry since the level of linear association was found to be 0.953 which was also positive and statistically significant. Similarly, the null hypothesis Strategic Planning and performance of the telecommunications industry were subjected to the hypothesis to determine whether to accept or reject the null hypothesis and the results showed a positive and significant association between Strategic Planning and Performance of Telecommunication industry (β = 0.953, ρ< .05). Therefore, the hypothesis was rejected. Thus, as the Performance of Telecommunication industry increased, the strategic planning too increased. It can therefore be concluded that, the companies benefited tremendously when the strategic planning was taken into account for the efficient performance of the telecommunication industry in Rwanda.

Traditional education, particularly at a university level is not necessarily very engaging. Educational escape rooms are a recent game based learning approach which combines team based problem solving with a story-line and cryptic clues. In this paper, we apply the concept of educational escape rooms to the telecommunications engineering classroom by creating a series of two separate scenarios, each containing three puzzles. Our evaluation is based on survey results from telecommunication experts which suggest that this will be an engaging and challenging tool for teaching telecommunications engineering. Although educational escape rooms are rapidly being deployed in education, these are the first educational escape rooms that specifically addresses the field of telecommunications engineering.

This research aims to analyze the financial performance of telecommunications sektor companies judging from profitability ratios which unclude ROA, ROE, and NPM period before and during the Covid-19 pandemi. Covid-19 has an impact on the weakening of various sektors of the economy. Nevertheless, there are still some sektors that are able togrow. One of them is the telecommunications sektor. The internet plays a big role in community activities that are generally carried out online, causing an increase in the performance of telecommuniciation issuers. The data used in this study is the financial statements of telecommunication companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange quarter 2 of 2019-quarter 1 of 2021 and analyzed using descriptive methods. The results showed that the financial performance of telecommunications sektor companies was guided by the average value of profitability ratios that include ROA, ROE, and NPM obtained results that during the covid-19 pandemi were first confirmed, overall, the average financial performance of telecommunications sektor companies has increased. Assesment with the analysis of Hotteling’s T2 test also provided results that there was no difference in financial performance in terms of the profitability ratio between before and during the covid-19 pandemi

This study aims to dig up information about the independent curriculum, especially in learning computer and telecommunications network techniques in Vocational High School (VHS). This research method uses qualitative methods. Data collection techniques used are observation and interviews. The information obtained is processed and analyzed through several stages, including data reduction, presentation, and conclusion. The study results show that the implementation of the independent curriculum in learning communication and telecommunication network techniques is carried out following the Independent Curriculum Implementation policy from the Ministry of Education, Research and Technology, Indonesia. However, its implementation still needs to be comprehensive. The school needs help learning communication and telecommunications network techniques per the independent curriculum due to a lack of teacher competency and weak infrastructure support. The school has difficulty developing learning methods that create a working atmosphere in the industry so that students can be enthusiastic about participating in the learning process in computer network engineering and telecommunications.

1. Zeleniakova M., Pavolova H., Bakalar T.(2012) Internet communication in the process of education at universities // Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2012. № 46 P. 2711 – 2715 URL: https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com 2. Nemlii L. (2019) Information technologies in Foreign Language Teaching. URL: http://www.flyhigh.nau.edu.ua/docs/tezy_2019.pdf
The world has faced a major problem - a coronavirus pandemic. Because of this, university education is conducted in a distance format using telecommunications programs. These programs make it possible maintain a direct connection between teachers and students, as well as control the entire educational process during the semester. The most popular programs which are used to hold online education are called Zoom and Google Meet - services for creating video conferencing.
Світ зіткнувся з головною проблемою - пандемією коронавірусу. Через це університетська освіта проводиться у дистанційному форматі за допомогою телекомунікаційних програм. Ці програми дозволяють підтримувати прямий зв’язок між викладачами та студентами, а також контролювати весь навчальний процес протягом семестру. Найпопулярніші програми, які використовуються для проведення онлайн-навчання, називаються Zoom та Google Meet – платформи, що дають можливість створювати відеоконференції.

The thesis explores an effective model for using the internet in a distance training program for secondary school teachers. The professional development program, the dissertation, titled The Virtual University: Professional development for teachers, was initiated based on aspects of telecommunication technology and the professional development for Thai school teachers. The question of this program was “How could information technology be used in developing an appropriate professional development model for Thai teachers?” Prior to the project, the four research studies were conducted to formulate the related base line information and supported framework for the program development. The four researches are: (1) Telecommunication Technology in Thai Schools, (2) The Role of University on Science Teachers Development, (3) Computer Education Curriculum for Student Teachers: Theory and Practice, and (4) Teachers’ Perceptions of the Academic Link Project Between Schools and Universities for Teacher Professional Development. The first research study provides the information about the necessary basic factors for change in Thai secondary schools and the new insights and understandings about change in Thai schooling. The major findings were the understandings about teachers’ need for professional development, the available support in Thai school for professional development, and the limitations of professional development of teachers. The second research study provides the information about the roles of university faculty on initiation and operation of science teacher development programs, science teaching and learning resources centers, science instructional media design and production services, science teaching clinics, and science teachers’ associations. The third research study provides the conceptual framework for both preservice and inservice curriculum development program for teacher development. The last research study provides a base of descriptive information about the perspectives of school teachers towards the academic link project between schools and universities and the partnership which can assist in its establishment. The findings of these four research tasks were used for the formation of the framework of the dissertation. The EDNET Project, an example of teachers’ professional development through the information technology based training, was developed and implemented with ten school teachers in Khon Kaen.

This is a study of the effectiveness of telecommunication and computer technologies when used as part of a modified distance education course. Using Salomon's communication theory, and Csikszentmihalyi's and Krugman's involvement theories the study examines the degree to which these technologies can replicate classroom learning. Relevant empirical studies in communication technologies and distance education are also examined. The study focussed on two small groups of secondary school students whose classes were linked using telecommunications and computer technologies to deliver a distance education course. Neither teacher nor students were provided with training in distance education methodology. The teacher adapted classroom materials already in use rather than use structured course materials normally available for distance education courses. Even though the schools in the study were forty-two kilometres apart the study found that conditions did exist which supported involvement. The study also found that involvement conditions were fragile and related to the capacity of the technology to maintain high quality telecommunications links. Control of technology was an important factor in developing students' perception of success and their degree of involvement in the course. It was also evident that telecommunications technology could replicate many of the classroom learning conditions such as exist when teacher and students are both present at the same location. Teacher-student and student-student relationship were found to be more productive if there had been a face-to-face meeting of the participants before the course commenced. It was also evident that this method of study encouraged both independent learning on the part of individual students as well as developing their co-operative learning skills.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2001.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 277-280).
The design studio, as both a learning environment and a social place, is one of the major components of architectural education. Traditionally, the studio has been considered a place for individual design work and one-on-one mentoring between an instructor and a student. With the integration of new information and telecommunication technologies, the nature of the design studio and the learning processes within it are being altered. This new landscape of the design studio offers opportunities for globally distributed collaborative work as well as new interpretations of design processes and studio practices. The technologies and the studio system are interwoven and their symbiotic relationships need to be understood if these technology-mediated long-distance collaborative design studios are to be common, valuable, and creative occurrences in architectural education. In this study, the consequences of integrating telecommunication technologies into the design studio are examined through ten cases. The new studios involve multidisciplinary design participants from separate and distant physical and social environments that are electronically connected for sharing design ideas, creating a common understanding of design practices, and co-constructing design objects. With technology use, changes occur in the studio's participants and relationships, the design content and processes, and the events and organization. I argue that the changes to the studio can create an enriched environment for design learning. The successive case studies represent a dynamic pedagogic strategy in which both students and teachers are active participants in constructing their new technology-mediated learning environment through creative experimentation. The findings of these cases provide a comprehensive description of the technical and social characteristics, conditions, and practices of remote collaborative design studios. In these new virtual design studios, there are rich opportunities for building innovative and effective communities for design education in which the traditional boundaries of time, culture, language, discipline, and institution are blurred and new configurations for design learning become possible.
by Susan Yee.
Ph.D.

The objective of this investigation is to determine whether student site location in an instructional videoconference is related to students' motives for communicating with their instructor. The study is based, in part, on the work of Martin et al. who identify five separate student-teacher communication motives. These motives, or dimensions, are termed relational, functional, excuse, participation, and sycophancy, and are measured by a 30-item questionnaire. Several communication-related theories were used to predict differences between on-site and off-site students, Media richness theory was used, foundationally, to explain differences between mediated and face-to-face communication and other theories such as uncertainty reduction theory were used in conjunction with media richness theory to predict specific differences.Two hundred eighty-one completed questionnaires were obtained from Education and Library and Information Science students in 17 separate course-sections employing interactive video at the University of North Texas during the Spring and Summer semesters of the 2001/2002 school year. This study concludes that off-site students in an instructional videoconference are more likely than their on-site peers to report being motivated to communicate with their instructor for participation reasons. If off-site students are more motivated than on-site students to communicate as a means to participate, then it may be important for instructors to watch for actual differences in participation levels, and instructors may need to be well versed in pedagogical methods that attempt to increase participation, The study also suggests that current teaching methods being employed in interactive video environments may be adequate with regard to functional, excuse-making, relational and sycophantic communication.

The risk of losing the most talented workers due to limited career opportunities had become an issue for telecommunication organizations. Talented workers became disengaged when there were limited opportunities for growth and development. To address this issue, human resource practitioners created employee development programs aimed at increasing employee engagement to help retain talented workers. However, data to determine the link between employee development programs, engagement, and retention were limited. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore managers' and employees' perceptions of how a telecommunication organization's employee development program contributes to employee engagement and to explore employees' experiences resulting from the transfer of learning. Kahn's engagement model and Kirkpatrick's and Phillips's and Phillips's evaluation models provided the conceptual framework for this study. The guiding research questions focused on employees' and managers' perceptions of how the telecommunication organization's employee development program contributes to employee engagement and on employees' experiences resulting from the transfer of learning engagement concepts and activities. Using purposeful sampling, 10 employees who attended the employee development program and 5 managers shared their perceptions and experiences. The thematic analysis of the interview data uncovered 3 themes that are critical for engagement – employee-centric culture, support for career development, and management knowledge needed for real-time support. The implication of the project study was a 3-day professional development workshop for managers. Understanding how the employee development program contributes to employee engagement could offer better ways to retain talents.

In this study, two courses from the McGill Distance Education program with very different learning goals were examined to investigate the instructional role of two communication technologies (i.e., fax and e-mail) in distance education. The data set included verbatim e-mail and fax transcripts, instructor interviews, course syllabi and course assignments. Triangulation procedures were followed to examine the following within the context of two distance education courses with very different learning goals: (1) the general instructional purposes for which the technologies were used; (2) the levels of learning reflected in the mediated interactions; and (3) the relationship between the use of the technology, the instructors' perceptions of its use and the stated learning outcomes of the courses.
Electronic-mail provided the interaction necessary for encouraging discussions of course content in the Instructional Design course, whereas fax was used more for the transmission of knowledge in both courses. An examination of the relationship between course learning objectives, course transcripts, and instructor interviews indicated that the instructors were consistent in their view of the different communication technologies,. their purpose for using the chosen technology, and the way in which they used the specific communication technology. However, this consistency was not reflected in the students' use of the communication technologies since the students responded only at Bloom's lower levels of learning even though the instructors used all levels of learning. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Atmospheric turbulence is one of the limiting phenomena in interesting applications and fields such of optical telecommunications and Observational Astronomy. Both Telecommunication and Aerospace Engineering students may encounter those applications in their professional careers, thus, there is the necessity to introduce this phenomenon and its impact on those fields at the academic formation stage. In order to teach students of the principles and effects of the atmospheric turbulence in optical propagation, and to illustrate how to solve these problems, two different applications written in MATLAB© were developed. In this communication both applications and the theoretical background are presented, and the designed activity for Telecommunication Engineers is shown. Results obtained by students and their experience performing the activity are also presented.

Construction safety practices is a significant aspect in the construction industry, as construction workers cannot operate in an accident free environment without proper adherence to safety guidelines. The construction and maintenance of telecommunication masts and towers can pose serious accident threat to workers on site, hence the need to adopt the current safety practices in the sector. This study outlined the current safety practices observed by workers in the construction of telecommunication masts and towers. The study adopted a quantitative research approach and data collected from the participants involved in the construction telecommunication masts and towers in Nigeria. Information gathered was analysed using the mean item score (MIS), standard deviation (SD) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The findings showcased the current safety practices of telecommunication masts and towers in the Nigeria telecommunication industry to be; personal protective equipment (PPE), fire extinguisher, safety inspection, authorized entry to construction sites is prohibited, safety policy, safety education and training programs. These were seen to have a direct impact on the safety practices currently observed in the construction of telecommunications mast and towers in the Nigerian telecommunication industry. Non adherence to safety practices can hinder the welfare of the workers and economic growth of the country. Therefore, it is imperative for the telecommunication industry in Nigeria to adopt more ways of managing safety in the industry so as to improve the safety and welfare of construction workers and prevent negative economic infractions they may arise from accidents on sight. The government should adopt measures to ensure the current safety practices are enforced among all construction stakeholders who are involved in the construction of telecommunication masts and towers to prevent accidents from happening at construction sites.

A telecommunication network produces daily large amounts of calling data which contain hidden and valuable knowledge. This knowledge can be used in determining the calling patterns of customer, finding too thrifty customers, also for locating the best area to concentrate on in order to boost profits. In this paper, we designed an algorithm named CLOTELE which is based on the ideas of the pattern-growth method of mining, for mining closed frequent calling patterns of a telecommunication database from a telecommunication provider. First, by observing the features of the database and then extracting the attributes needed to be mined. Then, we merge the items to form an itemset, the algorithm is now applied to the transformed database. CLOTELE is built on the basis of viewing knowledge discovery as an interactive and iterative process in order to optimize decision making. The quality of the knowledge discovered is evaluated. The experimental results show the knowledge of closed frequent patterns obtained is very useful and easy to interpret by the network operators and administrators.

The e-learning course "Informatics" is compiled in accordance with the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard of Higher Education in the specialty 33.05.01 Pharmacy (specialty level), approved by Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation dated August 11, 2016 No. 1037, and taking into account the requirements of the professional standard 02.006 "Pharmacist", approved by order of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection No. 91n of the Russian Federation dated March 9, 2016. The purpose of the course is to master the necessary amount of theoretical and practical knowledge in computer science for graduates to master competencies in accordance with the Federal State Educational Standard of Higher Education, capable and ready to perform the work functions required by the professional standard. Course objectives: to provide knowledge about the rules of working with spreadsheets; to provide knowledge about working in medical information systems and the Internet information and telecommunications network; to provide skills in working with computer science software and hardware used at various stages of obtaining and analyzing biomedical information; to learn how to use the knowledge gained to solve problems of pharmaceutical and biomedical content. The labor intensity of the course is 72 hours. The course consists of 12 didactic units.

1.1 Macroeconomic summary Economic recovery has consistently outperformed the technical staff’s expectations following a steep decline in activity in the second quarter of 2020. At the same time, total and core inflation rates have fallen and remain at low levels, suggesting that a significant element of the reactivation of Colombia’s economy has been related to recovery in potential GDP. This would support the technical staff’s diagnosis of weak aggregate demand and ample excess capacity. The most recently available data on 2020 growth suggests a contraction in economic activity of 6.8%, lower than estimates from January’s Monetary Policy Report (-7.2%). High-frequency indicators suggest that economic performance was significantly more dynamic than expected in January, despite mobility restrictions and quarantine measures. This has also come amid declines in total and core inflation, the latter of which was below January projections if controlling for certain relative price changes. This suggests that the unexpected strength of recent growth contains elements of demand, and that excess capacity, while significant, could be lower than previously estimated. Nevertheless, uncertainty over the measurement of excess capacity continues to be unusually high and marked both by variations in the way different economic sectors and spending components have been affected by the pandemic, and by uneven price behavior. The size of excess capacity, and in particular the evolution of the pandemic in forthcoming quarters, constitute substantial risks to the macroeconomic forecast presented in this report. Despite the unexpected strength of the recovery, the technical staff continues to project ample excess capacity that is expected to remain on the forecast horizon, alongside core inflation that will likely remain below the target. Domestic demand remains below 2019 levels amid unusually significant uncertainty over the size of excess capacity in the economy. High national unemployment (14.6% for February 2021) reflects a loose labor market, while observed total and core inflation continue to be below 2%. Inflationary pressures from the exchange rate are expected to continue to be low, with relatively little pass-through on inflation. This would be compatible with a negative output gap. Excess productive capacity and the expectation of core inflation below the 3% target on the forecast horizon provide a basis for an expansive monetary policy posture. The technical staff’s assessment of certain shocks and their expected effects on the economy, as well as the presence of several sources of uncertainty and related assumptions about their potential macroeconomic impacts, remain a feature of this report. The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, continues to affect the public health environment, and the reopening of Colombia’s economy remains incomplete. The technical staff’s assessment is that the COVID-19 shock has affected both aggregate demand and supply, but that the impact on demand has been deeper and more persistent. Given this persistence, the central forecast accounts for a gradual tightening of the output gap in the absence of new waves of contagion, and as vaccination campaigns progress. The central forecast continues to include an expected increase of total and core inflation rates in the second quarter of 2021, alongside the lapse of the temporary price relief measures put in place in 2020. Additional COVID-19 outbreaks (of uncertain duration and intensity) represent a significant risk factor that could affect these projections. Additionally, the forecast continues to include an upward trend in sovereign risk premiums, reflected by higher levels of public debt that in the wake of the pandemic are likely to persist on the forecast horizon, even in the context of a fiscal adjustment. At the same time, the projection accounts for the shortterm effects on private domestic demand from a fiscal adjustment along the lines of the one currently being proposed by the national government. This would be compatible with a gradual recovery of private domestic demand in 2022. The size and characteristics of the fiscal adjustment that is ultimately implemented, as well as the corresponding market response, represent another source of forecast uncertainty. Newly available information offers evidence of the potential for significant changes to the macroeconomic scenario, though without altering the general diagnosis described above. The most recent data on inflation, growth, fiscal policy, and international financial conditions suggests a more dynamic economy than previously expected. However, a third wave of the pandemic has delayed the re-opening of Colombia’s economy and brought with it a deceleration in economic activity. Detailed descriptions of these considerations and subsequent changes to the macroeconomic forecast are presented below. The expected annual decline in GDP (-0.3%) in the first quarter of 2021 appears to have been less pronounced than projected in January (-4.8%). Partial closures in January to address a second wave of COVID-19 appear to have had a less significant negative impact on the economy than previously estimated. This is reflected in figures related to mobility, energy demand, industry and retail sales, foreign trade, commercial transactions from selected banks, and the national statistics agency’s (DANE) economic tracking indicator (ISE). Output is now expected to have declined annually in the first quarter by 0.3%. Private consumption likely continued to recover, registering levels somewhat above those from the previous year, while public consumption likely increased significantly. While a recovery in investment in both housing and in other buildings and structures is expected, overall investment levels in this case likely continued to be low, and gross fixed capital formation is expected to continue to show significant annual declines. Imports likely recovered to again outpace exports, though both are expected to register significant annual declines. Economic activity that outpaced projections, an increase in oil prices and other export products, and an expected increase in public spending this year account for the upward revision to the 2021 growth forecast (from 4.6% with a range between 2% and 6% in January, to 6.0% with a range between 3% and 7% in April). As a result, the output gap is expected to be smaller and to tighten more rapidly than projected in the previous report, though it is still expected to remain in negative territory on the forecast horizon. Wide forecast intervals reflect the fact that the future evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant source of uncertainty on these projections. The delay in the recovery of economic activity as a result of the resurgence of COVID-19 in the first quarter appears to have been less significant than projected in the January report. The central forecast scenario expects this improved performance to continue in 2021 alongside increased consumer and business confidence. Low real interest rates and an active credit supply would also support this dynamic, and the overall conditions would be expected to spur a recovery in consumption and investment. Increased growth in public spending and public works based on the national government’s spending plan (Plan Financiero del Gobierno) are other factors to consider. Additionally, an expected recovery in global demand and higher projected prices for oil and coffee would further contribute to improved external revenues and would favor investment, in particular in the oil sector. Given the above, the technical staff’s 2021 growth forecast has been revised upward from 4.6% in January (range from 2% to 6%) to 6.0% in April (range from 3% to 7%). These projections account for the potential for the third wave of COVID-19 to have a larger and more persistent effect on the economy than the previous wave, while also supposing that there will not be any additional significant waves of the pandemic and that mobility restrictions will be relaxed as a result. Economic growth in 2022 is expected to be 3%, with a range between 1% and 5%. This figure would be lower than projected in the January report (3.6% with a range between 2% and 6%), due to a higher base of comparison given the upward revision to expected GDP in 2021. This forecast also takes into account the likely effects on private demand of a fiscal adjustment of the size currently being proposed by the national government, and which would come into effect in 2022. Excess in productive capacity is now expected to be lower than estimated in January but continues to be significant and affected by high levels of uncertainty, as reflected in the wide forecast intervals. The possibility of new waves of the virus (of uncertain intensity and duration) represents a significant downward risk to projected GDP growth, and is signaled by the lower limits of the ranges provided in this report. Inflation (1.51%) and inflation excluding food and regulated items (0.94%) declined in March compared to December, continuing below the 3% target. The decline in inflation in this period was below projections, explained in large part by unanticipated increases in the costs of certain foods (3.92%) and regulated items (1.52%). An increase in international food and shipping prices, increased foreign demand for beef, and specific upward pressures on perishable food supplies appear to explain a lower-than-expected deceleration in the consumer price index (CPI) for foods. An unexpected increase in regulated items prices came amid unanticipated increases in international fuel prices, on some utilities rates, and for regulated education prices. The decline in annual inflation excluding food and regulated items between December and March was in line with projections from January, though this included downward pressure from a significant reduction in telecommunications rates due to the imminent entry of a new operator. When controlling for the effects of this relative price change, inflation excluding food and regulated items exceeds levels forecast in the previous report. Within this indicator of core inflation, the CPI for goods (1.05%) accelerated due to a reversion of the effects of the VAT-free day in November, which was largely accounted for in February, and possibly by the transmission of a recent depreciation of the peso on domestic prices for certain items (electric and household appliances). For their part, services prices decelerated and showed the lowest rate of annual growth (0.89%) among the large consumer baskets in the CPI. Within the services basket, the annual change in rental prices continued to decline, while those services that continue to experience the most significant restrictions on returning to normal operations (tourism, cinemas, nightlife, etc.) continued to register significant price declines. As previously mentioned, telephone rates also fell significantly due to increased competition in the market. Total inflation is expected to continue to be affected by ample excesses in productive capacity for the remainder of 2021 and 2022, though less so than projected in January. As a result, convergence to the inflation target is now expected to be somewhat faster than estimated in the previous report, assuming the absence of significant additional outbreaks of COVID-19. The technical staff’s year-end inflation projections for 2021 and 2022 have increased, suggesting figures around 3% due largely to variation in food and regulated items prices. The projection for inflation excluding food and regulated items also increased, but remains below 3%. Price relief measures on indirect taxes implemented in 2020 are expected to lapse in the second quarter of 2021, generating a one-off effect on prices and temporarily affecting inflation excluding food and regulated items. However, indexation to low levels of past inflation, weak demand, and ample excess productive capacity are expected to keep core inflation below the target, near 2.3% at the end of 2021 (previously 2.1%). The reversion in 2021 of the effects of some price relief measures on utility rates from 2020 should lead to an increase in the CPI for regulated items in the second half of this year. Annual price changes are now expected to be higher than estimated in the January report due to an increased expected path for fuel prices and unanticipated increases in regulated education prices. The projection for the CPI for foods has increased compared to the previous report, taking into account certain factors that were not anticipated in January (a less favorable agricultural cycle, increased pressure from international prices, and transport costs). Given the above, year-end annual inflation for 2021 and 2022 is now expected to be 3% and 2.8%, respectively, which would be above projections from January (2.3% and 2,7%). For its part, expected inflation based on analyst surveys suggests year-end inflation in 2021 and 2022 of 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. There remains significant uncertainty surrounding the inflation forecasts included in this report due to several factors: 1) the evolution of the pandemic; 2) the difficulty in evaluating the size and persistence of excess productive capacity; 3) the timing and manner in which price relief measures will lapse; and 4) the future behavior of food prices. Projected 2021 growth in foreign demand (4.4% to 5.2%) and the supposed average oil price (USD 53 to USD 61 per Brent benchmark barrel) were both revised upward. An increase in long-term international interest rates has been reflected in a depreciation of the peso and could result in relatively tighter external financial conditions for emerging market economies, including Colombia. Average growth among Colombia’s trade partners was greater than expected in the fourth quarter of 2020. This, together with a sizable fiscal stimulus approved in the United States and the onset of a massive global vaccination campaign, largely explains the projected increase in foreign demand growth in 2021. The resilience of the goods market in the face of global crisis and an expected normalization in international trade are additional factors. These considerations and the expected continuation of a gradual reduction of mobility restrictions abroad suggest that Colombia’s trade partners could grow on average by 5.2% in 2021 and around 3.4% in 2022. The improved prospects for global economic growth have led to an increase in current and expected oil prices. Production interruptions due to a heavy winter, reduced inventories, and increased supply restrictions instituted by producing countries have also contributed to the increase. Meanwhile, market forecasts and recent Federal Reserve pronouncements suggest that the benchmark interest rate in the U.S. will remain stable for the next two years. Nevertheless, a significant increase in public spending in the country has fostered expectations for greater growth and inflation, as well as increased uncertainty over the moment in which a normalization of monetary policy might begin. This has been reflected in an increase in long-term interest rates. In this context, emerging market economies in the region, including Colombia, have registered increases in sovereign risk premiums and long-term domestic interest rates, and a depreciation of local currencies against the dollar. Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in several of these economies; limits on vaccine supply and the slow pace of immunization campaigns in some countries; a significant increase in public debt; and tensions between the United States and China, among other factors, all add to a high level of uncertainty surrounding interest rate spreads, external financing conditions, and the future performance of risk premiums. The impact that this environment could have on the exchange rate and on domestic financing conditions represent risks to the macroeconomic and monetary policy forecasts. Domestic financial conditions continue to favor recovery in economic activity. The transmission of reductions to the policy interest rate on credit rates has been significant. The banking portfolio continues to recover amid circumstances that have affected both the supply and demand for loans, and in which some credit risks have materialized. Preferential and ordinary commercial interest rates have fallen to a similar degree as the benchmark interest rate. As is generally the case, this transmission has come at a slower pace for consumer credit rates, and has been further delayed in the case of mortgage rates. Commercial credit levels stabilized above pre-pandemic levels in March, following an increase resulting from significant liquidity requirements for businesses in the second quarter of 2020. The consumer credit portfolio continued to recover and has now surpassed February 2020 levels, though overall growth in the portfolio remains low. At the same time, portfolio projections and default indicators have increased, and credit establishment earnings have come down. Despite this, credit disbursements continue to recover and solvency indicators remain well above regulatory minimums. 1.2 Monetary policy decision In its meetings in March and April the BDBR left the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.75%.

This report consists of two volumes. Volume I examines whether, and how, the core goals of public expenditure management, i.e., balanced fiscal aggregates, resource allocations to strategic sectors, and equity and microeconomic efficiency of public spending are met in Ecuador. Volume II presents sector studies on fiscal sustainability, the fiscal rules, education, health, pensions, the results of a national teachers tracking survey, water and sanitation, electricity, telecommunications and oil.

This report maps the African landscape of Open Science – with a focus on Open Data as a sub-set of Open Science. Data to inform the landscape study were collected through a variety of methods, including surveys, desk research, engagement with a community of practice, networking with stakeholders, participation in conferences, case study presentations, and workshops hosted. Although the majority of African countries (35 of 54) demonstrates commitment to science through its investment in research and development (R&D), academies of science, ministries of science and technology, policies, recognition of research, and participation in the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI), the following countries demonstrate the highest commitment and political willingness to invest in science: Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. In addition to existing policies in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), the following countries have made progress towards Open Data policies: Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa and Uganda. Only two African countries (Kenya and South Africa) at this stage contribute 0.8% of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to R&D (Research and Development), which is the closest to the AU’s (African Union’s) suggested 1%. Countries such as Lesotho and Madagascar ranked as 0%, while the R&D expenditure for 24 African countries is unknown. In addition to this, science globally has become fully dependent on stable ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) infrastructure, which includes connectivity/bandwidth, high performance computing facilities and data services. This is especially applicable since countries globally are finding themselves in the midst of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), which is not only “about” data, but which “is” data. According to an article1 by Alan Marcus (2015) (Senior Director, Head of Information Technology and Telecommunications Industries, World Economic Forum), “At its core, data represents a post-industrial opportunity. Its uses have unprecedented complexity, velocity and global reach. As digital communications become ubiquitous, data will rule in a world where nearly everyone and everything is connected in real time. That will require a highly reliable, secure and available infrastructure at its core, and innovation at the edge.” Every industry is affected as part of this revolution – also science. An important component of the digital transformation is “trust” – people must be able to trust that governments and all other industries (including the science sector), adequately handle and protect their data. This requires accountability on a global level, and digital industries must embrace the change and go for a higher standard of protection. “This will reassure consumers and citizens, benefitting the whole digital economy”, says Marcus. A stable and secure information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure – currently provided by the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) – is key to advance collaboration in science. The AfricaConnect2 project (AfricaConnect (2012–2014) and AfricaConnect2 (2016–2018)) through establishing connectivity between National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), is planning to roll out AfricaConnect3 by the end of 2019. The concern however is that selected African governments (with the exception of a few countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia and others) have low awareness of the impact the Internet has today on all societal levels, how much ICT (and the 4th Industrial Revolution) have affected research, and the added value an NREN can bring to higher education and research in addressing the respective needs, which is far more complex than simply providing connectivity. Apart from more commitment and investment in R&D, African governments – to become and remain part of the 4th Industrial Revolution – have no option other than to acknowledge and commit to the role NRENs play in advancing science towards addressing the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals). For successful collaboration and direction, it is fundamental that policies within one country are aligned with one another. Alignment on continental level is crucial for the future Pan-African African Open Science Platform to be successful. Both the HIPSSA ((Harmonization of ICT Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa)3 project and WATRA (the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly)4, have made progress towards the regulation of the telecom sector, and in particular of bottlenecks which curb the development of competition among ISPs. A study under HIPSSA identified potential bottlenecks in access at an affordable price to the international capacity of submarine cables and suggested means and tools used by regulators to remedy them. Work on the recommended measures and making them operational continues in collaboration with WATRA. In addition to sufficient bandwidth and connectivity, high-performance computing facilities and services in support of data sharing are also required. The South African National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System5 (NICIS) has made great progress in planning and setting up a cyberinfrastructure ecosystem in support of collaborative science and data sharing. The regional Southern African Development Community6 (SADC) Cyber-infrastructure Framework provides a valuable roadmap towards high-speed Internet, developing human capacity and skills in ICT technologies, high- performance computing and more. The following countries have been identified as having high-performance computing facilities, some as a result of the Square Kilometre Array7 (SKA) partnership: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia, and Zambia. More and more NRENs – especially the Level 6 NRENs 8 (Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and recently Zambia) – are exploring offering additional services; also in support of data sharing and transfer. The following NRENs already allow for running data-intensive applications and sharing of high-end computing assets, bio-modelling and computation on high-performance/ supercomputers: KENET (Kenya), TENET (South Africa), RENU (Uganda), ZAMREN (Zambia), EUN (Egypt) and ARN (Algeria). Fifteen higher education training institutions from eight African countries (Botswana, Benin, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, and Tanzania) have been identified as offering formal courses on data science. In addition to formal degrees, a number of international short courses have been developed and free international online courses are also available as an option to build capacity and integrate as part of curricula. The small number of higher education or research intensive institutions offering data science is however insufficient, and there is a desperate need for more training in data science. The CODATA-RDA Schools of Research Data Science aim at addressing the continental need for foundational data skills across all disciplines, along with training conducted by The Carpentries 9 programme (specifically Data Carpentry 10 ). Thus far, CODATA-RDA schools in collaboration with AOSP, integrating content from Data Carpentry, were presented in Rwanda (in 2018), and during17-29 June 2019, in Ethiopia. Awareness regarding Open Science (including Open Data) is evident through the 12 Open Science-related Open Access/Open Data/Open Science declarations and agreements endorsed or signed by African governments; 200 Open Access journals from Africa registered on the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ); 174 Open Access institutional research repositories registered on openDOAR (Directory of Open Access Repositories); 33 Open Access/Open Science policies registered on ROARMAP (Registry of Open Access Repository Mandates and Policies); 24 data repositories registered with the Registry of Data Repositories (re3data.org) (although the pilot project identified 66 research data repositories); and one data repository assigned the CoreTrustSeal. Although this is a start, far more needs to be done to align African data curation and research practices with global standards. Funding to conduct research remains a challenge. African researchers mostly fund their own research, and there are little incentives for them to make their research and accompanying data sets openly accessible. Funding and peer recognition, along with an enabling research environment conducive for research, are regarded as major incentives. The landscape report concludes with a number of concerns towards sharing research data openly, as well as challenges in terms of Open Data policy, ICT infrastructure supportive of data sharing, capacity building, lack of skills, and the need for incentives. Although great progress has been made in terms of Open Science and Open Data practices, more awareness needs to be created and further advocacy efforts are required for buy-in from African governments. A federated African Open Science Platform (AOSP) will not only encourage more collaboration among researchers in addressing the SDGs, but it will also benefit the many stakeholders identified as part of the pilot phase. The time is now, for governments in Africa, to acknowledge the important role of science in general, but specifically Open Science and Open Data, through developing and aligning the relevant policies, investing in an ICT infrastructure conducive for data sharing through committing funding to making NRENs financially sustainable, incentivising open research practices by scientists, and creating opportunities for more scientists and stakeholders across all disciplines to be trained in data management.