Policy and Planning

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Program Title Techno Tour
Type of Program Policy and Planning
Training Modality An annual intensive two-week workshop at the University of Iowa for 10-20 selected administrators. Each university will have the opportunity to send two participants to each year's Techno Tour, for a total of six participants over three years. Under the proposal, costs are partially funded for these six attendees. Universities may send additional participants at their own cost.
Description This two-week conference at the University of Iowa is designed for those who have participated in the WiderNet Project’s Decision Makers Workshop and have been identified by their university as playing a significant role in the development of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for their campus. The Techno Tour in Iowa is meant to expose these problem-solving individuals to the possiblities in ICT. 

The Techno Tour includes

  • Video-conferences with internationally-recognized experts

  • Presentations by University of Iowa ICT professionals

  • Visits to cutting-edge facilities and University of Iowa IT departments

  • Hands-on training with contemporary technologies

  • One-on-one meetings with peers at other Iowa colleges. 
Background Information

In the past, the tour has proven to be an invigorating and rewarding experience. In a survey of participants, the Techno Tour received a very high satisfaction rating of 9.4 on a scale of 1 to 10.

“I've learned so much... The training has opened my eyes to endless possibilities. So many issues have now been raised that will definitely impact the direction my university will go in fulfilling its mission.”

(WiderNet Techno Tour 2002 participant)
“The WiderNet Project Techno Tour is highly commendable and in my assessment has achieved more than what it had been planned for.  It is a big success and I congratulate the organizers...”

(WiderNet Techno Tour 2002 participant)