Vendor technicians, accompanied by NUC and outside partners, will train 20 technicians drawn from the NUC and the member universities.  This training will begin with trainees being supplied advance material and quizzes on CD-ROM.  After a week of on-site training in Abuja, the trainees will install two relatively close satellite sites accompanied by the vendor's technicians.  Vendor's technicians will be contracted to provide on-line support for the remaining installations.

University and NUC installers will be trained in:

• installation of satellite ground stations and routers
• monitoring and maintenance of the satellite equipment
• installation and maintenance of dial up equipment (modems and digiboards)
• interfacing with satellite vendor's technical support staff as well as other NUC and university technicians

Trainees will receive an interim certificate after assisting in the installation of two ground stations.  They will receive a full certificate after they have acted as one of three lead installers in the installation of a ground station.  The certificate must be maintained (renewed) by attending an annual refresher course.  New complete training courses will be mounted by the NUC whenever the pool of trained installers falls below a set minimum.

Training Materials

• One set of the primary tools for installing and calibrating satellite. (To be kept at NUC for use by all participants.)
• A set of necessary tools to each participating university
• Manuals, diagrams, and CD-ROM documentation for installers

Administration and Management
of Access Facilities and Technology

The NUC will provide a person to act as the clearinghouse for technology maintenance and facilities scheduling.  This person will be responsible for keeping spare parts on hand, dispatching technicians, and reserving stations at regional access points.