In response to a request from the Deputy Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and the Chief Information Officer, Community Services Cluster, this is an outline of the significant contribution that Contact North/Contact Nord realistically can and will make, in both English and French, at both the regional and provincial levels, to the development of a comprehensive vision and strategy for technology in learning. This submission is in the context of the components and areas of action for Ontario (distribution, portal, standards, production, training, resources) identified at the January 7, 2002 meeting of the working group.

Regional Level: A Strong Regional Cluster Of Innovation

1. Expansion of its distance delivery Technology Network of 145 Access Centres in 100 communities.

2. Leveraging of its current education Network into a training Network.

3. Transformation of its Distance Education & Training Access Centres into unique one-stop shopping, lifelong learning centres.

Provincial Level: Excellence in Videoconferencing, Next Generation Internet Network, Research in e-Learning

1. Expansion of its Ontario Centre for Excellence in Videoconferencing.

2. Support to the implementation of a next generation Internet network.

3. Expansion of its e-Learning research program.

Contact North/Contact Nord's next steps will include dynamic, parallel, and equal strategic partnerships with:

a. Leading private sector technology providers;

b. Other key public service providers to Ontario's colleges and universities, including the Bibliocentre, Committee of Vice-Presidents, Academic, Association of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology of Ontario (ACAATO), Ontario Learn, Office for Partnership for Advanced Skills (OPAS), and TVOntario.

This submission will outline the specifics of how Contact North/Contact Nord will make a significant contribution to each of these six important areas.

1. All joint initiatives must focus on concrete projects that are either cost neutral or bring additional revenues to Contact North/Contact Nord.

2. All initiatives will result in clear, direct or indirect benefits, in a relatively short period of time, for Contact North/Contact Nord's stakeholders - Northern Ontario's colleges, universities, school boards, and the residents in small and remote Northern Ontario areas that they serve.

3. All projects are within Contact North/Contact Nord's mandate and purview.

Contact us at 1-800-561-2222

Northeast Regional Coordinating Centre
410 Falconbridge Road, Unit 1
Sudbury, Ontario P3A 4S4
Phone: 705-560-2710
Fax: 705-525-0136

Northwest Regional Coordinating Centre
1139 Alloy Drive, Suite 104
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6M8
Phone: 807-344-1616
Fax: 807-344-2390