Background
Introduction
Cooperation between the World Bank and Chulalongkorn University started
from the Bank's realization of Chulalongkorn University's good academic
standing, technological expertise and knowledge, and high potentials as
an efficient center of knowledge. As a result, meetings were held
between the Presidents of the World Bank and of Chulalongkorn
University in January 1998, and between World Bank officials in
Thailand and the university's administrators in September 1998 on the
terms of cooperation between the two institutions. This agreement
states that the World Bank and Chulalongkorn University will cooperate
in the WB-CU Knowledge Management Project. The formal agreement signing
for the project was held on July 22, 1999 and the Center of Academic
Resources (CAR) was selected to represent Chulalongkorn University in
developing this project.
CU-GDLN: Global Learning Network
From the initial projects between the World Bank and Chulalongkorn
University, which were made possible through donations, further
cooperation has ensued to develop another university project,
Chulalongkorn University-Global Development Learning Network (CU-GDLN).
The World Bank established the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN)
in 1997. GDLN is an offshoot of the World Bank Learning Network (WBLN),
which links together World Bank offices worldwide. The learning
programs are conducted between offices, clients and related parties.
Because of its initial success, the World Bank decided to expand the
network to include other organizations, particularly those involved in
education.
GDLN is a telecommunications network that links together the World
Bank's Distance Learning Centers (DLCs), which are found in different
cities located around the world. GDLN has made possible through the
cooperation of many different organizations, government, private sectors and
NGOs to develop a multichannel network using the most advanced
technology. This serves as a tool to reduce the so-called knowledge gap
and to promote continuous dialogues between those who possess knowledge,
provides opportunity for people to improve themselves and contributes
to development. Distance learning is a communication channel that
bypasses obstacles caused by time or distance restraints as well as
language. It can provide interactive learning through formats of
videoconferencing and the Internet for the greatest advantage, or as
the GDLN slogan states, "Linking the World Through Learning".
From the year 2000 until now, there are approximately 120 DLCs in the
network including those in 14 Asia Pacific countries, namely Thailand,
Singapore, China, Japan, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Timor-Leste,
Mongolia, Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and
Cambodia.
The DLC in Thailand is officially known as Chulalongkorn
University-Global Development Learning Network (CU-GDLN). It is the
first DLC in the Asia-Pacific region and had its soft launch in
February 2000. Then along with the one in Singapore, they are the first
two DLCs in the region, being officially launched on June 21, 2000. It
is also among the first 15 DLCs that the World Bank supported to
establish worldwide. CU-GDLN received funds from the loan project of
the University of Science and Engineering Education Project (USEEP), a
project under the supervision of the Ministry of University Affairs
that the World Bank has been supporting since 1994. The Ministry
established an information network (UniNet)
to support development in university education. It serves as a highway
that links 24 state universities nationwide together as well as to
foreign databases. Meanwhile, CU-GDLN was established as part of the
Center of Academic Resources' network, CARNET, a sub network of
Chulalongkorn University's network or CUNET, which is linked to UniNet.
Thus, it not only serves the learning requirements of the university
community, but also virtually outreaches every region in Thailand. As
it is also linked to the World Bank's GDLN, it is thus linked to other
DLCs in many countries simultaneously.
© Copyright 2009 CU-GDLN
