PillarA TrainingMaterials

Creating the content for Pillar A should be understood as a joint learning process and will be one of the core programme activities. Aim of this line of action is to host an inclusive content creation process, involving regional experts, in order to build an expert community and build local ownership for the programme.

Preparation

• An information base on African FOSS business models, possible partners and beneficiaries is being prepared by the programme management team.
• Research of additional case studies of African FOSS business models. This will involve expert interviews.
• Call for experts in curriculum and course content development on the subjects listed below under „main topics“
• Identification and sub-contracting of a community of content developers – this should include other content or training providers, course editors SME representatives, and representatives of economic associations and international partners.
• Identification of a selection of suitable FOSS business models to be covered by the courses
• Validation of the content developed for SME by involving business persons in the content creation community
• Specification of expected learning outcomes
• Specification of indicators in the programme plan for monitoring purposes

Content Creation

• Kick-Start of the content creation phase in a workshop bringing together the community of content developers, Here:
• Development of an over-all concept for the FOSS Business Models curriculum
• Including a concept didactic design of the training materials : In general the courses and modules should take a hands-on approach, involving as many practical and real-case elements as possible, see also InWEnt didactical principles [1]
• Set up of a collaborative working process (using OS-facilitated exchange mechanisms, Wiki etc) involving the „Content Community“ to create the course content. This will create the basis for participatory content production

• Definition of adapted formats of the learning material: all material should be made available as Open Educational Resource in open and exchangeable formats (this should include possibility to exchange the material with SCORM-compatible platforms such as InWEnt's global campus ([2]) and the SELF-platform [3] and export of the online material as an offline publication)
• Allowing for national localizations of materials (particularly legal, economic and language issues)

Main Topics

Main topic of the trainings will be different FOSS business models applicable to the African context. Herein, the following issues will be addressed:

FOSS Business

• FOSS Business Models in Africa and elsewhere, financial sustainability, Return on Investment ..
• Market analysis, identifying markets
• Legal and economic contexts, (Licensing issues)
• FOSS market in Africa – challenges + opportunities (Assessing the FOSS business situation + creative idea development of strategies how to improve the business climate for FOSS)
• Public procurement,
• Attracting + maintaining investments + clients,
• Organizing business networks,
• Working with FOSS business associations

Open Source Strategies: different licences, concepts for FOSS, OER, CC, open business, open innovation

Communicating FOSS

• Creating a market, advocacy strategies, arguments pro/contra FOSS, role of government and large telecom companies as clients, creating a FOSS brand in Africa, understanding the user perspective
• Communicating with clients, designing contracts
• National/international networking, cooperation/coopetition
• FOSS-Advocacy

FOSS Training Skills

• FOSS training as a business model
• How to organize follow up trainings
• Blended learning
• How to develop and work with OER
• Community building and networking, and learning about national FOSS community

Furthermore, associated topics are to be included in the course content:

• Writing business plans
• General business skills: integrate available materials, plus soft skills
• Marketing
• Relevant soft skills: general problem solving skills, creativity skills

Back to Pillar A Overview