Culture and Education in Culture Networks

Bonn 7.7.97

Minister of National Planning and Coordination, Bendik Rugaas, Norway

1. General introduction

In the Introduction to the Theme Paper it has been signalled very clearly how the new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) offer «enormous scope of diversity» (p.7). The potential use of new electronic networks has a global and a local dimension.

Both modes of usage have already been amply demonstrated, also in a small country like Norway. You may easily figure out the far-reaching effects of ICT in our country - today and in the future - where some 4.5 million inhabitants, live upon a very narrow stretch of land - and where the distance from south to north equals the distance from the south of Norway to some point above Rome! Maybe that is part of the reason that more than ¼ of the Norwegians have access to the Internet, either at work or at home.

It has been a national priority to be at the forefront in the use of the new technologies and to have a technically up-to-date telecommunication network. During this year it will become fully digital and hence digital connection is a universal service in Norway. And from 1 January 1998 the final step will be taken to open for full competition in telecommunications.

Through ages it has been of vital importance to be able to communicate efficiently, domestically and internationally. By careful planning we have been able to maintain a considerable degree of regionally scattered settlement, which is considered to be of paramount importance in Norway - for both political, industrial, commercial and not the least - cultural - reasons.

Today, we are in the process of implementing a national strategy for ICT development and usage, covering all main aspects of societal uses of the new technologies. In carrying out this national undertaking, it has been most encouraging to find how the new technologies have great potentials of contributing to a greater societal - and, hopefully, also social - cohesion in our society, providing better access to information and more equal opportunities for all.

2. Culture Net

I want to focus on the implications the Information and Communication Technology has on culture and education.

I agree with the core principle that we must preserve the cultural richness and diversity of the European countries. We should take advantage of it as a primary asset - also for international trade and communication.

A fascinating new field of network-related cultural expressions and products is now developing. In Norway, we can witness how the converging technologies and the Internet stimulate work in local and regional institutions.

Moreover, the new technology fuel a general drive to seek new partnership in order to create new cultural products. The use of multimedia contributes to unlocking vast resources that are kept in the institutions.

Given the multitude of cultural expressions and sources, it is a challenge to supply interested parties with easy ways to navigate towards the kind of information and entertainment they want.

Therefore the idea to create a Culture Net has developed in many countries as national «front doors» leading to various «rooms» of cultural expressions, products and participatory activities. All the Nordic countries are presently preparing their Culture Nets. At Nordic ministerial level it has been decided to link together the national cultural resources in a Nordic Culture Net. The same ambition could be applied to a wider international community.

Through the global information networks we realise common traditions, cultural sources and ideas spanning the world. In this sense, work in the electronic cultural field, will foster awareness and knowledge of cultures of other nations and create fertile conditions for global unity and co-operation.

3. Education

One important objective of my Government is that all pupils in Norwegian schools shall become able and personal ICT users. To achieve this, we have to establish new teaching methods. We must integrate the use of networked material and other information resources in all fields and at all levels of the education system. Because of the scattered settlement of our country, we see the need for developing distance education. The global information networks will be one of the basic enabling technologies when implementing life long learning programmes.

These developments have already started: We have established a Norwegian School Net. Schools are already using the Internet as an important source of information, for communication and international collaboration. Many schools even produce content themselves. Our universities and colleges have long traditions for using the Internet as a tool through the Norwegian Uninett, linked to the Nordic NordUnet

Many efforts within the extended European co-operation on education could benefit from and give considerable contributions to the cultural field. There should be close connections between activities related to the national European Culture Nets and development of educational resources on the Net.

4. An information society for all

We all want our users to benefit personally from the new electronic cultural products and services and become active participants in society rather than passive consumers. How do we best engage all ages, all groups in meaningful uses of the global networks?

The libraries have a crucial role to play in the information society to ensure equal opportunities for all. The public libraries can give access to electronic networks for those who do not have such possibilities, neither at home nor at work, creating a local community for guidance and use of the Net.

The precondition, however, is that the libraries manage to reshape their services and accommodate themselves to the age of the global information society. To me, it seems that libraries in most European countries are well under way in defining and positioning themselves for their new roles in society.

In order to better come to grips with questions like these, I earlier this year commissioned two advisory groups on the matter. Some people were somewhat surprised by the primary selection criterion: The members of one group is under the age of 25 while the other group consist of elderly people over the age of 65. Those two groups have unique perspectives, see different challenges and opportunities, and may tell us about the changes which may come and how to overcome obstacles today locking out groups of potential users. These groups use the net in their work, the younger assisting the elder. In a year they will present their suggestions and give their advice on what they think should be the next steps in the Norwegian information society.

In all our efforts to improve the access to knowledge, adventure and entertainment, we should not forget the users with special needs, e.g. the visually or hearing impaired.. The rapid growth of the use of graphics and visual presentations in products and services may make it difficult for visually impaired users to benefit from new, multimedia based services. Universal design principles should be applied, taking into account the needs of various user groups.. In this way, the «special» groups are in effect normal users, the difference being only that they are prescribing more exacting requirements for the functionality of the information systems of the future - the information systemes that we all need!

5. Conclusion

The vision of a combined and integrated Culture Net and Education Net can become our guiding star. An integrated Culture and Education Net will be a fertile combination for schools, institutions, private sectors and individuals, creating informed, confident, and empowered users in the emerging global information society.