PERii Nicaragua Launch

Official Launch of PERii Nicaragua
August 12

The official launch of PERii Nicaragua was held in Managua on 12 August 2008.  In addition to the local higher educational and research communities represented at the event, members of regional PERii Coordination teams from Cuba and Honduras were in attendance. The Directors opening welcome and introduction was followed by presentations from local PERii Coordinator, Ruth Velia Gomez and INASP Director of Programmes, Sara Gwynn.

Presentations included a background of the project, recounting the initiation in 2006 when, following discussions with representatives of the Universidad Nacional Agraria (UNA), Consejo Nacional de Universidades (CNU) identified a need to support and enhance access to research information within the Nicaraguan University system. Involvement of INASP and the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) was then requested and, following planning meetings, development of a project plan entitled Strengthening access to and production of research information within the Nicaraguan research and university system, was agreed.  Implementation, led by PERii Country Coordinator Ruth Velia Gomez, commenced in April this year and, funded by Sida, will run until June 2011.

Participants expressed both interest and appreciation for the opportunity to participate in this project which it is hoped will be sustained long after the initial project period.

The following are links to locally reported articles on the launch as well as the UNA webpage containing further details on PERii in Nicaragua:

http://www.una.edu.ni/PERI/index.html

http://www.lajornadanet.com/diario/archivo/2008/agosto/133.html

http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2008/agosto/13/noticias/nacionales/277244.shtml