TEMPUS Project

The International Centre for Information Management Systems and Services (ICIMSS) has been the coordinator and contractor for the TEMPUS 13105 project, carried out in 1998-2000. The project was being administered in cooperation with the City Council, Toruń (Poland), the City Council, Jerez (Spain), the University of Sheffield (UK), and University College Dublin (Ireland).

The objective of the project was the training of civil servants on how to use the latest information technology to its full potential. In order to achieve this goal, two distance learning courses have been prepared: Internet Information Resources, and European Information Policy. Representatives of the City Council of Torun also had the opportunity to acquaint themselves practically with functioning chosen public office agencies in Great Britain and Ireland. Also, the functioning of the information system implemented by the City Council in Jerez, Spain, has been demonstrated. The courses were preceded by a week-long study session in ICIMSS' computer laboratory, during which the participants learned about electronic communication (setting up e-mail personal accounts and discussion lists, signing up for discussion lists), and the usefulness of the Internet in civil servants? work. The programme offered information on search engines available, their advantages and disadvantages, and most importantly, on methods and strategies of information retrieval.

Furthermore, the course participants were offered guidance on how to apply for European Union grants. For course objectives Prof. Michael Casey has prepared a scientific publication, Casey ,,Trans-European Information Policies. Challenges and Perspectives for Public Administrations". The course prepared civil servants to function in the united Europe.