5. Information and Communication       Lithuanian National Renewable Energy Information and Communication System (ICS) must be introduced as integral part of the World Wide International Renewable Energy Information and Communication System which is developing under the World Solar Program 1996-2005. Using modern technologies it is possible to bring together the main actors on the renewables into a unified information and communication environment which will support an effective exchange of information on the national and international level. The aim of the national ICS is building awareness among the public domain of the potential of renewable energy activities by providing the necessary information, as well as professional know-how and technology transfer with regard to renewable energy technologies and systems. Project for developing National ICS should: promote regional, national and international co-operation in the field of renewable energies; achieve, through increased pooling, a better utilization of human, material and financial resources.      The main requirements for the Lithuania ICS are as follow: effective coordination of national activities on renewables, dissemination of information, effective and low cost communication for all actors on renewables, ability to publish results and analyses also using modern publishing technologies. ICS Renewable Energy Information and Communication Network      As the backbone of the National ICS Renewable Energy Information and Communication Network must be introduced. Availability of unrestricted information and its easiest of communication should be the main objectives for the Network. The main active users and organizations of the Network can be: universities and other training and education facilities, research centers, regional information and consulting centers, national governmental organizations and decision-makers, end users in industry and commercial structures, public domain.       Development of the Network must be based on the integration in to the unified Web based informational environment of the existing infrastructures of all actors in the Network. Every organization integrated within it will provide the Network with unique and helpful information first of all for the public domain. On the other hand Network infrastructure must be additionally used as communication system for decision-makers and research and industrial professionals, also for the professional know-how and technology transfer with regard to renewable energy technologies and systems. For this Web based Intranet solutions can be introduced. Information and consulting centers      An important and new for Lithuania component in the National ICS should be the creation of regional information and consulting centers on renewables with facilities for producing materials and disseminating information on solar and other renewable energies (booklets, videos, teaching materials, etc.). These centers must work in close collaboration with authorities on the municipality level and use knowledge and skills of the regional high education facilities and/or research centers were available. Dissemination of information      Information on the potential of renewable energies, their technologies and their applications, for the benefit of all actors concerned - decision-makers, investors, industrialists, civil servants, end users, etc. - is extremely important to create a favorable climate for the enhanced exploitation of these energies. Building awareness on renewables by dissemination of information by using traditional forms first of all must be targeted on the public domain ant decision-makers. Activities for dissemination of information must be held through the information and consulting centers in collaboration with research and education organizations. For this following actions are foreseen: Development and broadcasting of reports and information in co-operation with television stations. Organization of colloquia, seminars, workshops for decision-makers in public administrations, as well as private enterprises, in order to inform them about the quality and performance of the various applications. Introducing of a newsletter devoted to the problems on the use of the renewable energy applications. Preparation of audio-visual pedagogical materials on renewable energy applications, underlining their social and economic impact. Publication, in the main magazines, of popularizing articles on the advantages of renewable energies and their social, economic and environmental impacts. Integration with education system       It should be emphasized that no strategy, no programme and no project can be successful if they have no provision for training the men and women who have to implement them. Thus, education and training are essential components of any developmental effort. Therefore National ICS must be fully exploited by means of education system. By using modern technologies it is foreseen to develop distance learning packages integrated in to the National ICS to create possibilities for public domain for education background on renewables. As main contact point for UNESCO education related activities and flow of information National branch of "Open Institute" can be introduced. "Open Institute"       The potential of modern communications technology must be fully utilized for the setting up of a programme for dissemination of the UNESCO educational information on renewables (videocassettes, films, teleconferences, distance learning courses, documentation on various electronic supports, etc.). The activities of the Institute must cover actions for the supporting national educational and research organizations with UNESCO informational materials of educational value.       Among the activities to be undertaken by the Institute, the following can be listed : preparation of reference curricula for training of high and middle-level technicians, including special model training programmes for maintenance technicians; adaptation of developed by UNESCO and preparation of new learning packages oriented to the local situation (in collaboration with staff of the national high education environment) covering the various kinds of renewable energies; development and dissemination of educational materials for the public first of all using Renewable Energy Information and Communication Network; integration by means of the Renewable Energy Information and Communication Network existing centers and universities linked with the Open Institute that offer training and/or deliver degrees in renewable energy; promote training opportunities for engineers and technicians by introducing UNESCO Renewable Energy Engineering Learning Package specifically devised for advanced undergraduates and postgraduate students. promote with the regional information and consulting centers the introduction of the principles of renewable energy exploitation in secondary school curricula, and advise on the preparation of relevant documentation; assist national education systems in setting up a higher education programme leading to a master's degree in renewable energies; initially and on an experimental basis universities linked with the Open Institute might be chosen to offer this type of training.

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