To empower user institutions in the sectors of public concern in small countries (SCs), in particular island states, and to consolidate their demand for national and international telematics services, is the theme of a workshop which the National Commission for Information Technology (NCIT) of Malta and UNESCO organize in Malta from 17-19 March 1999. The discussion at the Workshop will provide additional examples, case studies and best practices to improve and enhance a training module on "Co-operation Among Users of Internet-based Services in Small Countries. This module aims to assist user institutions to better define their requirements regarding related training activities, to improve their capabilities to develop appropriate applications and local access infrastructures, and to strengthen their negotiating power with public authorities and private sector concerns, particularly in the telecommunication area. The information or knowledge society, in which telematics services plays a vital role, affects every person in the world. No country can afford to ignore its effects, but even the most highly industrialized countries have yet to fully prepare for its impact. Certain fundamental aspects have emerged over the past five years (since the public adoption of the Internet) which call for the attention of governments and sectors of public concern if the benefits of the information society are to be realized by all members of that society. These include the promulgation of public policies for the creation of national and international information infrastructures and policies for the provision of access to these infrastructures (tariffs, technologies, services). This module aims to arm those in sectors of public concern (educators, information scientists, scientists and the public media) with practical and feasible measures which need to be put in place in all countries. These measures, basic policies and practices, are aimed at optimizing the potential of public and private financing. This module is targeted toward experts working in sectors of public concern. Their role is as users of telematics. They need to be empowered to influence governments to create the necessary policies, incentives and practices to make telematics services readily available and to be empowered with the knowledge to influence the private and public sector providers of such services. With this in mind, the UNESCO/NCIT Workshop in Malta has two objectives: to elaborate and put at the disposal of small countries, in particular island states, a training package addressing users and offering methods and examples for the development of user co-operation; to initiate concrete arrangements for the establishment of user consortia. Draft working document of the meeting (in RTF) See Also: UNESCO Information Policies and Strategies    Contact   John A. Gilbert and Associates, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada                 Pal Vasarhelyi, UNESCO, Information and Informatics Division