Reverse Linkage

108 REVERSE LINKAGE programmes have been held in other countries such as Korea, Indonesia, India, Iran, Kenya, Myanmar, Sudan, Nigeria, Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago, Kuwait, Egypt, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The programmes are conducted on a cost sharing basis in which ISTIC or the host country bears the local cost such as fees, food and accommodation, while participants pay for their travel expenses. ISTIC gives priority to applications from Least Developed Countries (LDC) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). ISTIC is fortunate that through its strategic partnerships with ISESCO and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), participation from those organizations’ member states has been made possible. IsDB gives annual financial support for programmes under STI policy for development, technopre- neurship and women in STI. This financial assistance had benefited 113 participants using 32 international experts from 27 IsDB member countries. In line with UNESCO’s emphasis on gender equality and women’s empowerment, ISTIC ensures that women are well represented in its programmes. In collaboration with The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) based in Italy, ISTIC organises a joint competi- tion for innovation in science and technology in developing countries among participants of the technopreneurship training programmes. Held on alternate years, the compe- tition involves the collection of case study summaries on how innovations in science and technology have impacted the Global South. Submissions are assessed after which 20 candidates are invited to prepare full length reports detail- ing their experiences. Successful candidates are invited to share these experiences in a workshop. An expert panel of judges evaluates the presentations and the best three are given awards of US$5,000, US$3,000 and US$2,000 for the first, second and third places respectively. Edited versions of the cases studies are jointly published by TWAS and ISTIC and distributed to developing countries. The programme on STI policy for development enables successful candidates to be awarded advanced certificates through online instruc- tion from ISTIC’s partner, the Technology University of Malaysia. The certification serves as an added qualification for entry into a Master’s degree programme in STI policy. ISTIC pays particular attention to the sharing and dissem- ination of information to G77 member countries. This is done through special briefings to the permanent delegations to UNESCO at its head office in Paris. The ISTIC website contains information on its programmes and activities. For IBSE, ISTIC undertakes translation activities in which class- room resources in French are translated into English. The special La main à la pâte mirror website (istic-ibse.org ) gives English speaking science educators access to free English versions of science classroom materials. Hard copies are given to all workshop participants. A participant from Bangladesh presenting her case study for the ISTIC–TWAS competition, 2012 Image: ISTIC-TWAS