Action for Global Information Sharing

AGIS - Promoting Equality through Language and Cultural Diversity The Action for Global Information Sharing (AGIS) is a network of organizations that organizes events and supports projects that promote access to information and knowledge for all. It brings together civil society, business people, technology experts, linguists and politicians from around the world to jointly discover and develop innovative solutions that will allow the world to listen to its diverse voices in their own language. Access to information and knowledge in my language is not just a fundamental human right, it is also a pre-requisite for development, inclusion and economic growth.

AGIS Conferences

The first AGIS event, AGIS '09, took place at the University of Limerick under the patronage of Professor Don Barry, President. The event took place over three days and included networking sessions, training, and technology demonstrations. All participants went out on an excursion to the Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland. At AGIS '09, Don Barry launched The Rosetta Foundation. AGIS ’10 took place in New Delhi (06-7 December) and was hosted by the Centre for the Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Pune. The Department of Information Technology of the Government of India and the initiator of the TDIL (Technology Development for Indian Languages) Programme was the Patron of the event. AGIS ’10 served as a platform for the exchange of knowledge between practitioners and researchers in India and the rest of the world. AGIS '11 took place in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and was hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Africa is the world’s most diverse linguistic continent and the birthplace of human language. It is also the continent with the highest growth rates in some of the most advanced technologies, such as internet and mobile communications. AGIS ’11) event was hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA),[1] ICT and Science & Technology Division (ISTD), and its Director Ms Aida Opoku-Mensah, at the United Nations Conference Centre Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in December 2011. Ms Opoku-Mensah and Reinhard Schäler launched the AGIS ’11 in Addis Ababa during the UN’s meeting on Development Information, Science and Technology in May which was attended by all African stakeholders. AGIS '11 was officially opened by the Minister of IT, Government of Ethiopia, and the Irish Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ms Sheila Maguire. For the first time, AGIS ’11 connected Africa’s language industry and decision makers with the mainstream localization and translation industry and researchers.

AGIS Projects

AGIS is implementing a number of regional projects, starting with AGIS Africa.

AGIS Africa

On 19 October 2012,[2] Ms Aida Opoku-Mensah (UNECA), Professor Don Barry (President, UL, Hans Fenstermacher (CEO, GALA), Gary Muddyman (Chair of the Board, GALA), and Reinhard Schäler (University of Limerick and The Rosetta Foundation) launched AGIS Africa in the Irish World Academy for Music and Dance.[3][4] On the same day, an international Seminar and Roundtable took place in the University of Limerick, attended by researchers and students from across the University, including the Kemmy Business School, the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences.[5]

The launch was announced in press releases from the University of Limerick and GALA.[6] It was also reported by other organizations.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Press release by UNECA announcing the event.
  2. ↑ Press Release by the University of Limerick, announcing the AGIS Africa Initiative
  3. ↑ The programme of the event is available here.
  4. ↑ The event was recorded and can be watched here.
  5. ↑ The Seminar and Roundtable was recorded and can be watched here.
  6. ↑ GALA Press Release
  7. ↑ OASIS was one of the organizations to post the announcement on their site.

External links