NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR INFORMATION SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT AND ACTION PLAN • Research centres and institutes; • MARNET (Macedonian Academic and Research Network); • NUL (National University Library); • District libraries; • Museum of Macedonia and district museums; • National technique of Macedonia; • Centres for continuous education; • Non-Governmental and citizens' organisations. Institutional framework Besides of the institutional framework defined in the part relating to sustainability of the National Strategy, an additional institutional support is necessary for the successful realisation of the part from the Strategy in connection with e-education. • To redefine the status of the existing educational institutions (branches) which profile ICTstaff, as well as to transform those institutions into independent faculties. • To establish a body for accreditation of centres and institutions for promoting and issuing certificates in the field of ICT-education. • To establish a centre for e-technologies, which would perform researches regarding the quality and certification of all implemented solutions in the ICT domain in the State. • Underline the importance of MARNET, and find solutions for institutional and sustainable responsibilities and mechanisms for its proper functioning. Strategic measures In order to successfully realise the set objectives, the realisation of the following strategic measures is necessary according to the Programme defined in the Action plan: Proteus-portal for sublimation of all activities in the e-education domain. Existence of many donations and numerous projects for increasing the ICT use in all segments of education, which are often uncoordinated and non-standardised, imposes a great need of coordinating and following of these activities from one central point from where you can get all information for different ongoing activities, as well as for those which should be initiated for implementation of the Strategy in place. This situation will be improved by creating the Proteus-portal, which would be the outline of all ICT-activities to be carried out in the education field. In the field of educational infrastructure: Better connection among entities from the field of education, science and culture. The modern and technologically developed states have a developed ICT-infrastructure, especially as regards entities in the filed of education. Having a continuous and fast Internet as communication tool with other educational institutions is one of the issues to which special attention is being paid. Within the frames of that context, it is necessary to provide continuous development of the academic and university research network - MARNET on a national and international level, as well as providing it with an appropriate compatibility with the Pan-European networks. This development would be accomplished by improving the organisational structure, further equipping, professionalisation, increasing the transparency and provision of financial stability of MARNET (through providing allocated funds from the Government). MARNET, reorganised in such a manner, should provide a continuous, cost-effective and quality information transfer between the entities in the state, as well as with the other educational entities worldwide. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR INFORMATION SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT AND ACTION PLAN 39

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