Computers in Third World schools: the example of China

The introduction to this article discusses a dilemma facing many Third World countries: should they place computers in their schools and, if so, for what purposes? The author outlines four common rationales—the Social, Vocational, Pedagogical and Catalytic—and refers to two less common ones—the Information Technology Industry and Cost-effectiveness Rationales. The main text describes policy in China at national level, and analyses policy and practice in Beijing City and Zhejiang Province. The paper is based on an international co-operative study of computers in African, Asian and Arabic- speaking schools, funded by the Harold Macmillan Trust.     

International co-production of distance-teaching courses

Co-production occurs when two or more institutions contribute funds and labour to the processes of making course components for distance teaching. The author summarises reasons for international co-production of multimedia distance-teaching courses and provides a checklist of questions that should be considered before entering upon such co-production.
The second half of the article consists of a composite case study based on the UK's Open University experience of international co-production. The paper ends with three questions: Is international co-production of this kind worth trying? Can the chances of success be made high enough by careful planning to justify risking capital in such ventures? Are other forms of collaboration more likely to be cost-effective?     

"新科棋后"许昱华

她是世界上惟一一位集奥赛、世界杯和世锦赛三项冠军于一身的棋手,也是继谢军、诸宸之后的第三位世界“棋后”,她的名字叫许昱华。     

Determining the Value of Cultural Goods: How Much (or How Little) Does Contingent Valuation Tell Us?

Contingent valuation methods (CVM) are now well established as a means of measuring the nonmarket demand for cultural goods and services. When combined with valuations provided through market processes (where relevant), an overall assessment of the economic value of cultural commodities can be obtained. Within a neoclassical framework, such assessments are thought to provide a complete picture of the value of cultural goods. But are there aspects of the value of cultural goods which are not fully captured, or not captured at all, within such a model? This paper argues that CVM provides an incomplete view of the nonmarket value of cultural goods, and that alternative measures need to be developed to provide a fuller account.