Linux user group has been recently established in Mauritius. 
     There is a need to increase the awareness of Linux in Mauritius. 
     LUG is proposing to run a workshop on installation & use of Linux 
operating system 
     The LUG would like to bring an internationally recognised Linux expert to 
     Mauritius to provide a key note speaker for this workshop and to provide 
     advanced training for the experienced Linux participants 
     We propose to offer return economy airfares and some accommodation costs 
     to this expert in return for running the workshop 
     We would require the active participation of members of the LUG to provide  part of the training 
     We propose to run the workshop in early December 2000 at the University of  Mauritius, utilising the facilities of the Computer Science Department in the 
     vacation (stc). 
     We intend to target two group of users. The first would target regular 
     computer users who would like to start using Linux. The second group would be those who already have a reasonable working knowledge of Linux and would like to progress to more advanced areas quickly. 
 

Linux is complementary to Microsoft Windows 

Linux provides a development platform 

Linux is becoming very user friendly - X windows 
 

Software developers are increasingly developling applications for Linux 

Latex is a very powerful word processor 

Open source code - means that Linux development is progressing rapidly 

Linux is becoming more commonly used in business 
 

Mauritius needs to develop a user base of knowledgeable users 
 

Why should Mauritians use Linux 

Use of the computers is becoming more common 

Every time there is an upgrage of the MicroSoft software there is an incredible cost to the economy of Mauritius in terms of upgrading the software. In contrast the situation with Linux is that upgrades can be downloaded free across the internet, or Rs 600 for a copy of the distribution 
 

Training of the IT graduates needs to capitalise on the world-wide trend of an 
increasing amount of development on the Linux OS. Mauritian graduates need to be more exposed to the Linux environment. 
 
 

1. Project Summary 

to run a workshop on the installation and operation of Linux 
 

2. Project justification 

Use of the computers is becoming more common 

Every time there is an upgrage of the MicroSoft software there is an incredible cost to the economy of Mauritius in terms of upgrading the software. In contrast the situation with Linux is that upgrades can be downloaded free across the internet, or Rs 600 for a copy of the distribution 
 

3. Project description 

     LUG is proposing to run a workshop on installation & use of Linux operating system 
     The LUG would like to bring an internationally recognised Linux expert to 
     Mauritius to provide a key note speaker for this workshop and to provide 
     advanced training for the experienced Linux participants 
     We would require the active participation of members of the LUG to provide part of the training 
     We propose to run the workshop in early December 2000 at the University of Mauritius, utilising the facilities of the Computer Science Department in the 
     vacation (stc). 
     We intend to target two group of users. The first would target regular 
     computer users who would like to start using Linux. The second group would be those who already have a reasonable working knowledge of Linux and would like to progress to more advanced areas quickly. 
 

4. Project activities and cost component 

     Organise a one week workshop divided into two parts 
          Beginners 
          Advanced 
     We propose to offer return economy airfares and some accommodation costs to this expert in return for running the workshop 
     Need to obtain the agreement of the University for the use of its computer labs 
 

5. Dissemination of the knowledge 

Thru the workshop 
 

6. Prior Research work undertaken by the Principal Investigator 

(need to get this from Beeharry) 
 

7. Previous work financed by the MRC 

?? 
 

8. Referees 

Head of Dept Computer Science, ANU, Australia 

Jon Hall, Director, Linux International 
 

9. Other funding agencies 

None 
 

10. Facilities, equipment and other resource 

Ideally need to have a computer lab with around 15 to 30 PC's onto which we could 
load Linux for hands-on experience of the w/s participants 

We would need this facility for around one week. 

Software is available 
 

Office and secretarial services could be provided by the University of Mauritius or the Mauritius Oceanographic Intitute.