Information Access Centre (IAC)

IAC Official Facebook Page                                                                           IAC Mobile Buss Survery Form

Introduction to IAC at NAST

The Information Access Center was established at NAST with technical support from the National Information Society Agency (NIA) of Korea, following a proposal submitted by NAST to the government of the Republic of Korea under Official Development Assistance (ODA). IAC has two components, one with the fixed infrastructure on the 2nd floor of the newly built Technology Building in the premises of NAST in Lalitpur metropolitan city of Kathmandu Valley and another with all the facilities for ICT training inside a bus, which is named mobile IAC. The IAC was successfully inaugurated on November 11, 2021, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as a milestone of bilateral cooperation between Nepal and the Republic of Korea in general and that between NAST and NIA in particular. Before the inauguration, a formal process was initiated with the signing of an MoU on December 11, 2020, with a broader aim to contribute to narrowing down the digital gap in Nepal and also supporting the overall development of the Information Technology (IT) sector in Nepal.

The IAC established at the Technology Building of NAST as well as Mobile IAC in a Bus are in operation continuously to date. However, the focus has been given to organizing activities in mobile IAC in many parts of the country, covering all seven provinces of Nepal to impart training on relevant IT topics. The trainees on mobile IAC ranged from students of Schools to high-ranking Police Officers of Nepal. The mobile IAC is a new concept of its kind, and hence it has drawn huge attraction and appreciation in Nepal. Therefore, appreciating public demand, we have carried out relatively more varied events in mobile IAC than at IAC in Technology.

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Aims and Objectives of IAC

The major aim of the IAC in general is to reduce the digital gap in Nepal and develop ICT capacity and that of Mobile IAC is to do the same, especially in rural areas, and also to promote digital literacy.

The general objective of IAC in Nepal is to reduce the digital gap and promote ICT knowledge across the country. Specific objectives are listed below.

•    To implement free access to the most updated ICT tools and enhance technological literacy among the population, especially among young generations and marginalized communities.

•    To provide digital literacy training through Mobile IAC in rural regions of all seven provinces that commonly lack basic ICT infrastructure.

•    To train teachers in the efficient use of ICT tools for interactive learning

•    To ensure good management and documentation through the knowledge acquired during ICT training using IAC

•    To conduct various events and programs to bridge the digital divide and promote ICT and also Mobile IAC.

•    To raise awareness for wider digital literacy.

•    To promote Science and Technology through global connectivity brought about by IT revolution.

Targeted people

Major targeted people expected to be potential users of the IAC are Students, Teachers, Marginalized groups, Women, Children, Government Workers, and Farmers, including the workforce at NAST. However, the domain of beneficiaries from IAC may be beyond the categories of people beyond that mentioned here.
 

Facilities 
IAC consists of six sections : ICT Complex Room, an IT Training Room, a Seminar Room, a Conference/Meeting Hall, a Contents Making Room and an Administrative Office. These rooms are being used for special classes, computer classes, training, seminar, workshop, webinars, interaction and meeting with national and international authorities. All the sections are well equipped with ICT equipment.

Conference/ Meeting Hall :  It can be used for various meetings and conferences. The equipment in this room are Display for video meeting (TV), Conference Camera, Conference Phone and conference table. It can hold 10 people but according to need 30 people can be managed.

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IT Training Room : Various training activities and workshops can be conducted here. It is well equipped with 12 Desktop PCs, Desktop PC for trainers, Laser printer (black), Sound System, Wired and Wireless Microphone, Projector & projection screens. It can hold 12 people at a time.

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Seminar Room :  Various seminars related to education and ICT related classes and other meetings and discussions take place. It is equipped with smart podium refers to an innovative audio-visual device that has built-in touch screen PC, sound system, an attached and a wireless microphone and separately two speakers, projector and projection screen. It has sitting capacity of 12 people. 

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Contents Making Room :  Activities like photo editing, video editing, shooting, interviewing and other audio-visual work can be done her.  It has free access to internet. It is well equipped with Smart TV, Desktop PC, Digital Camera, three Stand Light and Tripod.

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Equipment for Visually Impaired Individuals : The equipment provided by NIA to IAC for visually impaired individuals  makes them aware with the information in various ways, develops various technical skills and brings them closer to society through ICT tools. Some of such equipment include voice expander, optical character reader, special keyboard, portable text expander, etc.

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Administrative Office : It is a place where the IAC staff support the operation of IAC. It can also be used as reception of the IAC. 

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Activities

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Mobile IAC:  To provide digital literacy training for interested people in rural regions of each province that commonly lack basic ICT infrastructure.
Target: youth of rural area, marginalized groups, backward community, civil servants, teachers, women, children, etc.

Mobile IAC is a model of computer education aimed to promote computer literacy in backward regions in Nepal. A Mobile IAC is bringing different type of basic training for youths to develop their digital skills. It can surely give a huge contribution in reducing gender digital divide. The mobile IAC equipped with 18 laptops for trainees, a laptop for lecturer, Smart Podium with two Speakers, Projector with Projection screen, Visual Presenter, Sound System, Air Conditioning, Wi-Fi, UPS, Dispenser, all in one printer and Furnitures as well as a Toilet. These equipment will bring an interest and attract the rural residents to attend the training in Mobile IAC. The bus has capacity of 20 people. It can be booked by private organizations and local governments for conducting various trainings and workshops.

Mobile IAC will try to reach the places where the bus can reach.

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Outstanding achievements through the IACObserving the activities and effective implementation of the IAC, NIA declared NAST IAC as the Best Case of IAC around the world. Delegates from the Korean Embassy in Nepal visited for the inspection of IAC at NAST for the evaluation during which we had the opportunity to have our efforts acknowledged as a result of which our IAC was honored with the "Best Case of IACs" Award in 2022. This has uplifted our spirits, and we appreciate NIA for recognizing our dedication.

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IAC Facility Booking : Various facilities of IAC like IT Training Lab, Seminar room, Conference hall, ICT Complex Room and Mobile IAC can be booked for various government educational organizations and learning purposes. A nominal fee must be paid. However, the government bodies can book the facilities free of charge. 
To make a booking, the user is supposed to pass the request letter to NAST and get the letter approved. 

Booking can be done for various purposes. Some of them are:
-    ICT Research
-    ICT Training 
-    Project Management & Workshop
-    Seminar
-    Video Conference/Meeting

Some News coverage in different media

NAST IT-bus to reach every district
NAST developed ICT bus, what are the facilities?
NAST ICT Bus: Know In Detail
What is ICT Bus?
First  Time ICT Bus full Review || NEPAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NAST)
IAC Mobile Bus, Madesh Pradesh 

Team Members
1. Mr. Pradeep Dhodari, [email protected]
2. Er. Manoj Kumar Sah, [email protected]

Opening Hours
Sunday        10:00  am  -   17:00 pm
Monday        10:00  am  -   17:00 pm
Tuesday       10:00  am  -   17:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00  am   -   17:00 pm
Thursday      10:00  am  -   17:00 pm
Friday           10:00  am  -   15:00 pm

 

Contact 
Nepal-Korea Information Access Center (IAC) is situated on the 1st floor of Technology building of NAST, which is located in Khumaltar, Lalitpur. Tel: +977-1-5550813
Website: https://nast.gov.np/information-access-center
Email: [email protected]
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