University of Illinois and Sao Tome & Principe Partnership

University Engagement in Sao Tome, West Africa

Projects during Phase 1: Feb 24-March 10Faculty- Graduate Student teams were organized from the Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences and the School of Architecture around projects identified by Sao Tome’s representative as important starting points: information access and infrastructure capacity.

1) Graduate School of Library and Information Science

Prairienet, a unit of GSLIS has been installing computer labs throughout the State of Illinois as part of its public engagement mission. Graduate students in LIS 451 are taught computer networking applications. As a final project, the students use donated equipment install a lab at a non-profit organization that serves a economically disadvantaged community. The students receive real practical experience as a result of the final project.

This model has been used successfully in partnership with the East St. Louis Action Research Project. During the Phase 1 trip this model was emulated  in Sao Tome. Sao Tome did not have free public access computers and this phase included the establishment two computer labs. The students transported the computers to Sao Tome and installed them at the national library and the airport. In addition to installing the labs, the students provided basic computer instruction to librarians.

2) Architecture

Two graduate thesis proposals were developed at the School of Architecture to address proposals for an international airport terminal and a technical assistance center for the Phase 1 project.

Project 1: Airport Terminal

The current airport terminal’s capacity to process international travelers is severely limited by its size and technology. These limitations have been amplified by current international security standards and procedures and are a significant obstacle to commerce and tourism. The Phase 1 airport study included the following:

• An assessment of the current terminal passenger arrival and departure including ticketing, baggage handling, immigration and customs and interfaces with ground transportation.

• The development of a building program that will effectively triple the number of passenger arrivals and departures with strategies for additional growth.

• A developed design proposal to accommodate this volume of traffic.

Project 2: Research and Education Center

The capital city of Sao Tome offers a unique opportunity for the University of Illinois to set up a laboratory for research and teaching in partnership with local government and NGO’s. The socio-economic environment is such that even a small project can have major local impact. As an example, the island’s food production is inadequate to support the population and cocoa production accounts for 95% of the exports. Diversification is critical. The key to expanding the agri-economy beyond cocoa is the transfer of knowledge and technology to small scale farming operations. A system of research and training stations (similar to extension offices) is a possible approach. The project will be completed in three phases.

Build Research and Education Center to attain high level of knowledge transfer

The building program will include the following

- Educational spaces: a computer lab, work space and a public auditorium

- Administrative and office spaces to be used by NGO’s

- Housing space used by visiting students and faculty that will provide educational assistance

- Integrated exterior space

- Caretaker’s house to oversee the property