IDIA2009 Conference
Towards "Best Practices" in North-South Open Source Projects - Lessons Learned from the ARIS Project in Mozambique
M. Pscheidt
University Information Systems Universidade Católica de Moçambique, Mozambique Institute for Computing and Information Sciences Radboud University, Netherlands
E.J. Simons
Senior staff, Concern Information Management Radboud University, Netherlands
Th.P. van der Weide
Institute for Computing and Information Sciences Radboud University, Netherlands
Abstract
In this article we present some aspects that in our view are to be taken into account in order to create successful and sustainable development and implementation of open source systems in institutions of higher learning in developing countries. The ideas and findings presented here are partly based on study of literature and partly drawn from the experience of the authors within the framework of a project to develop and implement an academic registration and information system (ARIS) for Mozambican universities. Some of the propositions made in this article are specific for the sector or domain of higher education, while others are more generic and could possibly be used as a source of inspiration for the development and implementation of open source software systems in developing countries in general. The objective of this paper is to show the opportunities, challenges and ways to approach information systems like ARIS with open source concepts. We show possible building blocks for open source projects, with the intention to contribute to "best practices".
