Hundreds of enthusiastic students in a wider roll-out across Somaliland, Somalia and Puntland are following  courses in principles of journalism and submitting work. There are currently over 300 course completions where at the close of 2005, the number was 70.

Certificates were also awarded to the first groups of iLearn users who have successfully completed their first courses in basic journalism.

The project has also been working hard to establish sustainable training centers and partners to implement iLearn to ensure that online journalism training for Somali journalists can continue in the long term.

It has been working in close cooperation the UNDP in Somalia who are keen to incorporate and link iLearn into the journalism courses offered through the AfricanVirtualUniversity at the universities in Hargeisa, Amoud, Bossaso and Mogadishu.

Agreements have been made with the universities of Hargeisa, Amoud and Bossaso as iLearn partners to provide online journalism training. The Universities will ensure that suitable trainees take part in the iLearn courses and will make Internet facilities available.

To increase the reach of online journalism across Somalia, the project is  also working at the moment with the Somali Journalist Club (SJC) in Mogadishu.

For more information about online courses, please contact:

UNIVERSITY OF HARGEISA:          Hassan Heiss     hheiss@universityofhargeisa.net,     hheiss2002@yahoo.com

AMOUD UNIVERSITY:           Ahmed Juma       ajuma_99@yahoo.com

BOSSASO EAST AFRICA UNIVERSITY (EAU)         Mohamed Yusuf    eauj@hoptmail.com,     mohamedysusuf77@yahoo.com

SOMALI JOURNALIST CLUB (Mogadishu Centre)) :  Mohamed Hassan Shiil  shiilmohamed@yahoo.com,  Amed Mohamed  bilaal2255@yahoo.com

                                                                                                                xasanshiil@yahoo.com