The SCEMAD is a global, integrated initiative, that addresses all categories of citizens with the aim of acting as a lever for regional development. The idea is to bring the Internet closer to the citizens so that, at a later stage, these same citizens will come to perceive the more directly economic uses of this new media. In this sense, the SCEMAD programme has chosen to act at a very decentralised level while setting very practical objectives that go beyond the simple communicating of information.

The Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro region lies in north-east Portugal, not far from the Spanish border. It is an isolated region, a fairly long way from the sea, and one of the country’s poorest. Tras-os-Montes, in particular, suffers from its geographical situation. It is a mountainous plateau, crossed by deep valleys and with a harsh climate. Its inhabitants are scattered among small villages, some of them still without mains drinking water. Neither agriculture nor industry are developed in this region.

This is the context in which the SCEMAD (Serviço Cooperativo de Extensão em Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro) programme was launched, in 1999. Its objective is to promote and develop information and communication technologies (ICTs) throughout the territory.

This multi-annual programme is managed by the University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro, in cooperation with various bodies, including the association of the municipalities of Terra Quente Transmontana and the Regional Delegation for Culture in the North. The SCEMAD programme is also sponsored by the Portuguese Ministry of Science and Technology and is part of the national DIGITAL programme designed to reduce the digital divide.

Starting with the roots. One of the SCEMAD’s priorities is to bring information technology to village primary and nursery schools, about 800 in all. The aim is to equip each school with a computer and internet connection, and also (most importantly?) to train teaching staff in the ICTs and generally make them more aware of the educational potential of these new technologies.

A team of eleven instructors and three technicians is therefore travelling the mountains and the valleys to meet the local teachers. Four “netmoveis” (vans with computers) have been placed at their disposal to make their travelling easier. A special "Espinguinha" site (accessible via the portal site) gives a list of educational sites which the school community can access.

Another objective is to bring the public administrations closer to the citizens. About 30 computerised information offices, set up in the town halls, are at the service of the region’s inhabitants. Another 83 computer centres have also been set up in the smallest villages ("freguesias" in Portuguese; literally translated as “parishes”). These village centres not only allow local people to use the computers free of charge, but also to complete a number of administrative procedures online, without having to travel to the nearest town.

The social dimension is taken into account too, with the “cyber-infirmaries” for example. Set up in hospitals in the districts of Chaves and Villa Real, these provide Internet access (with specially adapted equipment) for patients, especially those who are confined to bed for long periods. This enables them to communicate with other hospitalised patients or with family members and friends on the outside.

Universidade de Tras-os-Montes
Mr J. Cruz, tel. +351 259350300

//1999

case

Urban Policy > Transport and infrastructure > Technical infrastructure

ICT infrastructure