Dr. Walid P. Karam

Photo of Walid P. Karam

Coordinator | Ma3bar.org | University of Balamand | Al-Kurah, Lebanon
Tel: +(961) (0) 6 930 250 x 3894   Fax:+(961) (0) 6 930 278
Cel: +(961) (0) 3 246 066

Keynote Address

Open Source Software in the Arab Region
Today and the road ahead

Walid P. Karam, PhD
Coordinator, Ma3bar

University of Balamand, El-Kurah, Lebanon

Email: coordinator@ma3bar.org

Abstract

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is an evolving area that has reached different levels across the world, reflecting the different stages of development. However, FOSS in the Arab region is still lagging behind. Arab countries are consumers of software technologies rather than being partners in its creation and development. Various isolated Arab initiatives of FOSS exist at various levels: national, government, higher education, private institutions, and NGOs. However, these initiatives have had limited effect on driving our societies to becoming active participants in the FOSS industry.

Ma3bar, the Arab Support Center for Free and Open Source Software, strives to disseminate FOSS as a philosophy and culture in academia and Arab societies. Ma3bar is committed to contributing to social and economic development in the Arab region by promoting the use and development of FOSS, and by developing and conducting training programs on such software, to ensure that more Arab communities have affordable access to information technologies. With UNESCO, UNDP/ICTDAR, and the University of Balamand as main partners, Ma3bar has grouped a consortium of over 30 leading Arab academic partners for its FOSS campaign.

This keynote speech presents the current status of FOSS in the Arab region, highlights the awareness, training, and development FOSS campaigns of Ma3bar, and look into the impact of the initiative on social and economic development.