Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) collaborated with Vista University (VU) to strengthen its capacity to deliver computer literacy training through distance education in South Africa. Faculty from PGCC and the College of Southern Maryland conducted a workshop for VU computer studies students and faculty on different modes of distance learning and distance learning pedagogy.

In January 2000, with textbooks from McGraw-Hill and licenses donated by PBS/Adult Learning Service, a PGCC faculty member taught an online computer literacy course to 25 VU faculty members. Vista subsequently developed an audio distance learning computer literacy course and trained 1,950 South African teachers in computer literacy reaching campuses in three provinces.

In addition, two VU faculty members were trained to deliver online instruction and taught an online course about the history of South Africa to 17 students at three community colleges in Maryland. With funds from a complementary technology enhancement grant, partners established a 29-station open computer laboratory at Vista’s Welkom campus in May 2001.