I n d e x
Inter-University
Network
Related Programmes
The 1970s saw the emergence of human centred systems as a new tradition for socially responsive technological innovations. The tradition grew out of the British LUCAS PLAN of the 1970s, and became an inspiration for other European developments of the 1970s such as the Scandinavian traditions of Democracy, participation and Codetermination, and the German projects onHumanisation of Work and Technology. The ESPRIT Project (1217) , Human Centred CIM (1986-89) brought these various traditions together and provided a launch pad for the recent FAST (EC) programme, Anthropocentric Production Systems (APS). The 1980s also saw the broadening of the human centred systems debate from the traditional production and work life issues to social, economic, educational, welfare and developmental concerns. To reflect and support this broader vision of human centredness a new international journal, AI & Society, was launched in 1987, followed by the launch of a new book series, AI and Society Book Series, (now Human Centred Systems book series) in 1989, both published by Springer-Verlag.
At the beginning 1990s it became clear to many of us that there was an urgent need to build upon the human centred systems work, and cultivate an alternative humanistic tradition to the dominant machine-centred ethos of education and research in information technology in European universities. This led to a series of workshops and conferences in human centred systems in Europe, and Japan resulting into an international university community committed to this new development. ERASMUS support was sought in 1990-1991 to develop a European framework for postgraduate education in the EC, and the result was the formation of the Inter-University Network into Human Centred Systems.
The ERASMUS Inter-University Network in Human Centred Systems is founded on two fundamental human centred notions of diversity and mobility. Diversity underpins the different cultural traditions of human centredness, and mobility underpins the transfer and exchange of knowledge. The common aim is to establish a European wide academic network of supporting postgraduate courses and research offered at collaborating universities, enabling the mobility of students and staff within the Network. The Network also aims to contribute to new interdisciplinary directions of postgraduate education and research in human centred systems within broader social and economic contexts.
The ERASMUS Inter-University Cooperation Programme (ICP) started in September 1991 with 10 participating universities from 6 EC countries aiming to develop a European postgraduate course in human centred systems. During the second year, the Network grew to 12 universities from 7 countries, and during the third year it grew further to include 15 universities from 10 countries. The collaborating departments range from computer science, electronics, informatics, communication and media sciences, and library and information studies, to social sciences, sociology and psychology. The development team is therefore an interdisciplinary group of people with backgrounds in such varied areas as sociology, languages, computing, economics, mathematics, philosophy, psychology, electrical engineering.
During the early stages of its development, the ICP Network recognised the complexities of developing a unified European postgraduate programme in this newly interdisciplinary and emerging area. These complexities arise out of the wide diversity of education structures, course contents, teaching practices and assessment procedures in addition to the problems of languages and university cultures. It also became clear that even the notions, perceptions, and practices of human centredness themselves arise out of different historical, and philosophical perspectives of different disciplines as well as out of different directions of technological impacts on industrial cultures in Europe, especially in Britain, Scandinavia and Germany.
The Network explored the possibility of developing an integration model of postgraduate studies, aiming at the introduction of a common 'core course' in human centred systems in the programmes of all the collaborating departments. This idea of an integration model of study was seen inconsistent with the spirit and practice of human centred ideas, that is essentially rooted in the diversity of intellectual and cultural traditions. A consensus has emerged that the most practical route is to cover the common concepts, methods and practices of human centred systems through annual intensive courses and periodical workshops. Additionally, annual conferences may be held to elaborate new directions in human centredness and to disseminate results to wider audiences.
The Network has concluded that most appropriate way forward at this stage of the human centred development is to provide a supporting network model of study, a so called 'Combination Model'. This model would enable students from participating universities, to undertake courses, project work, and seminar programmes in human centred systems at other universities in the network. Students can use the study at other collaborating universities for credit transfer to their postgraduate studies at their own home universities. The directory of supporting courses and research is first step towards building a supporting mechanisms for student and staff flow among the collaborating universities. Students wishing to undertake studies at other universities within the Network, can use this directory to get an impression of the various universities and an indication of their courses and research. Staff can use the directory to develop teaching or research collaboration with colleagues from other universities in the Network.
The Network has developed a framework of intensive courses, workshops and annual conferences to support the European wide developments in postgraduate studies and research in human centred systems. The first workshop on Human Centred Systems was held at Brighton in 1991, and second workshop on the Culture of the Artificial was held in October 1992. The first summer school in human centred systems (the intensive course programme in human centred systems design) was held at University of Brighton in July 1994. The summer school was preceded by the first international conference of the network, focusing on 'new visions of the post industrial society' also held at University of Brighton. Though a unified European degree in HCS, is not envisaged, the notion of an (informal) European certificate in HCS, awarded by the ICP network is being developed. This will be awarded to those students who participate in the intensive programme of the network, and undertake at least one term study in one of the collaborating departments in another country.
These developments provide a foundation for forming links within other international networks involved in human centred issues arising out of new information and communication technologies. This course directory is a first step in this European development.
Karamjit S Gill
Chair & ICP Coordinator
University of Brighton
March 1995