ITU

Developing skills for t​he digital economy and society

As the Dominican Republic prepared to host this week’s Global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capacity Building Symposium (CBS), Licelotte Baiges, Head of Communications at the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL), spoke to a local radio station about the event and what they hope it will achieve.

“The advancement of technology has left a lot of people behind, so it is important to have policies that focus on their capacity building,” noted Ms. Baiges.

ITU’s CBS, hosted by INDOTEL from 18 to 20 June, aims to strengthen collaboration between ITU, the business sector, the academic community and other partners in developing capacities for the digital future.

This year’s event brings together these diverse stakeholders from across the world to discuss opportunities and challenges centered around the theme: ‘Developing skills for the digital economy and society.’

“Well-managed technology is one of the best and most optimal sustainable development tools that we can have in this globalized world.” – Licelotte Baiges, INDOTEL

Learn more about the Global Capacity Building Symposium in the video below:

CBS will consist of eight sessions that explore how emerging trends in the field of digital technologies are changing skills requirements. They will identify the main areas of action required to build knowledge and a skilled workforce for tomorrow’s information and knowledge society.

Representatives from ITU, United Nations’ agencies, governments as well as local and other relevant actors will discuss and debate the major issues around digital capacity building. Panels, debates and workshops will seek to guide telecommunication and public policies through best practices and knowledge sharing.

Key topics at the symposium include: Skills requirements for the digital transformation; Policy implications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a digital world; and Innovative approaches to teaching and learning; plus many more.
RELATED: Skills for sustainable well-being in the digital age
Ms. Baiges believes that CBS, held for the first time in Latin America, will be especially important for the region as technology can serve to unite people and spur development.

“Hopefully we can do this for our people so that we don’t have to depend on technologies from developed countries that often do not fit the reality in which developing countries live,” she said.
RELATED: ICT skills development for today’s digital economy and knowledge society
And while there will be a strong focus on education, Ms. Baiges recognizes that more needs to be done in this field.

“What’s the point for schools to have all the computers in the world if the teachers are not prepared so that students can take full advantage of the benefits technology offers?” she asks.

“The public will remain informed on the outcomes of the Symposium through videos and interviews,” Ms. Baiges added. “It will be as if they were all present.”
READ MORE