IGF 2020 Pre-Event #67 The importance of digital skills amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Information

Session

Time:

Thursday, 5 November, 2020 - 11:50 to 12:50 UTC

Room:

Room Poland I

About this Session:

The aim of this multistakeholder discussion is to provide insights and practical examples of programmes and frameworks on digital skills strategies from around the world, to serve as manageable models or inspiration.

Office of Electronic Communications (UKE), Poland

Organization's Website:

http://uke.gov.pl/en/

Description:

As technologies continue to advance, digital skills become more prevalent. Furthermore, the development of digital skills accelerates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital skills seem to be more relevant than ever before and should be considered as an important part of building resilience to economic and social disruptions. The COVID-19 havoc serves as a testing ground in various dimensions, including education and labour market. Bridging the digital gaps emerged as a key concern, as workers who do not have sufficient digital skills or access to high-speed internet are at risk of digital exclusion and, as a result, languish on the margins of society. Thus, digital inequalities lead to economic ones and affect the economies and societies. The pandemic has an impact on the importance of the prioritisation of digital skills and, simultaneously, the need of upskilling and reskilling for organisations, businesses and individuals. The new normal may be a trigger to revise or set up new strategies on strengthening digital skills, and prepare citizens for the digital future and ensure employability, competitiveness and participation in society. The aim of this multistakeholder discussion is to provide insights and practical examples of programmes and frameworks on digital skills strategies from around the world, to serve as manageable models or inspiration.

Moderator: prof. Tim Unwin, University of London

Speakers:

Ms. Dorota Grudzień-Barbachowska, Director of the Department of Consumer Policy, the Office of Electronic Communications of Poland (UKE)
Mr. Alton Grizzle, Programme Specialist, UNESCO
Mr. Niall Magennis, Senior Director, GSM Association
Mr. Jim O’Connor, Chairman and CEO, the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI)

We kindly invite you to join us!

Report

1. Key Policy Questions and related issues:

As technologies continue to advance, digital skills become more prevalent. The development of digital skills accelerates due to the COVID-19 pandemic and should be considered as an important part of building resilience to economic and social disruptions.

The aim of this multistakeholder discussion was to provide insights and practical examples of programmes and frameworks on digital skills strategies from around the world, to serve as manageable models or inspiration.

2. Summary of Issues Discussed:

UKE activities undertaken to support consumers were presented. The Polish NRA has launched educational campaigns “I click sensibly”, “Coding with UKE” and “I know what I’m signing”. UKE has adjusted the ongoing undertakings to current social needs by hosting online courses, conferences and workshops for pupils, students, teachers and educators, as well as organizing online meetings with a consumer ombudsmen. Mr. Grizzle shared the basis of the Media Information Literacy (MIL) UNESCO concept, which is a supportive tool to overcome the consequences of pandemic. The MIL supports the development of digital competencies, through capacity-building resources, such as curricula development, policy guidelines and articulation, and assessment framework. Free and open online courses are available for self-paced learning. The MIL CLICKS social media initiative is part of UNESCO’s strategy to enable media and information literate societies. Mr. Nagennis introduced the GSMA perspective on getting people online via mobile broadband. The elements of the Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit were presented, as a GSMA tool to encourage and support people in improving digital skills by offering free online courses. The role of the government (regulators, policy-makers) in strengthening the development of digital skills was emphasized, including the concept of leaving no one behind.The USTTI approach was presented as a non-profit, US government-industry joint venture designed to deliver free of charge tuition. As Mr. O’Connor underlined, before the COVID-19, trainings were held onsite, to benefit fully from knowledge, experience sharing and networking opportunities. As the standard of today is online learning, USTTI is delivering circa 300 workshops around the world. These trainings are dedicated to the representatives of developing countries and the least developed ones. Mr. O’Connor indicated that assuring the connectivity, and preferably – meaningful one, has remained a challenge.

3. Key Takeaways:

Final insights were shared by the moderator and speakers, as:

Including the critical thinking skills into the work of the stakeholders,
Building a sustainable strategy on digital skills tailored to post COVID-19 circumstances,
Increasing role of policy makers, NRAs, ministries in charge of digital affairs and education in empowering societies with digital skills and assuring the effect of scale.

4. Policy Recommendations or Suggestions for the Way Forward:

What policy sector(s) does this fall under? (leave blank if not sure):

Economic

Social-cultural

Issue and Recommendation:

Question from the participants concerned the balance between digital skills and different forms of addiction to the Internet. Mr. Grizzle explained that it is critical to combine digital competences with social and emotional ones. Ms. Grudzień-Barbachowska expressed that UKE makes effort to stay close to the societal needs and to prepare and deliver relevant educational campaigns and activities, including different form of addiction to Internet. On the question on the language barriers online, Mr. Magennis responded that providing content in local languages is crucial. On the question if the legal framework concerning Internet should be also concerned under the educational process, both USTTI and UNESCO representatives confirmed that it may be highly recommended to ensure that users are aware about cyber security aspects, as well as basic rights applicable for the digital space.

6. Final Speakers:

Moderator: prof. Tim Unwin, University of London

Speakers: Ms. Dorota Grudzień-Barbachowska, Director of the Department of Consumer Policy, the Office of Electronic Communications of Poland (UKE); Mr. Alton Grizzle, Programme Specialist, UNESCO; Mr. Niall Magennis, Senior Director, GSM Association; Mr. Jim O’Connor, Chairman and CEO, the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI)

9. Group Photo:

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IGF 2020 Pre-Event #67 The importance of digital skills amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Information