Launching IGF 2021 initiative to support schools on Internet governance

SUPPORTING SCHOOLS ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE

Digital Inclusion for All

Digital policy and related processes are continuously changing as digital technologies are emerging and becoming more and more integrated in people's lives. Much of the knowledge and skills on how to maximise benefits from using digital technologies, but also how to utilize them in a safe and secure manner is with users. In order to ensure the overall safety and security online, it is important to ensure that education on how to use digital technologies circulates among people. Schools on Internet Governance (SIGs) have shown to be a good way to systematically do this.

Over the years, those that already held expertise in Internet governance recognized the need to develop further the capacity in Internet governance. They started to invest into educational programmes that could attract people of different backgrounds and ages, and help to transfer knowledge on what digital technologies can do for people and how they can be utilized. In addition, some gained a regional or a global scope which allowed for important networking among involved people.

The IGF Secretariat has been communicating with many SIGs. In several, its staff was involved in various ways to support the implementation of the programme. Especially, the last few years saw a growing number of SIGs associated to the national or regional IGF initiatives as a form of a capacity development activity. During this collaboration, it was noticed that different practices exist in planning and implementing the schools. Some are a few hours long, while same run for days. Some include an international component, while some are locally-driven. One of the biggest assets associated with schools is that they are inclusive of ages, regions, disciplines. In the times of a still-growing digital divide including the gender-based divide, this is particularly important.

In 2021, the IGF Secretariat aims to extend its support to SIGs through cooperation on a development of an international syllabus framework which can be adjusted to the particular requirements and needs of a particular local community. In this activity, all schools gathered around the Dynamic Coalition on Schools on Internet governance (DC-SIG) are invited to join this effort. The syllabus will be implement through a bottom-up, open, transparent and inclusive methodology by gathering already existing best practices and brainstorming with SIGs on best ways to achieve this objective. As a neutral facilitator of the process, through open public consultations with DC-SIG coordinators and members - scools on Internet governance, the work could develop around the following area which will feed into the syllabus:

• Internet governance focus areas
• Educational and training materials
• Resource persons 
• Workshop modules
• Monitoring and follow-up actions

In support of