The world is going digital!
Equipping next generation of Internet governance experts and leaders
We are living in a time when each and every aspect of our lives is going through digital transformation, from education and work to communication and entertainment. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the power and importance of digital technologies. While the physical distancing measures associated with the pandemic has closed schools across the world, disrupted people’s ability to work and forced families and friends to stay apart, the Internet has enabled many to continue their education and jobs and maintain social interaction.
However, the increase in the use of online technologies prompted by COVID-19 has exacerbated many digital policy related issues and has starkly illustrated the widening gap between the connected and unconnected. For example, it has highlighted the importance of issues related to online security and safety, data protection and utilisation, as well as freedoms and rights on the Internet. Even before the pandemic, there was broad recognition of the need to conquer the digital divide, particularly the gender digital divide, as well as online segregation and discrimination of various marginalised groups. These problems have been around ever since the Internet entered our lives, just over 50 years ago, and the complexity and global nature of the issues clearly requires the involvement of multiple generations. The youth of today will be tomorrow’s Internet leaders and experts. The sooner we start with developing the capacity of today’s youth, the sooner we can start to make progress, across the generations, and create an Internet that benefits all.
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About the IGF 2020 Youth Summit
This year’s IGF Youth Summit aims at serving as an interactive discussion platform for the ideas and concerns of youth participation organised across all regions. The summit will also create opportunities for networking and creating long-term partnerships.
A set of comprehensive messages voicing the concerns and advice of young people from all parts of the world will be developed out of the youth engagement across both phases of IGF 2020 and widely disseminated to all stakeholders!
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PROGRAMME
The interactive discussion is divided into three main thematic blocks. Each thematic block will begin with a three to five-minute overview from key discussants providing concrete specific examples of issues or good practices pertaining to their countries/regions.
Each block will allow for interventions from participants.
While discussants are speaking, participants are invited to post comments and questions in the chat. These will be summarised by the rapporteurs and addressed, when necessary, by the key discussants.
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16:30-16:40 UTC
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Welcome and Introductions
- H.E. Mr. Marek Zagórski
Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Government Plenipotentiary for Cybersecurity, Poland
- United Nations
The organiser will provide a short introduction of the bottom-up consultative process conducted in preparations for this Summit.
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16:45-17:20 UTC
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Thematic Block 1
Next generations building bridges to digitally connect people
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Key discussants:
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- Nicaragua Youth IGF
- Chad Youth IGF
- Afghanistan Youth IGF
- Youth Indonesia IGF
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Policy guiding areas:
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- People’s dependency on the Internet: why do we have to have it?
- Country’s status on digital and gender-based digital divides. Status of other marginalised groups ability to participate fully online.
- Actions for universal connectivity. Can we start from ourselves?
- Examples of good practices by next generations in helping to digitally connect people
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Open Discussion
The section will conclude with a public feedback process to comment on the key output message(s) on this topic. Draft messages(s) will be pre-agreed with the key discussants and posted on the IGF Youth mailing list for public commenting two weeks prior to the summit.
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17:20-17:55 UTC
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Thematic block 2
Rethinking formal education: 4.0 vision for next digital generations
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Key discussants:
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- Youth LACIGF
- German Youth IGF
- West African Youth IGF
- Youth APrIGF
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Policy guiding areas:
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- Schools going digital: review of national practices
- Reforming school curricula for digital literate teachers and students
- Education for all through open educational resources (OER) and massive online open courses (MOOCs)
- New tech in student’s services: algorithmic literacy and data literacy
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Co-moderation: Mr. Alex Wong, ITU
Keynote input: Mr. Jakub Borkowski, Business Development Director and 5G Wireless Solution Architect for CEE&Nordic region, Huawei
Open Discussion
The section will conclude with a public feedback process to comment on the key output message(s) on this topic. Draft messages(s) will be pre-agreed with the key discussants and posted on the IGF Youth mailing list for public commenting two weeks prior to the summit.
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17:50-18:45 UTC
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Thematic Block 3
Developing capacity in Internet governance for next generation of leaders and experts
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Key discussants:
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- Youth Argentina IGF
- Turkey Youth IGF
- African Youth IGF
- Ukraine Youth IGF
- India Youth IGF
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Policy guiding areas:
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- Importance of youth’s participation in the discussion and decision-making processes
- Self-organised youth activities for digital cooperation
- Looking forward, what do you see?
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Open Discussion
The section will conclude with a public feedback process to comment on the key output message(s) on this topic. Draft messages(s) will be pre-agreed with the key discussants and posted on the IGF Youth mailing list for public commenting two weeks prior to the summit.
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18:45-19:00 UTC
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Conclusion
High-level reflections to the IGF 2020 Youth Summit messages
Announcement of the IGF 2021 youth engagement strategy
IGF 2021 Host Country and Polish Youth IGF welcome all young people to Poland next year!
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