Technology leaders at the ITU Digital Skills Forum addressed the need for increased action to ensure that individuals everywhere have the digital skills to fully unlock the benefits of today's technologies.
Held from 17 to 19 September in Manama, Bahrain under the theme "Developing skills for digital transformation," nearly 700 participants from 44 countries met at the flagship skills event to address the top priorities for allowing everyone to acquire the digital skills to succeed in a digital society.
The event concluded with calls for collaboration, coordination and partnerships in developing and delivering digital skills.
Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and hosted by Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), the Forum also released a comprehensive guidebook to help governments and policy-makers craft effective national digital skills strategies and policies.
"Digital skills have the power to change lives," said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General. "The Digital Skills Forum is a central part of ITU's efforts to close the global digital skills gap to ensure that everyone, everywhere can thrive in an inclusive digital society."
The "ITU Digital Skills Toolkit 2024" released at the Forum empowers policy-makers and other stakeholders - such as the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and academia - by providing insights, tools, and guidance to close digital skills gaps and address the impact of rapid technological advances on people's jobs and skills.
Digital skills can affect nearly every aspect of an individual's work and life, from opening new employment opportunities and reducing inequalities to making government services more efficient and improving cybersecurity. In today's rapidly changing digital economy, lifelong learning is required to keep up with the skills requirements in the job market.
While an estimated 2.6 billion people are largely offline, billions of people that are connected still lack the basic skills needed to use digital devices and services. Beyond basic digital literacy, today's economies and communities need advanced and specialized skills in areas such as data analysis, programming, artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.
"Our goal is to ensure that no one is left behind on the digital transformation journey," said Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau. "Addressing the digital skills gap challenge needs a multistakeholder approach, strong partnerships and the will to invest in digital education. The Digital Skills Forum has highlighted, among other things, that the rapid evolution of technologies, in particular AI, requires continuous upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning. I am deeply grateful to the Government of Bahrain for hosting the Digital Skills Forum and helping promote digital skills worldwide."
Partner UN agencies also shared insights at the Digital Skills Forum. Sessions organized in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) focused on digital skills for jobs and skills requirements for digital transformation.
Other sessions addressed emerging technologies, including AI, and their impact on employment and future skills needs, as well as the individual skills required for safe and secure use of online information and digital technologies.
Young entrepreneurs showcased their innovations in the field of digital education and learning, and in the safe and secure use of digital technologies.
"Bahrain supports the ITU's ambition to ensure everyone has access to meaningful connectivity and can take part in the digital economy," said Philip Marnick, General Director of the TRA and Chairman of the Digital Skills Forum. "As one of the most advanced digital countries in the world, Bahrain is proud to lead the efforts of enhancing digital skills for everyone. International collaboration is key and hosting this event demonstrated the Kingdom's commitment to fostering international cooperation and innovation in the digital age."
The annual meeting of the ITU Academy Training Centres (ATC) preceded the Forum on 16 September. At the meeting, representatives from the 14 ATCs met to discuss capacity development activities, showcase successful partnerships to promote digital training programmes around the world, and strengthen institutional capacity for digital literacy.
An exhibition booth at the Forum showcased three vehicles to deliver digital skills around the world and in underserved communities - the ITU Academy, the ITU Academy Training Centres and Digital Transformation Centres.
There was also an opportunity for representatives from the ITU Academy Training Centres and Digital Transformation Centres to meet at the Forum. They are vital engines of ITU's work to enhance digital literacy and digital skills in underserved communities around the world.
A EUR 4 million 'Capacity Development for Digital Transformation' project was announced between ITU, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the European Union (EU) with funding from the EU Global Gateway to train policy-makers and government officials on digital transformation through the ITU Academy.
