ITU launches ICT Academy

DEVELOPMENT

The ITU has launched an ICT Academy taking a new approach to the delivery of ICT training.

The Academy was launched at the opening of the Global ICT Forum on Human Capacity Development in Cape Town, South Africa. This year’s event, focusing on the migration of analogue to digital broadcasting, was inaugurated today by Minister of Communications of South Africa, Dina Pule.

The new ITU Academy, an integrated approach to delivery of training through an e-Learning platform that will run interdisciplinary courses catering for a wide range of ICT educational needs.

Speaking at the launch of the ITU Academy, Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, said: “The ITU Academy will respond to demand for knowledge and skills in ICT training, teaching and research.

The Academy will offer a wide and growing range of general and specialized courses on all aspects of telecommunications/ICT in Radiocommunication, Telecommunication Standardization and Telecommunication Development.”

Programmes in the ITU Academy will be delivered both by traditional, face-to-face means as well as online learning. The programmes will be designed to equip an expanding number of target groups with the specialist knowledge and tools needed in the rapidly evolving domain of telecommunications/ICT and to use the skills and related technology in the creation of a ‘Knowledge Society’.

ITU also released a publication on the Digital Dividend: ‘Insights for Spectrum Decisions’ and conducted information sessions on understanding the transition process from analogue to digital broadcasting. The Report explores the human capacity development implications of this transition and addresses how organizations and nations can prepare human capital for a digital economy.

ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré reiterated the need to expedite the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting and noted that capacity building lies at the heart of future ICT development. “Digital broadcasting is the future, and it is essential that we make the transition sooner than later to keep pace with the fast pace of change in the ICT sector,” Dr Touré said.

The Global ICT Forum discussions on the transition and the ensuing digital dividend examined the strategic intent and importance of the transition as well as policy, regulatory, technical and human capacity building implications.

François Rancy, Director of ITU's Radiocommunication Bureau, stated: “Decisions on the allocation of the digital dividend are among the most important that need to be taken by regulators and governments in the coming years. These decisions will to a large extent determine the ability of populations to access the Internet and broadband. ITU is happy to contribute to exchange experience and best practices on this important matter.”