- Ghazi Mabrouk
- Angel Draev
Introductory
Event Organizer(s)
Supported by
Description
Digital technology is becoming important in addressing sustainable development challenges. This course introduces participants to the challenges of digital inclusion, the consequences of digital divides, and the opportunities towards inclusive and equitable digital transformation.
The modules focus on digital inclusion, evaluation, and approaches to understanding digital technologies and their relationship with development and governance in a changing technology landscape. Participants will receive training on theoretical aspects of digital inclusion, as well as an introduction to tools used to unearth and evaluate these gaps. Recent advances in AI technologies and their implication for inclusion will be covered in the course.
Through applications related to low-and-middle-income countries, participants will be introduced to models of technology acceptance and diffusion, and inclusive design in technology-based solutions to global social challenges.
With the financial support of the Global Gateway initiative of the European Union, this course is offered for free for selected participants.
This introductory course targets policymakers, government officials and other relevant civil servants from national and regional administrations, officials from international organisations, entrepreneurs, professionals in relevant sectors, representatives of civil society organisations, universities, research centres, and think-tanks.
Members of the above-mentioned target population are invited to apply for the training if they meet the following criteria:
- Hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant field or have a minimum of three years of experience in digital inclusion-related topics.
- Possess a fluent level of English.
- Complete the application questionnaire available on the ITU Academy.
Government officials and policymakers from developing countries, particularly women, are encouraged to apply. Selection will be conducted by the course organizers, who will consider the above entry requirements along with an analysis of the application questionnaire of each applicant.
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify the key concepts within social-inclusion frameworks (such as gender, intersectionality, and vulnerability) and their relevance for digitalization.
- Identify the enablers of and barriers to digital inclusion as well as the role of different technologies.
- Assess how the digital divide impacts vulnerable groups from theoretical and practical perspectives.
- Recognise how research and evaluation can support the analysis of digital divides and examine inclusion through data and evidence.
The course is divided into four units. The units have been carefully chosen in order to provide an overview of the most important aspects on the digital divide.
The four units are:
- A Bird’s Eye View of the Divide: Social Inclusion and Digitalisation
- Disentangling Data for Digital Inclusion: How can we Evaluate Gaps?
- Intersections between Technology and Development
- Governance for Inclusion: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities
The course content includes:
- Weekly online lecture (recorded): Thursday, (time TBC)
- Weekly online tutorial session (synchronous): Monday, (time TBC)
- Weekly required readings
- Unit quizzes through multiple choice questions based on materials
- Discussion board with reflection and peer learning (mandatory forum)
- Individual policy memo (final assignment)
All materials can be accessed through the ITU Academy platform.
Participants are required to submit one multiple-choice exam at the end of each module. Each assignment is graded individually on a 1-10 scale. Upon completion of the course, participants need to submit an individual policy memo.
Grading matrix:
- Unit 1 Exam: 10%
- Unit 2 Exam: 10%
- Unit 3 Exam: 10%
- Unit 4 Exam: 10%
- Individual Policy Memo (final assignment): 40%
- Participation (tutorials, discussions boards): 20%
For each Unit exam there is one resit option. In case you take this option (which is open to all, irrespective the grade of exam one) the grade for the resit option will replace the initial grade (also in case the initial grade was higher). This resit option is available immediately after the completion of the exam.
For the individual assignment, there is one resit opportunity. You are allowed to take the resit if your assignment grade is below 70% or if your final grade is below 70%.
To pass the course, you must obtain a total grade of 70% or higher, and obtain a grade of 70% on at least three of the unit exams.
Registration week
Welcome session (time TBC)
- Introduction to the digital environment of the course
Module 1: A Bird’s Eye View of the Divide - Social Inclusion and Digitalisation
- Lecture 1: Monday, 05 October, (Time TBC)
- Tutorial 1: Tuesday, 06 October, (Time TBC)
Learning objectives:
- Conceptualising digital inclusion, inequality, and vulnerability.
- Analysis of empirical research related to digitalisation which demonstrate concepts in practice with a focus on exclusion in low-and-middle income countries
Module 2: Disentangling Data for Digital Inclusion - How can we Evaluate Gaps?
- Lecture 2: Thursday, 08 October, (Time TBC)
- Tutorial 2: Friday, 09 October, (Time TBC)
Learning objectives:
- Interpret digital divides using survey data, indices and nontraditional data
- Understand the role which data plays in the digital divides
- Explore the promises of digital data for development and pitfalls of data divides
Module 3: Intersections between Technology and Development
- Lecture 3: Monday, 12 October, (Time TBC)
- Tutorial 3: Tuesday, 13 October, (Time TBC)
Learning objectives:
- Gain an overview of the breadth of technological gaps which permeate through the macro, meso, and micro systems.
- Clarifying theoretical concepts in technology research and applying them to different contexts
Module 4: Governance for Inclusion - Emerging Challenges and Opportunities
- Lecture 4: Thursday, 15 October, (Time TBC)
- Tutorial 4 (Q&A): Friday, 16 October, (Time TBC)
Learning objectives:
- Examine how cooperation and governance can address digital technology challenges in low- and middle-income countries
- Explain how digital divides intersect with the governance of emerging technologies
Final assignment
Individual Policy Memo (Final Written Assignment):
- Deadline: Friday, 23 October (TBC), 23:59 CET
- Resit: Tuesday, 09 November (TBC), 23:59 CET
Tutors
Registration information
Unless specified otherwise, all ITU Academy training courses are open to all interested professionals, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage registrations from female participants, and participants from developing countries. This includes least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.
