- Tatiana Skripka
- Angel Draev
Introductory
Event Organizer(s)
Supported by
Description
Rapid development of digital technologies provides new opportunities for public policy. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, e-government platforms, big data or geospatial analysis tools hold immense potential to facilitate decision-making and provision of public services, enable citizen participation, prevent threats to public security and the rule of law, and advance human rights. At the same time, digital technologies may infringe on privacy, exacerbatediscrimination, and reinforce inequalities. How can the positive transformative effect of emerging digital technologies be unlocked without compromising human rights?
This introductory course equips the participants with the essential knowledge of the opportunities and the risks that new digital technologies present to human rights and approaches to addressing them. The course consists of four modules. The opening module first introduces the concept of human rights and its foundations in international law. We then examine how human rights manifest themselves in a digital context. The second module explores the impact of emerging digital technologies on human rights. We critically consider the ability of digital innovations to foster or undermine human rights, in particular the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and equality and non-discrimination. In the third module, we get acquainted with the key principles of responsible governance of digital technologies. We zoom in on the key regulatory frameworks that support a human-rights-based approach to digital regulation. In the closing, fourth module, we look at some of the best practices in responsible deployment of digital technologies. We review a range of tools available to public and private actors that promote digital inclusion and empowerment, awareness raising, education, and capacity building.
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 the digital and other relevant sectors, representatives of civil society organisations, universities, research centres, think-tanks, as well as the general public.
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 the field.
- 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.
Number of available places: 30
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Outline the concept of human rights and its foundations in international law
- Apply the existing legal frameworks to the domain of human rights online
- Define and classify the key opportunities and risks posed by emerging digital technologies to human rights
- Assess responsible governance of digital technologies from the human rights angle
- Apply policy strategies amplifying digital inclusion and empowerment
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 human rights and digital technologies.
The units are:
- Unit 1: Human rights – legal and normative foundations
- Unit 2: Digital technologies and human rights – opportunities and risks
- Unit 3: Human rights-oriented governance of digital technologies
- Unit 4: Best practices in digital inclusion and empowerment
The course content includes:
- Weekly online lecture (synchronous): [Tuesdays 14:00-15:00 CET]
- Weekly online tutorial session (synchronous): [Thursdays 14:00-15:00 CET]
- Required and optional readings for each unit
- Individual unit quizzes based on unit activities and materials
- Individual final written 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 Quiz: 10%
- Unit 2 Quiz: 10%
- Unit 3 Quiz: 10%
- Unit 4 Quiz: 10%
- Active Participation in Live Sessions: 30%
- Individual Final Assignment: Policy Reflection Memo: 30%
Participants are required to attend at least six live sessions. Participants can attempt each Unit Quiz three times, the final grade is based on the last attempt. For the individual assignment, there is one resit opportunity. No resit is offered for attendance and participation. You are allowed to take the resit if your final assignment grade is below 70% or if your final grade is below 70%.
To succesfully pass the course, you need a total course grade of 70% or higher, and a grade of 70% or higher for at least three of the unit quizzes
Registration week
Welcome session (Friday 30/10/2026, 14:00-15:00 CET)
- Introduction the participants to the digital environment of the course
Module 1: Human rights – legal and normative foundations
- Lecture 1: Monday 2/11/2026, 14:00-15:00 (CET)
- Tutorial 1: Thursday 5/11/2026, 14:00-15:00 (CET)
Learning objectives:
- Outline the concept of human rights and its applicability to a digital context
- Define and categorize human rights in accordance with the key international laws and in relevance to the emerging technologies
- Differentiate between normative and legal foundations of the concept of universal human rights
Module 2: Digital technologies and human rights
- Lecture 2: Monday 9/11/2026, 14:00-15:00 (CET)
- Tutorial 2: Thursday 12/11/2026, 14:00-15:00 (CET)
Learning objectives:
- Recognise the opportunities and threats that emerging digital technologies present to human rights
- Analyse different types of risks and their broader implications for human development, in the context of SGDs
Module 3: Human rights-oriented governance of digital technologies
- Lecture 3: Monday 16/11/2026, 14:00-15:00 (CET)
- Tutorial 3: Thursday 19/11/2026, 14:00-15:00 (CET)
Learning objectives:
- Identify global regulatory frameworks addressing human rights aspects of digital technologies
- Assess responsible governance of digital technologies from the human rights angle
Module 4: Best practices in digital inclusion and empowerment
- Lecture 4: Monday 23/11/2026, 14:00-15:00 (CET)
- Tutorial 4: Thursday 26/11/2026, 14:00-15:00 (CET)
Learning objectives:
- Explore mechanisms of human rights protection and empowerment in the context of digital technology
- Analyse best practices in responsible digital governance and application
Final Assignment
Individual Policy Reflection Memo (Final Written Assignment):
- Deadline: Monday 30/11/2026, 15:00 (CET)
- Resit: Thursday 10/12/2026, 15:00 (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.
