Netherlands
- Jose L. CERVERA-FERRI
- Angel Draev
- Ghazi Mabrouk
- Praachi Kumar
- Jose L. CERVERA-FERRI
Advanced
Event organizer(s)
Supported by
Description
This summer school focuses on enhancing skills for creating evidence-based digital policies to achieve Universal and Meaningful Connectivity. Participants will learn to interpret and use ICT statistics to develop, implement, and evaluate such policies. Interactive sessions will address key ICT and development issues, helping participants generate and apply insights for effective policymaking.
The course covers the role of digital public policies in achieving Sustainable Development Goals through Universal and Meaningful Connectivity, evidence-based ICT governance, and the use of ICT indicators—such as connectivity, affordability, and skills—for policy development and evaluation. It also addresses the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of ICTs and explores challenges and opportunities in compiling, analysing, and disseminating ICT statistics in developing and transitioning countries.
With the generous support of the Global Gateway initiative of the European Union, this course is offered for free for selected participants. This includes accommodation, meals, and extracurricular activities. Participants or their organizations will be responsible for covering their travel expenses to Maastricht, Netherlands and, if necessary, visa application costs.
This training course is intended for:
- Officials of Ministries responsible for digital policies and telecommunications regulatory authorities.
- Policy analysts, from national and regional organisations in the field of telecommunication regulation.
- Data analysts, researchers and policymakers.
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 use of statistics for digital policies.
- Possess a fluent level of English.
- Completing the application questionnaire on the ITU Academy website.
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.
The number of available places for the cohort is limited to 30.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the economic, social and environmental opportunities and threats of digital development and the role of digital policies to achieve the SDGs through Universal and Meaningful Connectivity.
- Interpret data on ICT infrastructure, connectivity quality, affordability, access, usage, and skills.
- Use ICT statistics (statistical reports, research papers) to inform and evaluate digital policy decisions.
- Produce impactful data-driven presentations on country cases
The course is organised over one week with a blend of interactive lectures and empirical exercises. The elements have been carefully chosen to provide an overview of the most important and emerging aspects of ICT statistics.
The course features interactive lectures, empirical exercises, networking events, group-based peer learning, presentation sessions, case study applications, and supplementary readings for deeper understanding.
Upon selection, participants must complete the following online self-paced training courses on ITU Academy before attending the in-person training:
Training materials, including presentations and readings, will be made available through the ITU Academy Platform.
During the course, participants will engage in hands-on exercises in allotted groups. At the end of the week, groups are invited to present their country case, in the form of a poster, to experts and to their peers.
Participants will be required to take active part in all the activities of the Summer School. At the end of the course, participants will receive an ITU and UNU-MERIT certificate of completion.
Attendance
- Participants must attend all of the sessions to meet the attendance requirement.
Certification Criteria
- Active participation: 40% of the total score.
- Course assignment (poster presentation): 60% of the total score.
Assignments
- Content: 50% of the total score.
- Structure: 10% of the total score.
- Clarity and logic: 20% of the total score.
- Punctuality: 10% of the total score.
- Engagement: 10% of the total score.
A minimum total of 70% is required to obtain the course certificate
Day 1: Monday, 2 June
09:00 – 10:00
Welcome Session
10:00 – 10:30
Break
10:30 - 11:00
The concept of Universal and Meaningful Connectivity (UMC) and its statistical monitoring framework
- Explain the multidimensional concept of UMC
- Identify UMC as a policy principle
- Examine the statistical framework to monitor progress towards UMC and its history
- Analyse other monitoring frameworks (SDGs, WSIS, Broadband Commission targets, etc.)
11:00 - 12:30
The contribution of digital technologies in achieving the SDGs
- Explore the interactions between the 17 SDGs and Digital Technology
- Identify opportunities for digital technologies in achieving SDGs
- Examine risks associated with digital technology development and adoption
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 15:00
Overview of ICT statistics and associated international standards
- Differentiate between domains and sources of ICT statistics
- Identify challenges in ICT statistics production in developing countries
- Outline international standards for ICT statistics
15:00 – 15:30
Break
15:30 – 17:00
Introduction to the group work
- Identify central ICT-related issues for a given country context
- Evaluate and map data sources
- Analyse characteristics of indicators and measurement challenges
17:30 – 18:30
Dinner
19:00 – 20:30
Networking Event
Day 2: Tuesday, 3 June
09:00 – 10:30
Introduction to public policies and governance in the field of ICT
- Recognise human development objectives in ICT policy development
- Understand evidence-based ICT governance
- Identify global regulatory frameworks for ICT policies
10:30 – 11:00
Break
11:00 – 12:30
Quantitative assessment of Digital policies: the ITU G5 Benchmark and the ITU Regulatory Tracker
- Understand the G5 Benchmark and the ITU Regulatory Tracker as assessment tools
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 14:30
Infrastructure and connectivity quality indicators
- Examine main indicators for infrastructure networks
- Outline economic indicators for telecommunication services
- Present ICT service price indicators
14:30 – 15:00
Infrastructure maps
- Examine ICT Infrastructure connectivity maps
- Use ITU resources to compile and visualise connectivity maps
- Explore geospatial evidence on ICT infrastructure
15:00 – 15:30
Break
15:30 – 17:00
Analysis of Indicators
- Apply ICT statistics on infrastructure and connectivity
- Evaluate meaningful and universal connectivity measures
- Explain the usefulness and limitations of ICT statistics
17:30 – 18:30
Dinner
19:00 – 20:30
Networking Event
Day 3: Wednesday, 4 June
09:00 – 10:30
Economic aspects of digital policies
- Analyse the economic impact of digital policies
- Evaluate the role of digital skills development
- Interpret data on business uptake of digital technologies
10:30 – 11:00
Break
11:00 – 12:30
Socioeconomic challenges and the digital divide
- Interpret inclusion challenges related to the digital divide
- Recognise data dimensions in the digital age
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 14:30
Statistics on household access and individual use of ICT
- Standards for ICT access indicators
- Methodological aspects of household surveys
- Challenges of surveys in developing countries
15:00 – 15:30
Break
15:30 – 17:00
Comparative Analysis of ICT Adoption
- Examine the economic impacts of ICT adoption
- Apply insights from case studies to improve digital participation
- Develop actionable strategies for digital skills improvement
17:30 – 18:30
Dinner
19:00 – 20:30
Networking Event
Day 4: Thursday, 5 June
09:00 – 10:30
Use of statistics for evidence-based digital policies
- Interpret ICT indicators
- Apply ICT statistics for policymaking
- Advocate for improved statistical practices
10:30 – 11:00
Break
11:00 – 12:30
Methods for evaluating the impact of digital policies using ICT statistics
- Understand causal and non-causal analysis
- Learn how experimental methods measure ICT policy impact
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 15:00
Translating Analysis of ICT Data for Public Policy
- Interpret and analyse ICT data
- Apply statistics to country-specific challenges
- Evaluate policy development
15:00 – 15:30
Break
15:30 – 17:00
Presentation Preparation
18:00 – 19:00
Dinner
Day 5: Friday, 6 June
09:00 – 10:30
Presentations
10:30 – 11:00
Break
11:00 – 12:30
Presentations (cont.)
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch
13:30 – 14:00
Course Evaluation
14:00 – 15:30
Closing Ceremony
- Award of poster pitch winner
- Award of certificates
Financial support available
With the generous support of the Global Gateway initiative of the European Union, ITU will cover training costs, accommodation for 5 nights, meals and training activities.
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.