UNESCO’s regional meeting on ‘bridging the digital divides’ calls for multi-stakeholder cooperation in digital competency development among educators and youth
Today more than ever, we are witnessing a tremendous acceleration of digital transformation, which has received only further impetus recently by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the rapid emergence of new technologies and increased digital connectivity.
One of the most significantly affected groups is that of youth, who are now connected to and through technology more than ever. At the end of 2019, over 69 percent of the global youth population aged 15 to 24 years were using the internet. Although it is widely assumed that these ‘digital natives’ are skilled with such technologies, the fact is, many youth still do not have adequate awareness and skills to navigate our increasingly complex digital environment.
Meanwhile, rising disinformation, hate speech, inequalities, and lack of fairness and transparency have progressively eroded public trust in information, opportunities for peaceful debate, and values of mutual solidarity. The expanding ‘digital divides’ have also meant that traditionally marginalised groups, a condition based on their gender, ethnicity, and/or socio-economic backgrounds are more vulnerable to risks and dangers experienced online.
We now need to promote multi-stakeholder approaches for the development of holistic digital skills that enable young people and all members of society to benefit from the digital transformation, particularly in how they access quality education and meaningful information, and how they participate in civil society
In response to these challenges and opportunities, the UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education (UNESCO Bangkok), with financial support from the Korean Funds-in-Trust, will organize a two-day Regional Meeting, ‘Bridging digital divides and empowering youth and educators with digital competencies in the Asia-Pacific’, from 7 to 8 November 2022.
The Meeting will bring together diverse stakeholders from UNESCO, UN agencies, government sectors, educators, telecom and internet companies, media organizations, CSOs, academia and youth representatives from the Asia-Pacific region to share, reflect and learn from one another’s expertise and experiences, and to improve on plans to continue fostering digital competencies in the region and support education recovery and beyond
The overall objectives of the Regional Meeting are to:
1) Analyse the current digital landscape and challenges of inclusion in the Asia-Pacific region;
2) Share research and successful experiences on interventions for developing digital competencies
and tackling digital ‘skills divides’ for various groups;
3) Identify good practices for digital citizenship and MIL education; as well as identify priorities of different countries and the responsibilities of different stakeholders;
4) Explore recommendations for updated policies and learning approaches to enable a more equal and literate digital environment which protects human rights;
5) Encourage advocates and champions with strengthened understanding for promoting digital citizenship and integrating MIL into national education systems and local practices; and
6) Contribute a multi-stakeholder consultation process to the Global Digital Compact.
Programme
Dates: 7 to 8 November 2022
Format: Onsite meeting by invitation only
Venue: Pullman Bangkok King Power, 8/2 Rangnam Road, Thanonphayathai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok
Language: English
|
Monday, 7 November 2022 Day 1: Digital transformation and social inclusion in the Asia-Pacific region |
|
|
08:30‐09:00 |
Registration |
|
09:00‐09:45 |
Opening ceremony
|
|
09:45-10:15 |
Session 1: Setting the context for digital competency development in the Asia-Pacific region
|
|
10:15-10:45 |
Group photo & Coffee/tea break |
|
10:45-12:00 |
Session 2: Contextualizing the social inclusion in the digital world: challenges and case studies Chair: Clare Stark, UN Coordination Officer, UNESCO PAX
|
|
12:00-13:30 |
Lunch |
|
13:30-14:30 |
Session 3: Opportunities for expanding equity and inclusion in digital transformation Chair: Joe Hironaka, Regional Advisor & Chief, Communication and Information Unit, UNESCO Bangkok
|
|
14:30-15:20 |
Facilitated roundtable discussion
|
|
15:20-15:50 |
Coffee / Tea break |
|
15:50-16:45 |
Session 4: Panel discussion on how to support system level changes for promoting a digitally literate society Moderator: Margarete Sachs-Israel, Chief, Inclusive Quality Education Section, UNESCO Bangkok
|
|
16:45-17:00 |
Reflection of Day 1
|
|
18:00-20:00 |
Dinner reception |
|
Tuesday, 8 November 2022 Day 2: Mainstreaming digital citizenship and media and information literacy education in the Asia-Pacific region |
||
|
09:00‐10:00 |
Session 5: Promoting digital citizenship and MIL in the Asia-Pacific region Chair: Robert Parua, Programme Specialist Education, UNESCO Cluster Office in Beijing
|
|
|
10:00-10:30 |
Coffee/Tea break |
|
|
10:30-12:00 |
Session 6: Parallel Track Sessions (by invitation only) |
|
|
Session 6A: Tackling information disorder and developing digital literacy with inclusive media practices in Southeast Asia
6A-1. Solutions to disinformation, misinformation and hate speech: in defense of truth-seeking and peace Chair & Opening: Joe Hironaka, UNESCO Bangkok
|
Session 6B: Enhancing National Capacity to Foster Digital Citizenship Education in Asia-Pacific
Chair: Toan Dang, UNESCO Bangkok
|
|
|
12:00-13:30 |
Lunch |
|
|
13:30-15:10 |
Session 6A cont’d
6A-2. Youth engagement and joint effort for MIL education in Southeast Asian countries Chair & Opening: Ramon Guillermo R. Tuazon, UNESCO Myanmar Consultant and Media Development Specialist
|
Session 6B cont’d
Looking to the future in supporting teacher ICT-pedagogy integration and digital citizenship
Chair: Toan Dang, UNESCO Bangkok
|
|
15:10-15:40 |
Coffee / Tea break |
|
|
15:40-16:40 |
Session 7: Policies and approaches for developing digital literacies
|
|
|
16:40-17:00 |
Closing remarks and next steps
|
|
Programme Contacts
Mr Toan Dang, ICT in Education, Section on Inclusive Quality Education, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, UNESCO Bangkok: t.dang(at)unesco.org
Ms Ruohan Zhang, Communication and Information Unit, UNESCO Bangkok: r.zhang(at)unesco.org
Media Contact
Mr Gregory Galligan, International Consultant, UNESCO Bangkok: g.galligan(at)unesco.org
