This meeting brings together representatives of the institutions participating in the ITU Academy Training Centres (ATCs), and is a practical, working event focused on implementing the programme and its operations.

The session will bring together leaders from government, the private sector, international organisations and academic institutions, to discuss key issues related to digital transformation and the digital skills gap. The high-level debate will address the following questions:

• Why do we need to talk about digital skills for digital transformation?
• What are key challenges that different stakeholders are facing with respect to the digital skills gap?
• What are the most important skills to be developed looking ahead (10 years from now)?
• How can the formal education system keep up with the demand?
• What are non-technical skills required in the context of the digital revolution?

One of the main barriers to Internet use and hence closing the digital divide is the lack of knowledge and skills of people  to effectively use digital technologies, and the benefits they can bring.

The session will look at those who are still not using digital technologies and will explore the skills needs that will help bridge the digital divide. It will explore issues such as the Internet usage gap and specific groups that need particular attention, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, farmers, or women in rural and remote communities. It will also highlight the intergenerational skills gap and present examples of successful digital skills initiatives that contribute to closing the usage gap. The session will identify concrete actions, solutions and tools that can help achieve the SDGs through inclusive digital capacity and skills development.

Developing effective digital skills policies and strategies requires knowledge about the demand and supply of digital skills at the national level, as well as information and data on current and future skills gaps.

The session will look at existing frameworks, concepts and classifications of digital skills/competencies, and explain why these are important for policymaking and for developing national digital skills strategies. It will explore how countries can measure and monitor digital skills levels and identify needs and gaps in their countries and feature practical guidelines and tools that help with skills assessments and informed decision making. The session will also provide concrete examples of countries that have measured and assessed their national digital skills gaps to better target their skills interventions and make policy recommendations on how to design impactful national digital skills strategies.

With the increasing use of digital technologies in the world of work globally, much concern has been raised about the impact of technologies on employment and skills, jobs quality and quantity.  While new technologies and automation will replace certain tasks, technology also creates new jobs and requires new sets of skills. This may affect millions of people who either need to reskill / upskill or risk losing jobs. This session will address the following questions:

• How does digital transformation impact jobs and skills development? What are core challenges and opportunities?
• What are innovative strategies to enhance global workforce skills to meet the demands of the digital transformation, taking into the situation of youth, women and aging workers?
• What are best practice examples to foster digital skills development in the world of work?

Digital transformation is largely driven by industry players. Private companies are also at the forefront of innovation and technology development, as well as the adaptation of digital technologies in business processes and the development of new business models. The demand for a digitally skilled workforce is high, not only in the ICT industry but also in other economic sectors.

This session will give the voice to industry representatives to discuss the core skills required to foster digital transformation, look at prospective growth industry sectors and related skills priorities. They will also share examples of how companies adjust to the rapid technological changes through effective skilling, re-skilling and upskilling programmes, as well as talent acquisition. Another objective of the session is to shed light on market needs related to digital transformation, which will help policy makers and training institutions to adjust their digital skills programmes and strategies.

Young entrepreneurs will present their groundbreaking products and services in the field of digital technologies and applications. This session highlights how innovative solutions are being designed to enhance digital skills in developing countries. The speakers will showcase projects that bridge the digital divide, empowering communities with the necessary tools to thrive in the digital age. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and opportunities in deploying digital transformation initiatives in developing regions, and how these young leaders are making a tangible impact on communities.

This session will address the following topics:

• The role of young innovators in shaping the digital future.
• Showcase of innovative products and services designed to enhance digital skills / Case studies from various developing countries demonstrating real-world impact.
• Overcoming challenges:
  • strategies for scaling digital skill development projects in resource-limited settings.
  • share insights on the obstacles faced in implementing digital education initiatives.
  • Q&A session to discuss potential partnerships, funding opportunities, and future projects.

With the rapid increase in cybersecurity threats, digital identity theft, the spread of misinformation, hate speech, cyberbullying and gender-based violence on the Internet, etc., Governments across the world are increasingly concerned about the safe and secure use of digital technologies and online information. In particular, the role of social media and the risks it carries for citizens and society have gained significant attention over the past years and prompted policy makers to implement policies and standards as well as share best practices.

This session will explore how such risks could be addressed and mitigated through digital education and skills development programmes. It will feature various stakeholders and showcase best practice examples of how to educate citizens on the safe and secure use of online information.

Green and digital transitions are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. While digital technologies facilitate the monitoring and management of environmental resources and processes, sustainability principles can guide the development and deployment of digital solutions in a responsible manner. Potential job losses due to digitalisation may be partially compensated by the green transition. Both transitions also create new jobs and require new skills for the successful and just transition for all.

This session will address the following questions:

• What are essential effects from the green and digital transitions on jobs and skills?
• What skills (digital and beyond) are required to minimize and mitigate the impact of climate change, including from the digital transition itself?
• What are policy measures and good practice examples of skills development for just green and digital transitions?

New and emerging technologies, in particular AI technologies, are impacting the workplace and skills needs across all industries and sectors. This poses challenges to employers, workers, educators, policy makers, researchers and other stakeholders in the digital transformation ecosystem.

This session will bring together different stakeholders, to address the following questions:

• Which economic sectors will be most impacted by AI technologies?
• What key skills will be most influenced by AI advancements?
• What are concrete examples of AI technologies (e.g. generative AI technologies) that will shape future skills and jobs?
• What are effective policy measures to address those needs and challenges? How should Governments respond?