The ITU Global ICT Capacity Building Symposium (CBS-2018) took place from 18 to 20 June 2018 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Under the theme "Developing Skills for the Digital Economy and Society", CBS-2018 explored how emerging trends in the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have changed skills requirements for the digital economy and society, and in turn impact capacity building and skills development.
CBS-2018 was organized by ITU, and hosted by the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (INDOTEL). It was chaired by Fabricio Gómez Mazara, Member of the Board of Directors of INDOTEL.
The Symposium is the main global event for capacity development in the field of ICTs. It brought together Ministers, Director-Generals of Regulatory Authorities, UN Agencies, CEOs of private sector companies, representatives from universities and research institutions and other experts in ICT capacity building.
"Living in a connected world has great advantages," said H.E. Dr Margarita Cedeño de Fernandez, Vice-President of the Dominican Republic in opening the Symposium. "Knowledge is increasingly accessible to more and more people and this is a momentous change for humanity." "To promote the digital economy, the Dominican Republic has embarked on the most ambitious strategy we have ever experienced. República Digital promises, and will continue to do so, to prepare Dominicans, especially the youngest, by providing them with the necessary skills to face the competitive world in which we live," she added.
"The global digital transformation calls for the constant improvement of skills and knowledge in order to take full advantage of emerging employment and entrepreneurship opportunities," said Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General. "Acquisition of relevant digital skills is key to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, and CBS-2018 provided a unique platform for close collaboration to strengthen capacities for the digital economy and society."
Participants acknowledged that ICTs need to be integrated into national policies and in the implementation of development projects and activities and emphasised the importance of capacity building and skills development as an integral component of the digital agenda.
"It was a great honour to host CBS-2018, the main global event for capacity building in the field of digital technologies," said Luis Henry Molina, President of INDOTEL. "We have an urgent need to prepare our students, our institutions and our citizens to succeed in the digital world." "In Latin America, for example, we need people with the skills to develop online content in our language, according to the identity, characteristics and needs of our territories."
"It is our collective responsibility to transform the workers of today into the work force of tomorrow through institutional and human capacity building," said Brahima Sanou. "In doing so we will ensure that no one is left behind by technological advances and we will put the human being at the center of the technological evolution. We will make technology work for people, by putting a human face to ICTs," he concluded.
The Symposium included, among other topics, discussions and debates on:
- Skills requirements for the digital transformation;
- Policy implications for achieving the SDGs in a digital world;
- The role of academic institutions;
- Challenges and opportunities faced by LDCs, SIDS and LLDCs and implications for capacity development;
- Entrepreneurship and innovations in the digital era.
The outcomes of the Symposium, featured in the Chairman's report, provide strategic guidance to the national and international community on capacity building and skills development in the digital era, and on strengthening collaboration among the global ICT capacity building community.
The second issue of the Capacity Building in a Changing ICT Environment publication was presented at CBS-2018. It features contributions from international experts on the subject of skills development in a digital era. Its articles contribute to the ongoing discussions on how emerging technologies are transforming job markets, determining new skills sets requirements and driving the digital economy.
Read the Chairman's summary
CBSS-2-18 Newsroom
CBS-2018 Photo gallery
CBS-2018 Highlights video
Watch video on ITU Global Capacity Building Symposium
