Name: WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025
Start: 2025-07-07T07:00:00+02:00
End: 2025-07-11T23:00:00+02:00
Location: Palexpo

Promoting Education and Youth Development through Information Technology

International Competence Development Committee (ICDC), The Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy (CSEDS)

Session 403

Monday, 7 July 2025 16:00–16:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation Room F, Palexpo Youth Interactive Session 1 Document

Session Recording

International Competence Development Program Switzerland Workshop

Currently, the rapid development of information technology, particularly artificial intelligence and digital technologies, is reshaping the landscape of education and the pathways for youth development with unprecedented depth and breadth. This session aims to respond to the WSIS vision of a "people-centered, development-oriented, and inclusive" information society by exploring how to leverage information technology to address educational challenges, unlock the potential of youth, and contribute wisdom to building a more resilient and inclusive future society. The session focuses on the theme of "Information Technology Empowering Education and Youth Development," primarily discussing how information technology (including AI and digital technologies, among others) can drive educational innovation and enhance youth capabilities.

During this session, 28 university students from China's top-tier higher education institutions will present their research findings in seven groups, alongside academic poster presentations. Their research topics include: AI enabling educational equity, digital inclusion technologies, digital skills and youth employment, digital entrepreneurship, green digital technologies, digital ethics education, youth global leadership, and youth participation in AI governance, among other issues closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These research topics are tightly connected to the WSIS Action Lines and its decade-long vision (up to 2025). WSIS emphasizes the use of information technology to promote development, bridge the digital divide, and build a knowledge-based society. The session’s discussions on "educational equity," "digital inclusion," "skills development," and "youth empowerment" are core pillars in realizing the WSIS vision of "ensuring that all people can benefit from the opportunities of the information society."

In this special youth-focused session, we welcome government representatives, international organization officials, academic elites, and industry experts from around the world to engage in in-depth exchanges with young students. Together, we will explore the latest advancements in digital technologies and AI, as well as the applications of information technology in education and its impact on youth development.

Mr. Fabrizio Hochschild Drummond Senior Advisor & Co-Chair Geneva Center for Security Policy / Advisory Committee, UNITAR Global Sustainable Development Goals and Leadership Development Centre / International Competence Development Committee

Former UN Under Secretary-General and Special Advisor to Secretary-General: Led conceptualization and execution of the UN@75 initiative, a conversation on the “future we want the UN we need” gathering, analyzing, and presenting the views of millions of people in all countries with a view to contributing to UN reform efforts. Looked at emerging global governance challenges and supported multilateral negotiations on the UN75 declaration which was adopted by heads of state in September 2020. Also led work on digital cooperation and the formulation of the UN Secretary-General’s (SG)
Roadmap to ensure universal, affordable safe and secure digital access by 2030 in line with the SDGs.

Senior Advisor and Fellow of Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP): Initiating and supporting project of SIPA, Columbia University, GCSP and Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) on the future of peace and war.

Co-Chair of Advisory Committee, UNITAR Global Sustainable Development Goals and Leadership Development Centre.

Senior Advisor of International Competence Development Committee.

Dr. Ning Zhang Vice-President & Director-General International Competence Development Committee (ICDC), The Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy (CSEDS)

Vice President of the Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy and Director-General of International Competence Development Committee, Former Deputy Secretary-General of China Scholarship Council, with previous roles including Education Counselor at Chinese Embassy in Sweden, Assistant Director-General of Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges at Ministry of Education (concurrently Director of Overseas Study Division), and Education Consul at Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco. Adjunct Professor at Zhejiang University and Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Mr. Hamza Hameed Head Space & Development at Access Partnership

Hamza Hameed is the Head of Space & Development at Access Partnership in Singapore. He is a member of the ITU Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Board and served as the Chair of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) from 2022 to 2024. He leads the firm’s engagements with governments and the private sector on issues related to space, satellite, and connectivity in the Asia-Pacific, and the firm’s global work on space sustainability. Prior to this, Hamza worked as part of the Secretariat of UNIDROIT in Rome. He led the effort towards establishing an international system of secured transactions law for the space sector and advised governments on issues related to blockchain and crypto law.

Hamza holds an LLM from the International Institute for Air and Space Law at Leiden University. He teaches spacecraft financing at Leiden University and is a member of the International Institute for Space Law (IISL).

Ms. Xuefeiyan Li Project Director & Senior Research Fellow International Competence Development Committee, Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy / GEC Advanced Studies Institute Global Moderator

Ms. Li serves as Project Director of the Global Competence Training Program under the International Competence Development Committee (ICDC) of the Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy (CSEDS), concurrently holding the position of Senior Research Fellow at GEC Advanced Studies Institute Global.

She previously served as a Senior Career Counselor at the China Language Assessment Center of Beijing Foreign Studies University, providing tailored career planning and consultation services to over 500 university students, and she is also a certified Career Development Instructor accredited by Junior Achievement China.

As a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and sustainable development, she co-founded two impactful initiatives: Service Civil International China Branch (an official UNESCO consultative partner) and YouthLink Sustainable Development Alliance.

Ms. Li holds a Double Bachelor's Degree in Law & Management from the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), China, and earned a Master's Degree from Warwick Business School at the University of Warwick, UK.

Topics

Artificial Intelligence Capacity Building Cultural Diversity Digital Divide Digital Inclusion Digital Skills Education Emerging Technologies

WSIS Action Lines

C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-learning
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-employment
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C11. International and regional cooperation

The session is closely aligned with the WSIS Action Lines, integrating youth innovation practices with the global agenda for information society development. The specific connections are as follows:

C3. Access to information and knowledge: The session addresses AI-enabled educational equity, digital inclusion technologies, and youth digital skills development to bridge the digital divide, promote equitable access to educational resources, and foster inclusive information acquisition.

C4. Capacity building: Through topics such as "Digital Skills and Youth Employment" and "Youth Global Leadership," the session focuses on human capital transformation in the digital era, empowering youth to tackle future challenges and advancing future-oriented capacity building.

C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-learning: The session’s theme, "Promoting Education and Youth Development through Information Technology," reflects innovative pathways for ICT to reshape education ecosystems. Specific case studies may cover key areas of C7, such as AI in teaching and equitable online education.

C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-employment: Research on "Digital Entrepreneurship" and "Green Digital Technologies" explores technology-driven employment models, aligning with the goal of e-employment in fostering economic inclusion.

C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content: Youth initiatives, such as localized digital product development and digital preservation of traditional culture, demonstrate technology’s role in safeguarding cultural identity and diversity.

C11. International and regional cooperation: By exploring cross-border dialogue mechanisms (among governments, international organizations, businesses, and youth), the session seeks to build a global collaborative network for "Education + Technology + Youth Development," embodying the multi-stakeholder cooperation model advocated by C11.

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

• Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

By leveraging AI-powered personalized learning and cross-border online education solutions, we can effectively reach disadvantaged groups, bridge resource gaps, and advance more inclusive and equitable quality education.

• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

For instance, digital inclusion technologies can safeguard women's digital rights, while digital entrepreneurship supports female tech innovators. Technological tools can break down gender-based resource barriers, elevating women's status and influence across economic and social spheres.

• Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all

Through digital skills training programs and digital entrepreneurship initiatives, young people can acquire green digital skills that align with emerging job opportunities driven by industrial digital transformation, fostering sustainable employment and enhancing youth employability.

• Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

Digital inclusion technologies—such as assistive technologies for people with disabilities and internet-based solutions like telemedicine for remote areas—can deliver high-quality resources, improving education, healthcare, and living conditions to narrow development gaps with more advanced regions.

• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Green digital technologies empower "Youth Climate Capacity Building" by helping young people better understand the mechanisms of climate change, enabling targeted actions in ecological conservation and climate adaptation.

• Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies

Youth engagement in AI governance, digital ethics education (tech for good), and responsible digital behavior fosters a healthy, positive online environment, contributing to the creation of just, peaceful, and inclusive societies.

• Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

By collaborating across borders and cultures, young people can leverage technology to overcome geographical and language barriers, share educational experiences and innovations, and promote global knowledge and resource exchange. Through "Youth + Technology + Education" initiatives, they can cultivate global leadership and practice multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development.

GDC Objectives

Objective 1: Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals
Objective 2: Expand inclusion in and benefits from the digital economy for all

Documents

Session Outcome Document of Session 403

Links

The official website of the International Competence Development Committee, the Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy is: http://www.gicdc.com.cn/.