Ericsson and UNESCO are combining their respective strengths to create opportunities to scale up skill development in AI and other key digital skills for young people. The initiative was launched at Mobile Learning Week 2019, UNESCO’s flagship education conference held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from March 4 to 8.
Education and technology experts from around the world with focus on AI and sustainable development gathered together at the conference. As part of the event, UNESCO member states were invited to join the initiative and support the scaling up of AI skill development for young people.
The partners intend to develop and manage a repository of AI and other key digital skill training courses to be available globally. They also intend to build capacities of master trainers from selected countries around the globe with advanced knowledge of AI skill development and support master trainers to mobilise AI hub centres and hackathons to train young people on developing AI applications.
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Heather Johnson, Vice President Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Ericsson, says “At Ericsson we believe that building strong and viable partnerships is key to meeting the global Sustainable Development Goals. This public-private partnership focusing on skill development for Artificial Intelligence is an excellent example of what can be achieved when leaders work together to promote knowledge sharing and cooperation.”
With the rapid deployment of advanced technologies such as mobile broadband, cloud, IoT, automation and AI, a new set of skills is required to enter the workforce. There is an unprecedented opportunity to harness technologies to advance economies and combat some of the world’s looming challenges. Next-generation 5G services are set to play a key role in accelerating digitalisation and the impact of technologies like AI.
Borhene Chakroun, Director of Policies and Lifelong Learning Division, UNESCO, says “At UNESCO we think that artificial intelligence is to be put at the service of sustainable development, a whole set of new education and training programmes has to emerge to equip youth with skills required to live and work in artificial intelligence era. Our partnership with Ericsson is critical to advance this agenda”.
The impact of AI has a potential to increase access, automate process, curate learning and improve performance in the educational sector. It will continue to bring new opportunities for enhanced learning and offer more flexible lifelong learning pathways.
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