Programme

Registration

​Keynote address​:​ “Creating Ambassadors of Planet Earth: Where Virtual Reality, Serious Gaming, and Artificial Intelligence Meet Education.”

​Session 1: Getting ready for the digital transformation: the role of academic institutions
The world is undergoing a major digital transformation, driven by artificial intelligence, robotics, big data analytics and the Internet of Things. This session looks at the role of universities in shaping this transformation, what new skills are required in the digital era, and how universities are changing their programmes to embrace these emerging topics and technology trends. Some of the issues to be addressed in the session are:

Session 2: How academic institutions are being digitally transformed
Academic institutions are undergoing major changes to adapt to the digital environment. This session will focus on the major areas of change and present concrete examples from Universities across the world that have started to digitally transform their institutions. Some of the issues to be covered are:

​Session 3: Challenges faced by the 21st century University
Responding and adapting to the rapid technological change is a challenge for all organizations, including Universities. How can academic institutions ensure they remain relevant in the future and continue as leaders in research and teaching? This session will feature a debate among academics on some of the main challenges they are facing in the face of the digital transformation. Some of the issues to be covered are:

​Session 4: Developing a workforce fit for purpose: the importance of academia- industry collaboration
Advances in technology are rapidly changing the workplace and a different set of skills will be required in tomorrow’s digital economy. The business community is facing a shortage of skilled workers which will increase significantly in the future in view of the changing digital environment. Universities are expected to produce graduates that have the sets of competencies needed for a digital economy and society, and are aligned to the skills needs of industry. In order to do that, Universities need to have an understanding of these industry skills needs and tailor their educational system needs to the needs of industry. This session will address the following issues:

​Session 5: Universities as drivers of AI research and innovation
Universities play a key role as drivers of cutting edge research and innovation. At the same time, large technology companies are also heavily investing in the field of research and development, in particular in the field of AI and machine learning. The session looks at the role of universities in driving AI research, and presents concrete examples of AI labs and incubators as platforms for technology start-ups. Some issues covered are:

Session 6: How the digital transformation is changing academic programmes: the example of e-health
This session will discuss new academic programmes that are emerging in view of digital developments, in particular new interdisciplinary programmes. The example of e-health will be presented, featuring speakers from different disciplines (health/medicine, technology/IT, public policy etc). Universities active in the use of digital human capacity augmentation in the training of health practitioners and in the delivery of health services will share their experiences.

 

​Session 7: Strength​ening ITU-academia partnerships
This session will discuss ways and means of how ITU and the academic community can strengthen their collaboration to develop capacities and skills for the digital transformation. It will present examples of successful collaboration as well as discuss proposals for future partnership opportunities.