How can we use technology and specifically mobile learning solutions to bring education to all? For nearly two decades, ITU and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have collaborated on harnessing the full potential of ICTs to enable lifelong learning solutions. One key area for collaboration is understanding how affordable and powerful mobile technology – from basic handsets to the newest tablet computers – can accelerate learning for all, particularly people living in disadvantaged communities. Education is indispensable to sustainable development; knowledge is key to fighting inequality and poverty, raising awareness about climate change, and unlocking the potential of the future workforce.
Leveraging Smart Learning is at the core of the ITU – UNESCO collaboration. For the last several years ITU has partnered with UNESCO to co-organize the Mobile Learning Policy Forum. The annual Mobile Learning Week is the flagship ICT in education conference which gathers experts from around the world to help governments and other relevant stakeholders understand how new technologies can spur improvement in education, and allow for inclusive and equitable education and lifelong learning for all. This year’s edition under the theme ‘skills for a connected world’, recognized the importance of continued skills development to keep up with the increasing pace of technological advancement.
Current key areas of collaboration between ITU and UNESCO include: (i) Mobile Learning Week, (ii) National Smart Policy Reviews, (iii) Arab Regional Programme for Smart Learning National Strategies.
