Mobilizing Broadband Funds for Education

Broadband Connectivity along with a quality education go hand-in-hand in developing the Innovation Economy which research believes leads to positive economic growth. So how do we go about ensuring we are providing citizens with connectivity and quality education that prepare them for the future? The goal is to align both industries and governments to develop sustainable programs and also leverage existing resources that can help put funding measures in place.

In the twenty-first century, education cannot be separated from technology. Rapid advances in information and communication technology (ICT) and expanding connectivity to the internet have made today’s world increasingly complex, interconnected and knowledge-driven. Access to quality education for all – which includes access to ICT – is an imperative for building inclusive and participatory knowledge societies. However, disparities in access to technology and learning opportunities persist. Countries around the world are under pressure to bridge the digital, knowledge and gender divides by designing policies that enable access to the full potential of technology in a digital age.

During this workshop led by John Davies, Vice President, Intel Corporation and Mario Franco, Chairman & Founder, Millennium@EDU Sustainable Education, attendees will learn about the importance of Broadband technologies and ICT in Education and how by combining both, we are helping to create the job skills needed for the future. They will cover an investment strategy, show WW examples of country programs that leverage license and spectrum fees as well as Universal Service Funds to develop scalable and sustainable broadband and education and job creation programs. They will also share how to engage and obtain support of Telecom Operators to help lead projects in Education and how to use Broadband as a driver for communication and collaboration between students and teachers, helping to bridge the gap between countries and promoting inclusion.