ITU Says YES to Youth in Telecommunications

Marrakesh, 27 September 2002 — The International Telecommunication Union announces the Youth Education Scheme (YES), a project to assist talented young people to continue their university studies in telecommunications.

ITU, in partnership with leading companies will provide scholarships for young people who demonstrate that they are at the top of their university classes and who require financial assistance to complete their degrees. Assistance will be given in the form of tuition, preferably to complete a degree already initiated at a local institution.

"There is a serious need for human resources from a wide variety of competencies and specialities to manage and utilize telecom technologies and services for bridging the digital divide," said Hamadoun Toure, Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau. "Every unfinished degree in telecommunications spells the loss of a capable mind to the sector. YES is an expression of a positive and assertive stance by ITU in support of needy and deserving young people wanting to carve out a career in communications", Touré added.

A screening process and procedures for YES will be strictly adhered to, including direct payment of tuition fees to the universities upon receipt of invoices.

The initiative is one way that ITU's Telecommunication Development Sector is integrating youth issues into its activities, including programmes with emphasis on capacity building. Resolution 38 of the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2002 also requests the Secretary-General of ITU to bring issues relating to youth and ICTs to the attention of the Plenipotentiary Conference 2002, currently in session in Marrakesh. This is being done with a view to raising appropriate resources for youth-related activities and functions.

More information on YES will be made available to interested organizations that wish to include assistance to youth in their social responsibility chapter. To access it, click here.

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