APCICT engages experts from across the globe through online consultation
25 May 2010 – Environmental and information and communication technology (ICT) experts meet online to discuss regional ICT capacity building hub’s forthcoming training curriculum.
The United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (UN-APCICT/ESCAP), a regional institute of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), yesterday facilitated a virtual workshop on ICT and climate change, which included approximately 10 participants from countries in Asia, Europe and North America.
APCICT engaged ICT and environmental experts and government officials to obtain feedback on the tenth and newest training module of its “Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders Programme” (Academy). Based on the theme of Climate Change and ICT, Module 10 has been developed in response to ESCAP member State’s demand for increased capacity building in the use of ICT for combating climate change.
In partnership with Microsoft, APCICT conducted the four-hour online meeting through the Live Meeting platform, which allowed participants to follow along and engage Module 10 author and workshop presenter, Richard Labelle. Yesterday’s workshop represents the first time APCICT has used a virtual platform to elicit comments on the Academy curriculum; a step aimed at minimizing the ‘carbon footprint’ of such an event as compared to a face-to-face consultative workshop.
Module 10 is scheduled to be launched later this year, alongside Academy Module 9 – ICT and Disaster Risk reduction. There are currently eight standalone, yet interlinked Academy modules. The Academy is APCICT’s flagship programme designed to equip government officials in Asia and the Pacific with the tools to fully leverage ICT opportunities for socio-economic development.
