The recent TIME100 Talks at the World Economic Forum and an ASEAN online forum focused on bridging the digital divide and transforming education in the digital era. These discussions, involving global leaders, emphasized the need for inclusive digital connectivity, enhanced media literacy, and the pivotal role of government intervention.
The digital divide remains a pervasive issue in today’s increasingly interconnected world, as highlighted in the recent TIME100 Talks roundtable at the 54th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Despite the availability of mobile broadband coverage to 95 percent of the global population, a significant number remain digitally disconnected, mainly in lower-income regions. This divide, influenced by factors such as affordability, presents a major obstacle to global progress.
Governmental role
The Davos roundtable brought together leaders from finance, politics, technology, and civil society to underscore the importance of digital inclusion. TIME CEO Jessica Sibley emphasized the role of digital access in enhancing media literacy, crucial for democracy. Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg echoed the need for inclusive connectivity. The panel also discussed the broader implications of digital access on sustainability, education, and financial inclusion, thus contributing to the strengthening of global democracy.
Sanjiv Ahuja of Tillman Global Holdings criticized the slow governmental response in offering affordable, user-friendly digital solutions. Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information, Josephine Teo, highlighted the essential role of government intervention, particularly in aiding vulnerable groups to ensure inclusive digital access.
Digital inclusion
The panel also shed light on the intersection of digital inclusion with global issues like the climate crisis. Donnel Baird from BlocPower illustrated how their clean energy technology, hindered by inadequate internet connectivity in low-income areas, ties digital access to various sectors including job creation and healthcare. Jorn Lambert of Mastercard spotlighted the limitations faced by individuals in cash economies due to digital exclusion.
The dangers of misinformation and the media’s role in establishing digital trust were also discussed, highlighting the importance of building trust in the digital realm, particularly in light of widespread global elections.
Achim Steiner of the United Nations Development Programme likened digital exclusion to climate change in its potential to perpetuate global inequality and exclusion. The discussion was further enriched by insights from UK’s Princess Beatrice, musician Will.i.am, and Togo’s Digital Economy Minister, Cina Lawson, underscoring the collective responsibility in bridging the digital divide.
Educational transformation
In May 2023, parallel to the discussions at Davos, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations hosted an online forum titled “Inclusive ASEAN 2050: Building Equitable Societies and Learning Cities”. This event concentrated on the challenges of education in the digital and post-COVID-19 era. Experts from UNESCO, UNICEF EAPRO, and other international bodies participated.
The forum aimed to build digital skills, promote lifelong learning, and advance equitable societies, drawing on UNESCO’s 2021 vision for harmonizing human, nature, and technology relations. Panel discussions highlighted the importance of multiple education pathways, development of transferable skills, and inclusive education practices. Sobhi Tawil from UNESCO emphasized equipping learners with skills for a rapidly evolving world.
Special attention was given to revising technical and vocational education to enhance youth employability, highlighting the need for flexible approaches and cross-agency collaboration. Carlos Vargas stressed the critical role of teachers in this educational transformation.
AI regulation
The forum also explored the impacts of automation on future work and underscored the importance of regional cooperation in higher education, as exemplified by the EU-ASEAN SHARE program. This event is part of the ASCC Research and Development Program, supported by the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund.
Additionally, UNESCO’s recent call at the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima for regulating Artificial Intelligence underscores the complexity and urgency of the issues surrounding digital inclusivity and its global ramifications.
