Online course promotes discussion on sustainable development in the digital age

An initiative by NIC.br/Cetic.br, UNESCO, and SDG Academy is free and available on the edX online course platform

How can we support sustainable development in the digital age? The online course "Tech for Good: The Role of ICT in Achieving the SDGs" brings together leaders and experts in the field of ICT and sustainable development to explore how digital technologies empower people around the world by providing access to education, health, financial operations, and government services. Additionally, the course addresses how big data can drive smarter and evidence-based policies with the aim of fundamentally improving people's lives. It also shows how stakeholders are joining forces to respond to major societal questions in a hyper-digitalized world.

The MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) is a joint effort by UNESCO, SDG Academy, and the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br) of the Brazilian Network Information Center (NIC.br). As its name suggests, it is open, free, and offered entirely online through the edX platform. Interested parties can enroll at any time directly at: https://www.edx.org/course/tech-for-good-the-role-of-ict-in-achieving-the-sdgs. Initially, the course will be entirely in English and subtitled in that language. The course schedule for 2019 also includes content in Portuguese. International instructors include government authorities, academics, and prominent experts from UNESCO, NIC.br, the International Telecommunication Union, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and Columbia University, among other institutions.

Alexandre Barbosa, manager of Cetic.br, emphasizes that "Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have become an essential enabler for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are also powerful tools to measure their progress." According to the expert, "the course not only provides insights into the opportunities these technologies provide for society but also discusses how ICT can accelerate and integrate the pillars of sustainable development: economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability." The course content is aimed at the general public, but particularly at professionals working with technology and sustainable development, undergraduate and graduate students seeking to learn the main concepts and practices of this constantly evolving field through the MOOC.

Schedule

The first module started on October 8th, and new content will be published weekly, with completion expected by December 30th. It is possible to enroll even if the course has already started. In addition to lectures by renowned instructors, Tech for Good will also promote student participation through readings, interactive discussions, and live broadcasts. Students who complete the course will be prepared for new technological challenges, such as privacy, data management, cybersecurity, electronic waste, and the widening of social divisions.

About Cetic.br

The Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society, part of NIC.br, is responsible for producing indicators and statistics on the availability and use of the Internet in Brazil, periodically releasing analyses and information on network development in the country. Cetic.br is a Regional Study Center, under the auspices of UNESCO. More information at https://www.cetic.br/.

About the Brazilian Network Information Center – NIC.br

The Brazilian Network Information Center — NIC.br (https://www.nic.br/) is a civil, private, and non-profit institution that, in addition to implementing decisions and projects of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee, has among its responsibilities: coordinating the registration of domain names — Registro.br (https://www.registro.br/), studying, responding to, and handling security incidents in Brazil — CERT.br (https://www.cert.br/), studying and researching network technologies and operations — Ceptro.br (https://www.ceptro.br/), producing indicators on information and communication technologies — Cetic.br (https://www.cetic.br/), implementing and operating Internet Exchange Points — IX.br (https://ix.br/), enabling the Brazilian community's participation in the global Web development and subsidizing the formulation of public policies — Ceweb.br (https://www.ceweb.br), and hosting the W3C office in Brazil (https://www.w3c.br/).

About the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee – CGI.br

The Brazilian Internet Steering Committee is responsible for establishing strategic guidelines related to the use and development of the Internet in Brazil, coordinating and integrating all Internet service initiatives in the country, promoting technical quality, innovation, and the dissemination of offered services. Based on the principles of multistakeholderism and transparency, CGI.br represents a democratic Internet governance model, praised internationally, in which all sectors of society participate equally in its decisions. One of its formulations is the 10 Principles for the Internet Governance and Use (https://www.cgi.br/principios). More information at https://www.cgi.br/.

Press contacts:

Weber Shandwick
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PABX: (11) 3027-0200 / 3531-4950
Carolina Carvalho - ccarvalho@webershandwick.com - (11) 3027-0226
Ana Jones - ana.jones@webershandwick.com - (11) 3027-0200 extension: 312

Communication Advisory – NIC.br
Caroline D’Avo – Communication Manager – caroline@nic.br
Everton Teles Rodrigues – Communication Coordinator – everton@nic.br
Soraia Marino – Communication Assistant – soraia@nic.br

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