The International Symposium on “Digital Learning and the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, jointly held by ALECSO and the United Nations Office in Tunisia, kicked off on June 9, 2022 at ALECSO headquarters, with the participation of digital experts, researchers and development specialists, and in the presence of representatives from relevant national, regional and international organizations.
In his statement on this occasion, Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, noted that “leveraging the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Artificial Intelligence in education is a topic of concern to all of us – individuals, groups, governments and organizations, and is a key challenge that we all seek to meet”. He stressed that “ALECSO is, more than ever, keen on strengthening partnership and cooperation with UN agencies operating in the Arab countries.” This, he added, would “help develop adequate policies and programs, promote capacity-building, and provide the needed human and material resources that enable our countries to achieve digital transformation in all sectors, particularly in education and training.” He underlined that “digital transformation in the fields of education, culture and scientific research is given utmost importance in ALECSO’s Action Plan for the coming period (2023-2028)”, indicating that “COVID-19 and other crises experienced by the Arab region have made it necessary for us to place comprehensive digital transformation at the forefront of our priorities, especially that these crises have laid bare the scientific and technological gaps existing between and within our countries.” He also pointed out that “ALECSO has been working, jointly with its Member States and its partners, including relevant regional and international organizations, to develop education through major programs and strategic plans designed to upgrade and renew educational systems with all their components.”
For his part, Mr. Arnaud Peral, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Tunisia, noted that the current digital revolution poses serious challenges, but also offers opportunities to create new jobs and build a better future for the coming generations. He insisted that promoting a wider access to information and learning and achieving balance between the various goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda require that we share ideas and expertise in all relevant fields. He indicated, in this regard, that this symposium will be an opportunity to sign a partnership agreement between ALECSO and the UN Office in Tunisia with the aim of sharing expertise in the fields of education and culture.
The symposium is designed to offer an opportunity for various stakeholders to discuss the ways and means of enhancing digital learning and leveraging the Fourth Industrial Revolution and AI technologies for promoting education, empowering women and vulnerable groups of society, including children with disabilities and children in conflict areas and emergency situations, fostering entrepreneurship, and enabling young people to better access the job market.
