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The internet will come into sharp focus this week when the second Barbados Youth Internet Governance Forum is held at the Walcott Warner Theatre, Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. It will take place on Friday, March 22, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
The forum will be hosted by the Ministry of Innovation Science and Smart Technology, the Internet Society Barbados Chapter and the University of the West Indies. It is a condensed version of the full Internet Governance Forum, but geared towards young people, ages 16 to 25.
Over 100 persons are expected to attend the meeting, which will be held under the theme: Smart Youth for a Smart Barbados.
It is designed to introduce participants to the concept of internet governance and get their opinions on the internet, emerging technologies, the fourth industrial revolution, and how these issues impact them. They will also view exhibits presented by the Telecommunications Unit, the Barbados Robotics Team and Open Network Technical Solutions Inc.
Discussions during the one-day seminar include: Generation Z and the Internet; Digital and Media Literacy and Why it is Necessary; Preparing for the Jobs of Tomorrow; and an Introduction to Internet Governance. There will also be a brainstorming session around participants’ vision for Barbados’ future.
One of the forum’s key outputs will be a report on the discussion to better inform national policy, particularly on those matters impacting young people.