Delivering high-quality education to individuals in all corners of the world using mobility, broadband and the cloud is on the agenda at NEST ““ The Networked Society Forum ““ initiated by Ericsson. NEST aims to stimulate a meaningful and open discussion and to inspire both participants and others around the world to take action.
Among the numerous participants will be President Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and 42nd President of the United States of America. Other speakers will include top-level management from the ICT industry, global leaders, entrepreneurs and high-level representatives from governments and authorities, including Chris Hughes, cofounder of Facebook, and Sir Harold Kroto, professor and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996.
Sir Harold Kroto, a firm believer in the contributions that ICT can make to society, says: “œThe internet is the most remarkable innovation since the invention of the printing press.”
Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes says: “œThere is a whole world out there that would like to use their talents and expertise to connect, collaborate and support learning.”
Although education is a fundamental human right, almost 70 million children around the world do not attend school, according to UNESCO and UNICEF. Furthermore, these organizations state that 28 million children live in countries where conflict has destroyed schools and communities. Elsewhere, millions of children leave school early without acquiring the knowledge and skills that are crucial for a decent livelihood. As a direct result, about 800 million adults lack basic literacy skills.
Hans Vestberg, Ericsson’s President and CEO, says: “œOur society is getting more and more connected. The ICT industry has now reached a point where it is possible to bring education and learning opportunities to all, no matter where they are. It’s time to act to close the education gap. Therefore, we are uniting influencers and people with the right expertise to contribute to the goal of ensuring education for all.”
For a complete list of the NEST discussion leaders and key contributors, as well as photos and videos, or to learn more about the issues that will be discussed at the forum, please visit www.nestforum.org
