Verónica Palma, a sixth-semester telecommunications engineering student, was one of two Uruguayan students who attended the ITU Telecom World 2009 international exhibition.
Participating in these types of events allows us to share technical and regulatory ideas with the goal of promoting education and a better quality of life, and to work together with organizations around the world to find solutions.
- What was the ITU Telecom World 2009 exhibition all about?
"ITU Telecom World 2009, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 5 to 9, aimed to bring together various professionals, government officials, and market leaders in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) to discuss and find new solutions to the current global economic situation. The event addressed the need to promote investment in expanding the use of ICT in education in developing countries and to find new solutions to the existing energy and climate crises.
Various countries and companies had the opportunity to showcase their latest innovations and new applications at their respective booths, highlighting their current status within the global context."
-How were you selected to participate?
"It was through ORT University that I learned the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was awarding scholarships to one male and one female candidate per country to participate in the Youth Forum in Geneva. Each student between the ages of 18 and 23 had to submit an essay on the main problem facing their community, explaining how they would use new technologies to solve it."
- How did this event benefit you in the degree program you're pursuing?
"There are many regions and rural areas that still lack access to the internet, and as a result, young people are unable to achieve the level of education required today. Small and new businesses also face difficulties entering the market if they lack these means of communication."
For a week, 300 students from different parts of the world lived together. Each one told their own story.
"The greatest benefit of this event was that it made me realize the need to pursue technological innovations with a social and global purpose rather than for innovation's sake. We need to strive to connect everyone to the internet to create equal opportunities."
- What was the highlight of the activity?
"The most interesting part of this event was hearing from leaders such as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré. They, along with the other representatives, shared their dedication and enthusiasm with all of us, inspiring us to make a difference in the world."
Uruguay is not falling behind, as the implementation of the Ceibal and Cardales initiatives has put us in a strong position in terms of connectivity and accessibility.
"It is well known that the Internet is growing dramatically worldwide and that innovations such as Web 2.0 offer opportunities and benefits. However, we must not forget the risks associated with security, unreliable information, and inappropriate content found online. This means that we must continually adapt and refine these technologies in the telecommunications sector. It is worth noting that another issue currently being addressed by the ITU is the implementation of fiber-optic networks, which should likely play a more active role in our country."
- What impressed you the most about the booths featured at the exhibition?
"There was a lot of debate about whether this event should take place due to the financial crisis, which is why I was so impressed by the participation of so many countries and companies seeking to move forward through the use of ICT. This shows that everyone shares a common goal—to innovate and connect all communities—and that they are more than determined to achieve it."
"As a future engineer, I must apply my knowledge and creativity both to the development of ICT and to promoting universal access to services. Participating in these types of events allows me to share technical and regulatory ideas with the goal of promoting education and a better quality of life, and to work with organizations around the world to find solutions."
Interview published in November 2009