ITU CoE/ARB Initiative and Activities

1. ITU CoE/ARB Initiative and Activities Abdelfattah ABUQAYYAS Coordinator Arab Centre of Excellence Abdelfattah.abuqayyas@ties.itu.int ITU BDT

2. Background • Changing environment • Main interactive forces underlying change in the Telecom Industry sector : restructuring (liberalization/competition), globalization, technology,convergence of telecom with IT & multimedia, growing customer demands. • The presence of highly qualified staff at key levels in telecom organizations becomes a critical factor for a smooth transition to the current telecom environment. • The regional Center of Excellence initiative: • A mechanism aimed at offering a greater and better range of training products for high-level staff in all telecom-related organizations. • Also, to serve as a regional focal point for training, professional development, research and information.

3. Role and Objectives • Target population • Policy makers, regulators and managers, in charge of the development of national policies and regulations for the telecommunication sector. • Senior corporate executives and managers, responsible for aspects related to management of telecommunication networks and services. • Purpose of the Center of Excellence: • To establish a regional mechanismaimed at strengthening the capacity, within the region, to develop high-level know-how and expertise in telecommunication policy, regulatory matters, corporate management and advanced telecommunication technology. • The ultimate objective is to better meet some of the priority training and human resource development needs of the telecommunication sector in the concerned region.

4. Organization and Financing • Organization • Training activities (face-to-face/distance-learning) are conducted from the institutions that constitute the CoE network. • A coordination office to plan, organize and follow-up the activities to be carried out in the region. • A Steering Committee, which is responsible for setting policies, strategies and approving the CoE’s action plan and budget. • Financing • Achieve self-financing through cost recovery mechanisms. • Seed fund granted by the ITU through the Telecom Surplus program. • Programs supported by different players.

5. Structure and Partnerships • Structure • A network of existing telecommunication training, educational and/or research centers in the Region, together with public and private sector players. • Foster greater synergy by pooling available resources and expertise, develop new areas of expertise, facilitate interaction and exchange of information/experiences. • Potential Partners • Partnerships Objectives • To establish collaborative and exchange relationships with other Centres and other bodies, within the Region and abroad, which are engaged in similar or related endeavors. • The purpose is to increase the capabilities of the CoEs and to keep them up-to-date with modern technology and best practices. • The relationship with Partners providing in-kind or in-cash contributions will be governed by appropriate Memoranda of Understanding and relevant project documents. • The partners can include:Existing telecommunication training centers; educational and/or research centers; universities; governments and regulatory organs; operators and service providers; regional organizations and industry players.

6. A ‘win A ‘win-win proposal’ • Governments, regulators, operators and all other stakeholders in the telecom sectorwho would gain access to a range of training and professional development products which have so far not existed or have been limited and expensive. • Content providerswho would reach the widest possible audience at regional level and worldwide, providing valid training alternatives to meet the increasingly demanding needs of the telecom sector. • Industry sponsorswho would be supporting telecom development in the region and stimulating the emergence of an even more attractive regional telecommunication market.

7. The ITU CoE Network • Center of Excellence for Western and Central Africa • Major Node: Dakar • Center of Excellence for Eastern and Southern Africa • Major Node: Nairobi • Center of Excellence for Asia Pacific • Major Node: Bangkok • Center of Excellence for the Americas • Major Node: Cordoba • Center of Excellence for the Arab Region • Major Nodes: Damascus, Cairo , Amman, Tunis, Khartoum, Manama • Center of Excellence for EUR and CIS Countries • Major Node: Moscow

8. CoE/ARB Project Strategy • The introduction to new technologies, the move towards corporatisation and competition and the separation of regulation from operations of telecommunications cannot be easily achieved without the necessary technological, managerial, policy and regulatory expertise • All countries need highly trained human resources to facilitate the transition to the new telecommunications environment. • ITU Arab Centre of Excellence project aims to facilitate the sharing of expertise and provide assistance with the planning, organization and implementation of high quality training and development programs to improve human capacity building in telecommunications, especially for senior government officials, and executive managers from the private and public sectors and regulatory organs. • This high-level human capacity building project aims to implement innovative and relevant training programs (face – to – face and distance learning) developed in close collaboration with the users, their organizations and other key stakeholders.

9. CoE/ARB Main functions • To assess priority training and HRD needs for policy makers, regulators and operators • To establish cooperation agreements between governments, regulators, operators, service providers, financing and development bodies and regional and international organizations aimed at mobilizing resources • To promote the use of IT and telecommunications for distance learning and tele-working • To plan, organize and implement the activities to be carried out in the region • To maintain an inventory of existing facilities and expertise in the participating institutions

10. ARB CoE Programs • Telecom Policies Program, In Cooperation with the National Telecommunications Institute (NTI) • Regulatory Issues Program, In Cooperation with Jordan Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) • Business Management Program, In Cooperation with Bahrain Telecommunications Company (BATELCO) • New Technologies Program, In Cooperation with the National Telecommunications Institute (NTI) • IP Awareness Program, In Cooperation with the Centre d”Etudes et de Recherchesdes Télécommuunications (CERT). • Rural Connectivity Program, In Cooperation with the Sudan Telecom (SUDATEL).

11. Why to develop Arab CoE Networking Process ? • To maximize the synergy between the concerned Training Providers and neighboring Subject Matter Experts of the Administrations/Operators for the design and implementation of the selected programs. • To matchdiversifiedtraining needs of the Sector Members, while developing new training materials and optimizing the use of existing training resources: Let’s be prepared for Replication and Adaptation • To develop the use of electronic resources in the implementation of the Capacity Building Process • To promote Train-the-Trainers actions in virtual mode as well as in face-to-face mode when using Partnerships Opportunities

12. Achievements in 2001 • The steering committee conducted two meetings in 2001 in Tunis and Damascus for launching the CoE/ARB project and approving the its action plan for 2002. • The CoE started its functionality in the 4th Quarter 2001in Damascus. • During the 2001 the ARB CoE organized two regional activities: • Regional Workshop on “Marketing & Revenue Forecasts for Telecom Operators in a Competitive environment”, held in Manama. • Regional Seminar on “Telecommunication Policies", held in Cairo.

13. Training Activities 2002

14. CoE/ARB Output

15. Building Capacity CoE-AMS CoE-ARB CoE-ASP CoE-AFR EUR&CIS 700 558 600 472 500 400 300 200 125 100 0 1999 2001 2003 2000 2002

16. CoE/ARBParticipation per Country

17. Action Plan 2003

18. Suggested CoE/ARB Action Plan 2004

19. Distance Learning Approach • The Distance Learning approach will be available to train managers in various issues • Two activities will be organized: • Frequency Spectrum Management Virtual Forum • Business management Virtual Forum • In cooperation with CoE for Americas a set of distance learning sessions will be available for the Arab Region through CoE ARB • AvailableOn-line modules: • Introduction to Regulation • Interconnection • Licensing • Spectrum Management • Regulation of new services and IP applications • Internet and e-commerce • Human Recourses are required to act as facilitators/instructors for the distance learning activities.

20. Future Steps • A set of CoEs network will be established. • New more proactive role of the Leading party. • Workshop and distance learning approaches will be emphasized. • Limited number of lecturers and more specialized topics will be approached. • Increased role of the Instructors from the Region. • Data base of Regional Experts and trainers is required. • Support to be provided by existing Subject Matter Experts. • Availability of data, case-studies, tools, etc,. for Working Group activities within the workshop

21. We are Looking for: • A team of Experts for E-Learning content development and on line delivery • Nomination of a focal point from each Regulatory Office • A list of experts and trainers in the various fields of interest • More active role on hosting the CoE activities • More contributions: Presentations, case studies.. • Financial support to insure the sustainability and self standing of the CoE • Potential partners from the Region • Sponsors for LDCs fellowships compensation

22. For more Information ! • For more information and free access to workshops materials and case-studies: • please visit www.ituarabic.org/coe • Contact the CoE/ARB Coordinator abuqayyas@itu.int