LEADING TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTO THE NEW MILLENNIUM: THE HUMAN FACTOR

"THE TEMIC DECLARATION"

In the course of its programme, TEMIC has been made aware of certain preocupations of developing countries. They are concerned, for example, with the process of sector reform; with the need to build the case for change in their country; with the broader impact of reform on employment policy, and with the need for a greater awareness of the role of telecommunications in a nation's transition to the information society. Some of these preoccupations, such as universal access, the use of new and existing technologies, can be addressed by the telecommunications sector. Others must be addressed by others sectors, such as education, health and small and medium enterprises, where cross-sectoral collaboration is required. Education is only partly a telecommunication matter. The will to undertake sector reform must come from the highest levels of government, and must come from within a country. Reform could well be initiated through commitments proposed to liberalize telecommunications under the WTO/GATS with respect to basic telecommunication services.

The development Sector of the ITU may wish to keep these preoccupations in mind and use its catalytic role to help address these proccupations. For example, the ITU-D can:

• emphasize, in its training programmes (both traditional and advanced), the need for executives and managers, from both the public and private sectors, to learn the skills to manage in an enterpreneurial and competitive environment;
• when assisting developing countries in the preparation of their transitional plans for reform, to continue to stress with vigour the need for these countries to follow best practices if they are to achieve success. Similar advice should also be given to countries which choose to develop WTO/GATS commitments in telecommunications services;
• identify and promote ways in which telecommunication systems can be exploited to enhance the contribution that education can make to bring about the changes in management style, including gender issues, which are crucial if broad development is to be achieved;
• encourage ITU members and other telecommunication entities to stimulate partnerships between the public and private sectors, and within the private sector, so that the process of reform produces the maximum positive effects while the negative effects are eliminated, or at least reduced; and
• consider the creation of an advisory committee on human resource development matters, as related to new technology, new services and related matters as identified in this paper.

TEMIC strongly believes that these steps will address the new gaps, and in particular assist in the modification of the operating style in both the private and public telecommunication sectors. In this way, the ITU would be addressing the human resource challenges which TEMIC perceives and which are posed in the opening paragraph of this contribution. TEMIC and its alumni look forward, as a key partner, to continue to support the ITU in this endeavour.

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