International Youth Day is celebrated annually on 12 August, as a reminder of the significant role young people play in shaping a sustainable future. This year, the theme is ‘From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development’, focusing on how young people drive digital technologies to advance progress toward achieving the SDGs.

Digitalisation is transforming our world, offering unprecedented opportunities to accelerate sustainable development. Mobile devices, services, and artificial intelligence are instrumental in advancing the SDGs and data generated from digital interactions supports evidence-based decision-making.

Young people are leading the charge in digital adoption and innovation. However, disparities persist, particularly in low-income countries and among young women, who often have less access to the internet and digital skills compared to their male counterparts. While there is an urgent need to enhance digital inclusion, youth are largely recognised as ‘digital natives’, using technology to drive change and create solutions. As the 2030 deadline for the SDGs approaches, the role of young people in digital innovation is essential for addressing global issues.

Here are a few blogs published on UKFIET in relation to digital technologies and youth:

Unravelling the Digital Literacy Skills and Knowledge Gap in Ghana’s Higher Education: Listening to Undergraduate Students’ Voices

How can digital formative assessment help monitor student learning during and after the COVID-19 era?

Bridging the digital divide through EdTech capacity-building in communities in India

Co-creation of the Journey4Life: a youth empowerment curriculum designed with young people

Forbidding the fundamental: the futile absurdity of banning smartphones from classrooms

Relevance, equity, scalability and sustainability: Lessons from the 2023 GEM Report on education in technology

Unleash the potential of digital to change the traditional pen and paper exam practices

Preparing tactile geography learning aids for sustainable education

Career talks: Crucial step in shaping the aspirations of youth in Uganda’s secondary schools

The role of universities in supporting young people to become effective peace builders: The experience of Hawassa University in Ethiopia

Why EdTech frameworks aren’t enough

Education and Artificial Intelligence: Four conferences and acute myopia