The Global Junior Challenge Award
and
The “Youth Into the Digital Age” Conference

ROME
3rd, 4th and 5th December 2000

www.gjc.comune.roma.it

New and emerging technologies are an inherent part of the world of tomorrow. They are increasingly essential in the younger generations’ everyday life, as they are particularly exposed to the demands of a constantly evolving Information Society. The new technologies will deeply influence society and culture and more specifically the way people study, train and work. Information and Communication Technologies offer the youngsters unprecedented opportunities all over the world. Every young person has the right to make the most of new technologies and to benefit from the innovative and advantageous solutions they give. However, to ensure that young people could fully participate in the emerging Information Society, it is important to help them to conceive and carry out projects, formulate and reach certain objectives which have to be adapted to a rapidly developing environment. Bearing these goals in mind the City of Rome has organised the Global Junior Challenge, an international award for the most innovative technology projects in the field of education and professional training. The Nobel Prize, Mrs. Rita Levi Montalcini, and the Mayor of Rome, Francesco Rutelli, will hand over the prizes to the winning projects during the Awards Ceremony which will take place at the Campidoglio City Hall in the evening, December 4th 2000. The City of Rome will organise an International Conference “Youth into the digital age” to explore in details the topics issued by the Global Junior Challenge. An extensive exhibition of the most significant participating projects will enhance the Conference. The initiative will provide an important meeting point for teachers, young people, families and citizens to exchange experiences on the new scenarios, information and telecommunication technology created and the impact they have on young generations.

4th December
8.45 Rome Fair, Via Cristoforo Colombo	Registration
9.30	Opening of the exhibition area, by Francesco Rutelli, Mayor of Rome, and Mrs. Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Education and Culture
10.00	Welcome speech by Francesco Rutelli, Mayor of Rome
10.20	Speech by Romano Prodi¨, President of the European Commission
10.40	Introduction to the event, by Mariella Gramaglia, President of the Telecities network
11.00	Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Education and Culture
11.20	Tullio De Mauro, Italian Minister of Education
11.40	Coffee Break
12.00	DIGITAL DIVIDE Round table with Stefano Rodotà, moderator President of the Authority for Protection of Personal Data Philip Queau, Key note speaker Unesco Isabel Hernandez, United Nations Lavinia Gasperini FAO Carlos Primo Braga, Infodev, World Bank
13.15	Lunch Break
15.00	PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH and EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES RRound table with Alfonso Molina, moderator Professor of Technology Strategy, University of Edinburgh Marcel Lebrun University of Louvain Tony Kinder University of Edinburgh Renzo Silvestri Global Knowledge Network Jean Francois Carrasco Viviance, Sophia Antipolis
16.15	EDUCATION SKILLS AND NEW ECONOMY Round table with Domenico De Masi, moderator University of Rome, La Sapienza Roberto Masiero International Data Corporation Bernard Percy Government Technology Magazine Mario Morcellini University of Rome La Sapienza Luigi Vianello ANSA
17.30	Closing of the first day
AWARD CEREMONY
19.15 Award Ceremony “Sala del Consiglio” Rome City Hall	Welcome by Luisa Laurelli, President of Rome’s City Council Opening of the ceremony, Francesco Rutelli, Mayor of Rome
20.00	Presentation of the winners, Laura Balbo, Professor of Sociology and Dean, University of Ferrara
Award Ceremony by Francesco Rutelli, Mayor of Rome and Rita Levi Montalcini, Nobel Prize

SECOND DAY
5th December “Sala della Protomoteca” Campidoglio City Hall	Will be fully dedicated to the presentation of the Roman Consortium for Education to Information Technologies DIGITAL YOUTH. The main goal of the Junior Challenge consists in laying the foundations of a long-term private-public partnership in the field of education for children and youth. The Consortium will bring key stakeholders together to education in order to join forces and co-operate for the benefit of the new generations.
9.30	Welcome and introductory speech by Mariella Gramaglia, President of the Telecities Network.
10.00	Speeches from the main stakeholders of the Consortium: Acea Elea Engineering eWoks Getronics Infostrada Unisys
11.00	Franco Bassanini, Minister of Public Affairs
11.30	Closing of the event, Francesco Rutelli, Mayor of Rome
12.00	Press Conference

There will be an exhibition of more than 50 projects from all over the world during the whole duration of the event.

¨ videoconference