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PR Newswire

TeachAI Announces Foundational Policy Ideas for AI in Education, a New Resource for Education Leaders and Policymakers

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SEATTLE, April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, TeachAI, an initiative led by Code.org, ETS, the International Society of Technology in Education, Khan Academy, and the World Economic Forum, announced the launch of a groundbreaking resource for education leaders and policymakers around the world – Foundational Policy Ideas for AI in Education. The development of this resource was led by AASA, CCSSO, Code.org, CoSN, COSSBA, Education Commission of the States, ExcelinEd, ETS, InnovateEDU, NASBE, NSBA, NEA, SEAMEO, and SETDA. It is designed to help education leaders and policymakers navigate the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in education.

The resource, which has been informed by over 70 organizations representing industry, government, non-profits, and educator associations, offers policy ideas, informational briefs, talking points, and a customizable presentation. These materials propose five key policy ideas essential for the safe, effective, and responsible use of AI in education.

  1. Foster Leadership: Establish an AI in Education Task Force to oversee policy development and implementation.
  2. Promote AI Literacy: Integrate AI concepts and skills into existing curriculum and instruction.
  3. Provide Guidance: Equip schools with guidance on the safe and responsible use of AI.
  4. Build Capacity: Provide funding and programs to support professional development on AI.
  5. Support Innovation: Promote the research and development of safe and effective AI in education practices, curricula, and tools.

“These tools serve as practical resources, aiding leaders in understanding AI’s implications for education,” says Michele Blatt, State Superintendent of Schools, West Virginia. “It is critical that we ensure appropriate supports and guardrails are in place for our teachers and students to effectively use generative artificial intelligence. We must remember that AI is an additional technology tool that can increase productivity and support innovation while recognizing the importance of the teacher in the process.”

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in society and the workforce, education systems across the globe recognize the opportunity and the challenge posed by these advancements. From enhancing student engagement and addressing learning loss to transforming and redefining the essential skills of the workforce, AI offers possibilities for improving educational and career outcomes. This potential hinges on the responsible and ethical use of AI, taught through a framework that addresses critical concerns such as bias, misinformation, and the preparation of students for a world transformed by AI.

Nicolás Cataldo Astorga, Minister of Education, Chile, notes: “As educational systems, we must act swiftly to address a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly emerging. For public policy, this entails collaborating with communities, particularly educators, to creatively, critically, and safely harness these tools for learning, equity, and inclusion.”

“Artificial Intelligence will soon augment nearly every sector of our workforce, and our education system must prepare our students for that future,” says Chris Reykdal, Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Our mission is to embrace AI in our classrooms to enhance student learning; centering student inquiry, student reflection, and critical thinking.”

TeachAI invites education leaders and policymakers to explore these foundational policy ideas as a step towards embracing the transformative potential of AI in education while also addressing its challenges with foresight and responsibility.

Catherine Truitt, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, North Carolina, says: “By equipping educators and students with the knowledge and skills of AI, we are ensuring they are better prepared for their future. This valuable resource can help create policies and practices to responsibly incorporate AI into education.”

Visit www.teachai.org/policy to see the Foundational Policy Ideas for AI in Education.

About TeachAI

TeachAI brings together education leaders and technology experts to assist governments and education authorities in teaching with and about AI. The initiative is led by Code.org, ETS, the International Society for Technology in Education, Khan Academy, and the World Economic Forum and advised by a diverse group of 100+ organizations, governments, and individuals. TeachAI’s goals include guiding policy, building community and capacity, and increasing awareness. To learn more about TeachAI, please visit www.teachai.org/about.

PR Newswire

Global Methane Hub Announces the Enteric Fermentation Research & Development Accelerator, a $200M Agricultural Methane Mitigation Funding Initiative

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The Largest-Ever Globally Coordinated Funding Investment in Livestock Methane Mitigation Research Announced at the COP28 Business & Philanthropy Climate Forum

The public, private and philanthropic partnership includes Bezos Earth Fund, Quadrature Climate Fund, Gerstner Philanthropies, High Tide Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Zegar Family Foundation, Danone and more

DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today, at COP28, the Global Methane Hub (GMH) announced a more than $200 million funding initiative between public, private and philanthropic partners including the Bezos Earth Fund, Quadrature Climate Fund, Gerstner Philanthropies, High Tide Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Zegar Family Foundation, Danone, the Governments of Ireland, New Zealand and the United States, for research and development (R&D) technologies to meaningfully address and reduce methane emissions from livestock. 

The Enteric Fermentation R&D Accelerator, or Accelerator, is the largest-ever, globally coordinated investment of breakthrough research tackling livestock methane emissions. The Global Methane Hub announced the intention to establish the Accelerator at COP27 as an AIM for Climate Innovation Sprint. The Accelerator will unite funders, guided by a science oversight committee, to invest in a globally coordinated research plan. This strategy aims to address gaps in current research and enhance existing efforts. The strategy includes work on exploring new and alternate livestock feed additives, tools to breed low-methane livestock, immunological studies for a methane vaccine, understanding the organisms in the rumen and their functions, and lowering the costs of measurement, essential to generate evidence for regulatory approval and validation of mitigation technologies.

About 40% of the world’s methane emissions come from agriculture, and 70% of that is due to enteric fermentation. This process happens in cows’ digestive systems when sugars are broken down into methane and released through belching. Unfortunately, current research on enteric fermentation is not extensive or coordinated enough to provide efficient and transformative solutions to significantly benefit farmers.

This is the latest milestone to mark the impact GMH is having on global methane reduction efforts since its founding in December 2021.

“The Accelerator is a prime example of the role philanthropy can play in driving substantive climate action and strategically aligning the key players working to solve the most pressing issue of our time,” said Hayden Montgomery, Agriculture Program Director at the Global Methane Hub. “With this effort to synchronize and consolidate public-good research on enteric methane, we aim to make multiple solutions to reduce enteric methane available quickly and provide proof of the efficacy of livestock mitigation technologies.”

“We know that cattle are responsible for most agricultural methane emissions. Promising technological and scientific solutions exist, but for too long, monetary and regulatory barriers have slowed progress and prevented critical research,” said Andy Jarvis, Director of Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund. “The Global Methane Hub’s Enteric Methane R&D Accelerator stands to change all of this, unlocking the resources needed to discover and develop low-cost solutions that will dramatically reduce methane emissions from livestock by 2030.”

“Through the Accelerator, we are poised to make a significant impact in driving innovation towards solutions to reduce enteric methane globally,” said Richard Lawrence, director and co-founder of High Tide Foundation. “I would like to thank Danone for stepping up as the first corporation committed to the Accelerator and I encourage others to do the same.”

“As a dairy company, curbing methane emissions is the fastest and most impactful way to slow down global warming,” said Olivier Verdelet, Vice-President Agriculture Cycle at Danone. “To do so, collaboration will be instrumental as we seek for new solutions, speed and sizable impacts. We are eager to collaborate with the Global Methane Hub and other partners to accelerate and test scalable innovations in the field. We believe this will help us build a sustainable, future-fit dairy category that is at the core of our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible.”

Agricultural methane is projected to increase 40% by 2050. We would have to reduce emissions by 50% in order to meet the accords of the Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature rise to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Reducing methane emissions from all sectors, including agriculture, is the fastest way to mitigate climate change.

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PR Newswire

Algorand Foundation Announces Strategic Investment in Digital Payment Platform, HesabPay

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HesabPay showcased at the Algorand Impact Summit in New Delhi

NEW DELHI, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Algorand Foundation announces a strategic investment by Algorand Ventures in HesabPay on stage today at the Algorand Impact Summit in New Delhi, where business leaders, policymakers, NGOs, and developers convened to discuss how blockchain can be part of the solution to the world’s most intractable challenges.

Courtesy of HesabPay
Courtesy of HesabPay

HesabPay is the first and only interoperable digital payments platform in Afghanistan, utilizing the speed and reliability of the Algorand blockchain. Initially built as a solution to the humanitarian aid crisis, more than a dozen organizations, including the World Food Programme, have used the platform to send funds directly to beneficiaries in Afghanistan. HesabPay has since expanded its use cases and now allows users to buy airtime, pay electric bills, and send digital funds to other users.  HesabPay has facilitated 51,000 humanitarian cash transfers and has been used to pay over 1.3 million electricity bills.

HesabPay is a critical tool for Afghanistan, where 85% of the adult population is unbanked, according to the World Bank.  A recent study by the London School of Economics (LSE) trailed nearly 2,500 Afghan women receiving aid via HesabPay and found that “digital payments can be an effective and transparent way of helping those most in need.” The study found that over 98% of the money transferred digitally was spent as local purchases in the first eight weeks, with the women surveyed reported skipping fewer meals and eating a more nutritionally diverse diet both while receiving the payments and for several weeks afterward.

“In the case of HesabPay, it was apparent to us from the beginning that the solution they are offering was critical for some of the world’s most marginalized populations,” says Matt Keller, head of impact and inclusion at Algorand Foundation. “It is only fitting that we announced this investment at the Algorand Impact Summit, demonstrating how blockchain can serve as an efficient, reliable, and transparent solution for the global unbanked.”

Also at the Impact Summit, Algorand announced partnerships with Mann Deshi, Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

For more information, please visit https://algorand.foundation.

About Algorand Foundation

The Algorand Foundation is dedicated to helping fulfill the global promise of the Algorand blockchain by taking responsibility for its sound monetary supply economics, decentralized governance, and healthy and prosperous open-source ecosystem. Designed by MIT professor and Turing Award winning cryptographer Silvio Micali, Algorand is uniquely capable of delivering on the promise of a borderless global economy. It achieves transaction throughputs at the speed of traditional finance, but with immediate finality, near zero transaction costs, and on a 24/7 basis. 

PR Newswire

Open Compute Project Tackles Data Center Hardware and Firmware Security

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Launches New Community Led Security Program Improving IT Device Security Posture

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the Open Compute Project Foundation (OCP), the nonprofit organization bringing hyperscale innovations to all, announced a new program, OCP Security Appraisal Framework and Enablement (S.A.F.E.) designed to improve the trustworthiness of devices across all data center IT infrastructure. The OCP S.A.F.E. program is expected to reduce cost overhead and redundancy of device security audits with an OCP Community developed per device security checklist, and advance the security posture of device hardware and firmware components across the supply chain.

The S.A.F.E. program adds a new dimension to the services offered by the OCP Foundation. It all starts with the OCP Community developing a standardized device specific audit checklist and criteria for selecting 3rd party device security review auditors. Both the device audit checklist and auditor selection criteria will be open sourced and available to all. Device auditors will do a self-assessment and those that qualify will be designated as OCP Security Review Providers (SRP). Device vendors will commission an OCP recognized SRP to conduct a device specific security review based on the appropriate OCP Community provided checklist.

“The OCP S.A.F.E. Program is designed to be a catalyst for upleveling the effort on security across the OCP Community and the industry. The OCP S.A.F.E. program is an OCP Community led effort to bring standardizations to device firmware security validation to help data center operators maintain a consistent security posture with reduced costs through removing duplication of efforts which can be replicated by other market segments. Security is the underlying foundation which makes OCP core tenets of efficiency, openness, scale, impact and sustainability possible,” said Steve Helvie, VP Emerging Markets at the Open Compute Project Foundation.

“Creating a standardized approach for provenance, code quality and software supply chain for firmware releases and firmware patches that run on data center IT devices benefits the broader community; from democratizing the review process to streamlining efforts. Google is pleased to be a founding member of the OCP S.A.F.E. program and together, with the community, we will accomplish our mutual goal of increased security assurance for the industry,” said Phil Venables, CISO, Google Cloud.

Independent third-party audits present significant challenges. These results are often available only to a certain set of customers, limiting their market impact. Also, these reviews are often commissioned by device consumers at the time of purchase, with device reviews are only performed once and subsequent security issues introduced by firmware upgrades and patches go undetected. The OCP driving a standardized approach, across all data center operators, will effectively and efficiently address these issues.

“We have partnered with OCP to create SAFE, a framework that promotes systematic security evaluations across the hardware ecosystem. This initiative provides enhanced levels of quality and security assurance to all hardware consumers,” said Mark Russinovich, Azure CTO.

The OCP S.A.F.E. Program is designed to reduce cost overhead and redundancy of device security audits, (1) provide security conformance assurance to device consumers (2) increase the number of devices whose firmware and associated updates are reviewed on a continuous basis, rather than only once when the device is 1st manufactured. (3) advance the security posture of device hardware and firmware components, through iterative refinement of review areas, testing scopes and reporting requirements.

The program has received strong support from both 3rd party auditors, device and silicon vendors. Currently Atredis Partners, IO Active, and NCC Group are enrolled as OCP Security Review Providers, with participating device vendors AMD and SK Hynix, and silicon vendor Intel.

“The OCP S.A.F.E. program with the increased level of security assurance it can provide should bring a new level of confidence to the market for data center IT device consumers and ultimately end users of cloud provider provided services. The efficiencies it drives at the same time as improving security is refreshing for the industry. This is just one example of how open collaboration within a community such as the OCP can benefit everyone,” said Ashish Nadkarni, Group Vice President and General Manager, Worldwide Infrastructure at IDC.

About the Open Compute Project Foundation
The Open Compute Project (OCP) is a collaborative Community of hyperscale data center operators, telecom, colocation providers and enterprise IT users, working with the product and solution vendor ecosystem to develop open innovations deployable from the cloud to the edge. The OCP Foundation is responsible for fostering and serving the OCP Community to meet the market and shape the future, taking hyperscale-led innovations to everyone. Meeting the market is accomplished through addressing challenging market obstacles with open specifications, designs and emerging market programs that showcase OCP-recognized IT equipment and data center facility best practices. Shaping the future includes investing in strategic initiatives and programs that prepare the IT ecosystem for major technology changes, such as AI & ML, optics, advanced cooling techniques, composable memory and silicon. OCP Community-developed open innovations strive to benefit all, optimized through the lens of impact, efficiency, scale and sustainability. Learn more at www.opencompute.org.

Media Contact

Dirk Van Slyke
Open Compute Project Foundation
Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
dirkv@opencompute.org
Mobile: +1 303-999-7398
(Central Time Zone/CST/Houston, TX)

PR Newswire

UN WOMEN’S HEFORSHE ALLIANCE CALLS TO RESPECTFULLY DISRUPT THE PATRIARCHICAL STRUCTURES AND STATUS QUO

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Amid a growing pushback against women’s rights, leaders from across government, business, non-profit and academia step forward to respectfully disrupt status quo and accelerate progress toward achieving gender equality at UN Women’s HeForShe Summit. 

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Alongside the United Nations General Assembly, key stakeholders from the global private and public sector gathered at UN Women’s HeForShe Summit to reinforce commitments, share innovative solutions, and increase collaboration across sectors to achieve gender equality.

UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, delivered opening remarks. UN Women/Ryan Brown
UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, delivered opening remarks. UN Women/Ryan Brown

With a growing pushback against women’s rights, institutions and individuals have an increasing role and responsibility to play in the pursuit of gender equality. As a key moment along the midpoint for Generation Equality, the world’s leading initiative to boost investment and implementation of gender equality, the HeForShe Summit calls for everyone to play their part and respectfully disrupt the patriarchal status quo that holds us back from closing current gender gaps.

 “It should particularly alarm us that the attitudes of young men seem to be going backwards, unfortunately,” said Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women. “A UN Women-supported survey showed that 58 per cent of young men aged 16-19 believe that men are better political leaders than women. How then will we achieve equality of women’s leadership?  Nearly 1 in 4 young men believe that there are acceptable instances to hit a partner or spouse.  How then will we end the scourge of violence against women?”

Ms. Bahous praised the HeForShe Champions from across government, business, non-profit and academia for stepping forward and taking action as gender equality advocates and allies. “Our corporate champions have increased participation of women in their Boards to a minimum of 40 per cent. This is commendable”, she said.

The Summit was marked with a spoken-word performance by poet, activist and artist, Rupi Kaur, who premiered her unpublished poem “to believe in equality”, as well as a musical performance by pianist, composer and activist, Chloe Flower.

Throughout the event, leaders reiterated a resounding call to action to respectfully disrupt. Michael Roberts, CEO of HSBC US and Americas, and Maha AlQattan, Group Chief Sustainability Officer of DP World, urged business leaders around the world to introduce mechanisms for accountability in making gender equality a business priority. Dr. Joy Buolamwini, Founder of the Algorithmic Justice League and author of Unmasking AI, and Dr. Sasha Luccioni, recently named one of MIT Technology Review’s 2023 35 Innovators Under 35 in Artificial Intelligence, both reinforced the need to balance progress of Artificial Intelligence with the threat of perpetuating and deepening gender bias. Masculinity experts such as Richard Reeves, nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and President of the American Institute for Boys and Men, as well as Michelle Terry, CEO of Movember, called for a new model of masculinity – one that inspires solutions and reframes the gender equality conversation away from a zero-sum game.

The recent UN Women and UN DESA report, “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2023” shows that progress on gender equality is way off track and demonstrates the need of an additional USD 360 billion in investment per year to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment by 2030. The mission of the HeForShe Alliance is not only to inspire strategic investment, but ultimately to respectfully disrupt patriarchal structures that sustain and perpetuate gender bias and its manifestations throughout industries, governments, nonprofit organizations, universities, and everyday lives.

Join the conversation: Follow @HeForShe @UN_Women on Twitter using the hashtag #HeForSheSummit

About UN Women
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.

For more information, visit www.unwomen.org. 

About HeForShe:
Created by UN Women, Heforshe is a solidarity movement for gender equality that invites men and boys to act for a more equal world. HeForShe provides targeted platform where a global audience can engage and advocate for the achievement of gender equality in our lifetime. The movement invites people around the world to stand together as equal partners to craft a shared vision of a gender-equal world and implement specific, locally relevant solutions. For more information, visit: www.HeForShe.org/en.

 Media Contacts: 

Janine Kandel, UN Women – janine.kandel@unwomen.org, media.team@unwomen.org

Kiri Jo Ginnerup, UN Women – kiri.ginnerup@unwomen.org

Poet, Activist and Artist, Rupi Kaur, delivered a spoken-word performance. UN Women/Ryan Brown
Poet, Activist and Artist, Rupi Kaur, delivered a spoken-word performance. UN Women/Ryan Brown
PR Newswire

Modernising Philanthropy: Kidney Dialysis Foundation Embraces Technology with over 50 GivePlease Donation Terminals Islandwide for Flag Day Fundraising

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Changing the fundraising landscape, one donation terminal at a time.  

SINGAPORE, July 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Kidney Dialysis Foundation (KDF) is set to revolutionise its annual Flag Day event on 15 July 2023 by introducing over 50 cutting-edge GivePlease donation terminals alongside traditional donation tins. This initiative demonstrates KDF’s commitment to embracing technology and providing a seamless, convenient, and secure donation experience for donors.

Figure 1: An example of a KDF GivePlease Donation Terminal that will be held by KDF staff and volunteers stationed islandwide on Flag Day. Photo courtesy of Kidney Dialysis Foundation.
Figure 1: An example of a KDF GivePlease Donation Terminal that will be held by KDF staff and volunteers stationed islandwide on Flag Day. Photo courtesy of Kidney Dialysis Foundation.

Flag Day holds immense significance for KDF, with volunteers and donors traditionally contributing through donation tins. While KDF recognises the enduring impact of these traditional methods, the foundation is taking a leap forward to meet the evolving preferences of donors, particularly the tech-savvy audience, by incorporating GivePlease donation terminals into the event. 

GivePlease donation terminals provide a modern and intuitive platform, designed specifically for donors who prefer seamless digital transactions. Developed with a built-in secure payment engine and innovative integration to GovTech Singpass, donors can effortlessly submit their particulars via Singpass QR code scanning and receive tax deduction benefits after giving to KDF. These state-of-the-art terminals will be strategically placed at various locations, making it easier than ever for individuals to contribute to KDF’s cause.

Mr. Raymond Lim, General Manager of the Kidney Dialysis Foundation, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “The introduction of GivePlease donation terminals during Flag Day signifies our unwavering commitment to innovation and exploring new avenues for fundraising.”

“This initiative reflects our commitment to embrace innovation and cater to the evolving preferences of our supporters. By blending technology with tradition, we are transforming the way people donate and ensuring that every contribution makes a meaningful difference in the lives of kidney patients,” he added.

With the adoption of GivePlease donation terminals, KDF aims to harness the power of technology and tap into the digital landscape to raise funds to help provide affordable and quality care for kidney patients. 

As Flag Day approaches, KDF invites individuals from all walks of life to participate in this remarkable event and contribute to the well-being of kidney patients in Singapore. Whether donors choose the convenience of the GivePlease donation terminals or the familiarity of the donation tins, every contribution counts and creates a significant impact on the lives of those affected by kidney disease.

The Flag Day event will be held on 15 July 2023, with a fundraising goal of $50,000 for needy kidney patients in Singapore. Funds raised will go into providing underprivileged kidney patients with treatments, medication, transport, and holistic care, as well as support the Foundation’s outreach efforts to increase awareness of kidney health. 

Members of the public can also contribute to this meaningful cause by visiting this link at
https://www.giving.sg/kidney-dialysis-foundation/kdffd23.

Appendix: GivePlease Donation Terminals

About Kidney Dialysis Foundation Singapore

Established in 1996, the Kidney Dialysis Foundation (KDF) is a company limited by guarantee. It is registered as a charity under the Charities Act 1994 and is governed and monitored by our Charity Sector Administrator, the Ministry of Health on behalf of the Commissioner of Charities. KDF is also an Institution of Public Character (IPC) charity organisation dedicated to providing subsidised dialysis treatments and holistic care to needy members of the community.

Kidney patients at KDF belong to the lowest 10% income group in Singapore, more than half of whom have a monthly per capita income (PCI) of $1,200 and below. Without subsidies, dialysis fees can set a patient back by more than $2,000 monthly. To date, KDF has served more than 950 patients, granting needy end-stage kidney patients a new lease of life through quality treatment and holistic care.

For more information about the Foundation, please visit https://www.kdf.org.sg/

About GivePlease

GivePlease is a leading Singapore-based fintech firm, at the forefront of seamless digital giving technology. With its ground-breaking on-demand donation platforms, GivePlease is transforming the experience of giving, combining digital and physical infrastructure to embed donation access points into people’s daily lives. By partnering with charities and religious organisations, GivePlease brings trust, transparency and a modernised donation experience that fosters increased generosity.

GivePlease builds technology for good and business for purpose. When donating is made easy and part of daily life, the world benefits and change is created. 

For more information, please visit www.giveplease.sg

For Media Enquiries,

Bellamy Leong (Mr.)
Donor Relations and Communications Executive
Kidney Dialysis Foundation
Tel: +65 98147598
Email: bellamy.leong@kdf.org.sg

Vincent Phua (Mr.)
Community and Partnerships Lead
GivePlease
Tel: +65 90406645        
Email: vincent.phua@giveplease.sg

PR Newswire

Call for Entries for Mozilla’s Rise 25 Awards

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SAN FRANCISCO, July 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Mozilla, the nonprofit-backed tech company whose mission is to ensure the internet is a global public resource that is open and accessible to all, today announced their Rise 25 Awards final deadline for entry as July 17, 2023. The awards will recognize and celebrate the 25 game-changers who are shaping the future of the internet to be more ethical, responsible and inclusive, ensuring a positive future for all. To commemorate Mozilla’s 25th anniversary, a ceremony will be held in October in Berlin, with details including programming updates to be announced in the near future.

“Mozilla’s mission has always been to benefit public interest, from when we first open-sourced our Firefox browser code 25 years ago, to the technologies we create today that spark innovation, more competition, and more choice online,” said Lindsey O’Brien, Chief Marketing Officer at Mozilla. “With Rise 25, we celebrate our 25th anniversary and honor the innovators who are shaping the future of the internet, creating technologies to be more ethical, responsible and equitable, and content that is more inclusive and diverse.”

Five honorees will be selected for the following categories:`

  1. Artists creating innovative and thought-provoking digital artwork who use the internet as their canvas to inspire others and re-think what’s possible online.
  2. Activists who are using the internet to drive social and political change, and to amplify their voices to make a difference in the world.
  3. Creators, filmmakers, educators, comedians, etc. who are using storytelling to build community online, inspiring their audiences and sparking important conversations.
  4. Builders, engineers and technical people who are building the infrastructure of the internet, shaping the technical side of the web, making it faster, more secure and accessible to everyone.
  5. Advocates, policymakers, lawyers, etc. who are shaping the regulations and policies governing the internet, fighting to keep it open and free.

The 25 honorees will receive roundtrip transportation to Berlin, as well as accommodations to attend the ceremony in person. To submit a nominee for consideration, visit https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/rise25 by Monday, July 17, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. PT. The 25 honorees will be announced at a later date.

About Mozilla
Founded in 1998 in San Francisco, Mozilla is the non-profit-backed technology company behind pioneering brands like Firefox, the privacy-minded web browser. More than 270 million people around the world use Mozilla products every month.

Media Contact:
pr@mozilla.com 

PR Newswire

NEW REPORT FROM GENERATION REVEALS HOW EMPLOYERS MUST ADAPT HIRING PRACTICES TO ATTRACT ENTRY-LEVEL TECH TALENT

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Despite rhetoric around skills-based hiring, 61% of employers added work or education screening requirements for entry-level hires over the past three years

Companies that removed degree or work requirements see a significant increase in number of applicants and comparable on-the-job performance

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — New data from Generation, the global employment non-profit, reveals that organizations must radically rethink hiring practices for entry-level tech talent – and lays out first steps to take.

A number of companies have already broken the mold and removed degree or work requirements over the past three years, and they are reaping the benefits.

Nearly 60% of organizations that eliminated these requirements saw an increase in the number of applicants, allowing them to hire more people more quickly, and tapping into new candidate pools that can fuel talent diversity. Better still, they saw little trade-off in terms of performance once candidates were in the job—with 84% of companies saying that people they hired without degree or education requirements performed the same or better than people hired using traditional methods.

These findings come from Launching a Tech Hiring Revolution, a study of thousands of employers, entry-level tech employees, and jobseekers, spanning eight countries: Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the UK, and the US. The research was supported by The Hg Foundation as well as Bank of America, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, and MetLife Foundation.

Globally, 86% of surveyed employers say they are hiring for entry-level tech roles. Organizations across various sectors, including banking, manufacturing, and retail, all have tech needs, forcing them to compete for talent. And they are struggling, with 62% of employers saying that entry-level tech recruitment processes need to change.

True entry-level tech jobs have disappeared, with 94% of employers saying their hiring requirements for “entry-level” tech roles include prior work experience in a related field.

But despite the continued rhetoric around skills-based hiring, nearly two-thirds of employers globally (61%) added education or work requirements over the past three years for entry-level tech roles. And not just technical skills, as 40% increased behavioral skill requirements as well.

As those employers that defied that trend have shown, shifting hiring to focus on skills rather than degrees is a way to access new talent pools. Focusing on skills-based techniques was a key part of employer success for the group that removed requirements, with tech industry certifications playing an important role. However, while certifications served as a hiring process equalizer across ethnicities, gender bias persisted. Men without certifications received more job offers per interview than women with certifications.

Even though employers are strongly motivated to expand entry-level tech pipelines, those that are struggling to change cite tight budgets and a lack of executive support as tough obstacles. The report concludes there are four ingredients to unlocking the needed shift, including:

  • Expand applicant pools by removing work experience and degree requirements, and instead prioritizing certifications and other skills indicators.
  • During the hiring process, use technical assessments to ensure that applicants have the necessary skills for the job.
  • Throughout, pay attention to both behavioral and technical skills.
  • Rethink hiring teams to reduce tacit bias and increase talent diversity.

To continue to explore the possibilities of a skills-based approach, Generation will assemble a coalition of global employers that want to make the kinds of changes the research calls for and share results publicly to create durable solutions that can be applied across sectors and around the globe.

You can read the whole report here.

Mona Mourshed, founding global CEO of Generation said:

“The first rung of the tech job ladder is broken. Every day, at Generation, we sit at the intersection of thousands of employers and learners, and we see the friction in the hiring process that makes it hard for talented people, who come from backgrounds that have been historically overlooked, to get in the door. That’s why we undertook this research to help employers and society unclog that vital entry-level tech pipeline. The next step is to go deeper in exploring what works, and I’m excited to partner with a coalition of global employers that are committed to opening up opportunity in tech to more people.”

Martina Sanow, Trustee of The Hg Foundation, a grant-giving charity with a focus on removing barriers to education and skills in technology, and Partner at Hg said:

“Those from diverse backgrounds and who haven’t followed traditional pathways represent a huge pool of potential talent for the tech sector. This landmark research represents a step change in our understanding of the global entry-level talent market and where the challenges and opportunities lie. The next crucial step is to build on the report’s recommendations and to trial with employers innovative recruitment approaches that harness the abilities of under-served groups.”

Notes to Editors

Methodology

The findings in this report are drawn from a survey commissioned by Generation that was in the field from November 4, 2022, to January 9, 2023. The study included employed people (aged 18 and over), unemployed people (aged 18 and over), and hiring and technical managers at employers.

The survey drew 4,023 responses from employed and unemployed people, and 1,325 responses from employers, across Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

About Generation

Generation is a global employment nonprofit network that supports people to achieve economic mobility so they can change their lives. We train and place adults into careers that would otherwise be inaccessible and seek to improve how education to employment systems function. Generation launched in 2015 and consists of a global hub and a network of in-country affiliates that spans 17 countries. To date, Generation has more than 80,000 graduates who have earned more than $630 million in wages, and works with more than 11,000 employers, implementation partners, and funders. For more, visit generation.org.

About The Hg Foundation

The Hg Foundation’s vision is that the tech workforce of the future harnesses the talents of all, regardless of background.  It does this by supporting education and employment-based programmes across the UK, USA, and Europe where it can demonstrate measurable, long-term and scalable impact and make a difference to those that need it most. To date it has committed $14m to programmes that will reach 10,000 young people and adults from under-represented backgrounds. The Hg Foundation is registered Charity no. 1189216. Find out more at https://www.thehgfoundation.com/ 

PR Newswire

SDAIA and World Bank Group Meet and Discuss the Kingdom’s Global Role in Digital Development Policies

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — His Excellency Dr. Esam A. Alwagait, Director General of National Information Center at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority – SDAIA, received Ms. Christine Zhenwei Qiang, Director of the Digital Development Global Practice at the World Bank today at SDAIA headquarters in Riyadh, and her accompanying delegation, in the presence of several officials from SDAIA.

His Excellency discussed with the Director of the World Bank’s Digital Development Global Practice the Kingdom’s role in the Digital Development Partnership (DDP) that aims to enable growth and prosperity in developing countries. In addition, the two parties discussed SDAIA’s efforts in the DDP Partnership Council, the Kingdom’s experience and competitive gains at the international level, and the DDP 2.0 strategy, which includes several areas and priorities for digital development policies in developing countries. Last year, the Kingdom, represented by SDAIA, joined the multi-donor trust fund, which is administered by the World Bank, as a partner.

During the visit, SDAIA organized a meeting in the presence of several government entities’ representatives, including the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Fund for Development, as well as representatives of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, the National Cybersecurity Authority, the Digital Government Authority, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Public Investment Fund, represented by SCAI and Elm.

During the meeting, participants discussed the leading practices in the Kingdom in digital development, the Kingdom’s policies in this area, and the effective role the Kingdom plays in promoting digital development policies at the international level in addition to aligning and supporting efforts related to digital development in developing countries.

PR Newswire

Hikvision launches global STAR program for social good

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— Unleashing the power of technology to create a better world

HANGZHOU, China, Feb. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Hikvision has announced the launch of the Global STAR (Sustainability through Technology, Actions for Responsibility) Program for Social Good. The program aims to partner with non-profit organizations exploring innovative ways to protect valuable nature and culture and benefit communities through Hikvision’s cutting-edge technologies.

Hikvision launches global STAR program for social good
Hikvision launches global STAR program for social good

The scope of the STAR Program will focus on three areas: biodiversity monitoring and conservation, environmental monitoring and protection, and cultural heritage preservation. Through this program, Hikvision is looking for partners such as NGOs, social enterprises, research institutions, and other organizations to make a difference in these three areas.

Hikvision launches global STAR program for social good
Hikvision launches global STAR program for social good

“In two decades, we have transformed Hikvision from a small startup to a global enterprise. We are so glad to see that our products are making a positive societal impact every day around the world not only by safeguarding communities, but also improving commercial efficiency, protecting biodiversity and advancing environmental conservation. In the future, we will keep on technology innovation and provide more value for communities and our planet,” said Huang Fanghong, Senior Vice President of Hikvision.

Hikvision recognizes its responsibility and has initiated projects for social good across the globe, such as helping protect rhinos from poachers in South Africa, aiding researchers monitoring and analyzing the recovery of rescued sea turtles, and monitoring the quality of source water with innovative IoT technologies.

To learn more about the STAR Program, please visit:
https://www.hikvision.com/en/about-us/sustainability/STAR/ 

If you want to join us or have any questions, you are more than welcome to contact:
STAR@hikvision.com