Academia play an important role in the research and development of telecommunications and information and communication technologies (ICTs). As such, ITU is committed to strengthening the innovative roles of academic members in the work of the Union.
This week, ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao joined the Directors of ITU’s Radiocommunication and Development Bureaux along with the Deputy Director of Standardization to welcome the delegation of Tsinghua University, led by the University President Professor Yong Qiu, to strengthen collaboration between ITU and Tsinghua University.
Together they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at ITU Headquarters, along with a Co-Publishing Agreement between ITU and the Tsinghua University Press Ltd. for a new joint publication under the framework of the ITU Journal: ICT Discoveries.
Tsinghua University is a long-standing ITU Academia member. The university joined ITU in 2011 and was one of ITU’s first academia members. They have supported the innovative work of various study groups, including those on digital broadcasting and radiocommunciations. In 2017, Professor Jian Song was officially appointed as Editor-in-Chief of the ITU academic journal ICT Discoveries.
The first special issue of the ITU Journal: ICT Discoveries on Artificial Intelligence was published in March 2018. It explored novel applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques that can improve the performance and efficiency of communication infrastructure, systems and components, create new services and ensure optimal user experience.
In December 2018, the full volume of the second issue of the ITU Journal: ICT Discoveries on Data for Good was published. The second special issue welcomed academic papers that offer insight into the increased sophistication of techniques used to exchange and understand data while also exploring how data can safely fuel more autonomous, human-centric ICTs. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the issue, it encouraged contributions that add a deeper dimension to the discussion by looking at policy, regulatory and ethical aspects involved in the increasing use of data today. Professor Song also confirmed that the third special issue of ICT Discoveries on radio wave propagation is under preparation and will be published by the end of 2019.
“In both its first and second issue, the ITU Journal has demonstrated its dedication to an interdisciplinary study of our highly interconnected world,” says the ITU Journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Professor Jian Song of Tsinghua University.
The history of collaboration between ITU and Tsinghua University has proven to be an excellent example of good and substantial cooperation. The ITU Journal is just the beginning. The MoU will open more horizons to expand the work together and join forces in promoting innovative research, promotion of the ITU Journal, and other key activities.
This MoU signed this week will provide an opportunity to continue efforts and strengthen collaboration in global and regional events as well as research in radiocommunication, standardization and telecommunication development activities, including emerging topics such as Artificial Intelligence, 5G, digital broadcasting, Internet of Things, Smart Cities, Blockchain and quantum computing.
The Co-Publishing Agreement will jointly launch a new scholarly publication dedicated to emerging ICT-related topics. The purpose of this journal is to publish original, scientific research, focusing on recent developments in telecommunications and ICTs on a quarterly basis. This Journal will be the first of this kind with universities and it will also open doors to other universities to follow this model. This kind of publication will give an opportunity to engage more academia members in the work of ITU and promote their expertise as they are on the forefront of innovative research.
ITU Members have expressed continued support for the ITU Journal. At the recent ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, a new Resolution was passed to establish collaborative efforts with the international research community (RESOLUTION COM5/1 DUBAI, 2018) which resolves to raise awareness of the ITU Journal worldwide.
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