| Election ICT Capacity Building for High Officials |
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| Last updated 2016-11-04 |
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The Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) recently held an Election ICT Capacity Building Program at the A-WEB Secretariat in Incheon directed towards high-level officials from member organizations. A total of 13 participants from 6 countries took part in the program, which was made up of seminars, study visits, and hands-on demonstrations of different ICT equipment. The program was held from October 24th to the 28th 2016, with the goal of establishing a network of high level officials with the hopes of facilitating discussion on the role of ICT in elections and sharing their vast knowledge with other high-level officials.
(16.10.24_ Group Picture)
As the first Capacity Building Program for high officials, A-WEB was honored to have such a vast amount of experience and knowledge participate in the program. The participants were able to discuss amongst each other on the role of ICT in elections in their respective countries along with providing new ideas for other members. The first day welcomed the participants with a luncheon held by the Secretary General of A-WEB in Songdo, Incheon. Afterwards, the participants moved to the A-WEB Secretariat for the first seminar given by Director Young-Tak Kim, Technical Support Department. Director Kim gave a presentation on the types of ICT used in elections throughout the world and then took the participants to the Election ICT Experience Hall located in the A-WEB Secretariat.
(16.10.24_ ICT Seminar)
(16.10.24_ Delegates from office of the Electoral Commissioner of Samoa)
(16.10.24_ Demonstration of ICT Equipment)
(16.10.24_ Hands-on Demonstration of ICT Equipment)
The next day the participants were taken to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as a cultural study visit to learn more about the history of Korea. The study visit took the participants throughout one of the world’s most heavily fortified borders where they learned how the Korean Peninsula became two countries.
(16.10.25_ Study Visit to the DMZ)
(16.10.25_ Study Visit to the DMZ)
The participants returned to the A-WEB Secretariat the next day to give a country profile presentation on the current situation of elections in the respective countries. Each country provided a quick overview of their country as well as their organization and then discussed about the current role ICT plays in elections. This created an opportunity for the participants to learn from other members while also providing possible solutions to obstacles some members were facing.
(16.10.26_ Country Profile Presentation)
(16.10.26_ Country Profile Presentation)
The day ended with a lively discussion of the advantages and drawbacks of electronic elections. Especially, the issue of security was discussed extensively and strategies to keep electronic data and electronic voting processes secure in the different countries were analyzed and compared.
The penultimate day of the program started with a visit to the Samsung Innovation Museum in Suwon, Seoul. Participants learned about the history of one of Korea’s leading electronics and appliances producer and were also introduced to technologies of the future.
(16.10.27_ Old Samsung TV, Samsung Innovation Museum)
(16.10.27_ Samsung Innovation Museum Group Picture)
After an interesting tour through the history of the electronics industry in South Korea, participants then visited the National Election Commission (NEC) of Korea where they met Vice-Chairperson Moon Sang-boo. A brief video about the NEC’s goals and responsibilities was shown and then an active Q&A session ensued with participants especially interested in the role the NEC plays in regulating political party finances.
(16.10.27_ Visit to the National Election Commission of Korea)
(16.10.27_ Commissioner Ugyen Chewang, Bhutan and Vice-Chairperson Moon Sang-boo)
(16.10.27_ Visit to the National Election Commission of Korea)
The day was concluded with a visit to Insadong, a part of Seoul where traditional and cultural goods are sold. Participants shopped for souvenirs to take home to their countries and enjoyed traditional Korean tea in one of the many tea houses.
On October 28, the program closed with the Farewell Luncheon at the Oakwood Hotel in Incheon. Good food, interesting conversations, and inspiring speeches rounded off a great week in South Korea. Certificates were awarded to each participant and presents were exchanged.
(16.10.28_ A-WEB Director General, Dobin Yim and Henry Mailo, Samoa)
(16.10.28_ Farewell Luncheon)
A-WEB would like to thank all the participants for making the long journey to Korea. We hope that the knowledge gained during this week will have a tangible impact on the election management skills of each participant and will aid the organizations of the different participating countries in developing their own strategy for the use of ICT in elections.
(Click the link below for more program pictures) https://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisaweb/albums/72157672221162803
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