Researchers, officials explore utilizing Open Government Data in Palestine in Center for Continuing Education, Ministry of Telecommunications workshop

Birzeit University’sCenter for Continuing Education and the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology held a workshop on Open Government Data on November 18, 2021.

The two-session workshop introduced participants to the definition of Open Government Data as well as its organizing policies that are currently being implemented by the ministry of telecommunications to promote innovation, transparency and accountability through allowing free access to government data. The workshop explored how government data is presented on open source platforms and the key legal challenges facing governments when disseminating their data.

Additionally, the participants discussed how open data can help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by providing critical information about government operations and public services, fostering economic growth and increase accountability and transparency.

Speaking at the workshop were Ishaq Sider, the minister of communication and information technology; Mousa Abu Zaid, chairman of the General Personnel Council; Nibal Idlebi, chief of the Innovation Section at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia; Marwan Tarazi, director of the Center for Continuing Education; Abdel Razeq Natsheh, a data science expert; and Abed Khouli an expert in open data science.

With the conclusion of this workshop, the Center for Continuing Education announced that it is organizing a new, specialized training program on preparing, categorizing and publishing open data on dedicated platforms.

The workshop is available as a recording through Zoom; access passcode: 4DP7!RK8.