Digital Entry Level License in Norway -

Deutsche Version: Digitale Einsteiger-Lizenz in Norwegen
Version française: License d’entrée numérique en Norvège
Versione italiana: Patente principianti digitale in Norvegia

Prof. Torbjørn Skauli, LA4ZCA has received funding from the Norwegian Research Council («Norges forskningsråd») in the amount of 1 million NOK, corresponding to CHF 100,000. His project application to create an «Entry Level License for Digital Technologies» for young technology enthusiasts apparently met the expectations of the Research Council. Those are described on their website as follows: «The purpose of this call is to increase children’s and adolescents’ digital skills and understanding of digital technology. Through these funds, we wish to enable children and adolescents to learn how digital content and services are developed and applied.»

To this end, the amateur radio world of the 21st century offers excellent content: digital themes such as DSP, SDR, coding, network/Internet/Web technologies, micro-processors/controllers, OSS, FreeDV, LoRa/Internet of Things, GNU Radio/GRC, HAMNET, etc., building on basic electronics knowledge.

The Research Council of Norway has sent clear guidelines to the Norwegian Communications Authority NKOM. They are now working on the licensing requirements and conditions.
It remains to be seen whether this innovative model will also be adopted by other countries. It certainly seems worth examining, as young people can only be motivated to join our community with 21st century ICT technologies that bring them direct benefits for education, work and life. The leader of the Norwegian initiative, Torbjørn LA4ZCA, has kindly agreed to inform us about this project at a USKA HamWebinar in December and to discuss it with us.
A HamGroup on the topic is also being planned.

Willi HB9AMC, Head a.i. Training/Young Talents USKA
Sources:
SSA.se, Research Council of Norway, and southgatearc.org