ITU Spectrum Management Training Program: A Comprehensive Modular Framework for Formalized Professional Education

This article describes the concept and composition of the ITU Spectrum Management Training Program (SMTP) that was developed by the International Telecommunication Union and is currently being implemented under the auspices of the ITU Academy. SMTP was designed as a flexible ECTS-based modular framework for professional training that allows various degrees of immersion as well as different specialization paths toward a formal professional certification in the field of radio spectrum management. SMTP offers a solid and holistic system of professional education in both the theoretical and practical aspects of spectrum management as an important standardization activity supporting development of wireless communications. The ITU envisages SMTP eventually becoming a global "gold standard" for professional education in the highly specialized field of spectrum management. An essential differentiator for SMTP, compared to the limited offerings currently available for spectrum management training, is the formalized assessment of learning outcomes in terms of obtained professional skills and qualifications. Upon successful completion of SMTP, participants will be awarded a professional qualifications certificate by the ITU Academy or, possibly, a postgraduate professional education diploma of Master of Sciences from a partner university.