The objective of MILID Week is to shine the spotlight on the importance of media and information literate citizenries to engender inter-cultural dialogue and mutual understanding. It will underscore how interwoven media and information competencies (knowledge, skills and attitude) and intercultural competencies are. 

The initiative is being planned within the framework of the UNITWIN Cooperation Programme on Media and Information Programme Literacy and will bring together eight universities representing all regions of the world and many other stakeholders who are involved in MIL and intercultural dialogue. Activities will include debates, research and the MILID partners meeting.

UNITWIN Cooperation Programme on Media and Information Programme Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue is the first international network of its kind. The network is made up of the following eight universities ensuring diverse cultural experiences: University of Barcelona (Spain), Cairo University (Egypt), University of the West Indies (Jamaica), University of São Paulo (Brazil), Temple University (United States), Tsinghua University (China), Queensland University of Technology (Australia) and University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (Morocco).

As José Manuel Pérez Tornero, Director of the Center of Communication and Education at the University of Barcelona noted, the “diversity in the network enriches the initiative. We have a very broad concept of media and information literacy and we believe that transfer experience and knowledge from one place to another is necessary”.

Underpinning the Network is the need to give impetus to research that can inform policies on MIL and intercultural dialogue. To this end, the Network focuses on maximizing the contributions of its members at both policy and operational levels. It seeks to ensure that the collective knowledge and expertise are not only shared, but are also reflected in the elaboration of strategic projects at national, regional and international levels.

This network of universities represents one component of a comprehensive strategy to foster media and information literate societies. To see other aspects of the UNESCO global strategy on MIL, please click here.

More information on MILID Week is available at: http://www.milidweek.com/.

UNITWIN is the abbreviation for the University Twinning and Networking Programme designed to advance research, training and programme development in all of UNESCO’s fields of competence by building university networks and encouraging inter-university cooperation through the transfer of knowledge across borders.