UNESCO-supported MIL Training in India: Three days of learning about Media and Information Literacy
Punjabi University in Patiala is hosting a three-day interactive training workshop on media and information literacy (MIL) for 25 youth-led organizations and youth leaders in India. This UNESCO-supported capacity building training workshop will empower youth to build and enhance their MIL skills. It is being held from 17 to 19 October 2016.
“By the end of the workshop, youth participants will have an understanding of what composite concept of MIL encompasses. They will be able to identify what are their information needs, how to search for information and media content, and how to evaluate, organize, create and use information effectively and in an ethical way,” said workshop coordinator Dr Jagtar Singh.
The three working days of the workshop will be intensive, and will provide the participants with introduction and overview to MIL and related set of competencies - knowledge, skills and attitudes.
“As a unique and explorative aspect of this project, we have specifically designed the workshop to guide and motivate youth organizations to prepare and introduce basic MIL policies and strategies into their operations and practices,” emphasized Dr Singh. This component of the project is based on the UNESCO MIL Policy and Strategy Guidelines. The plan is that each participating youth organization will leave the workshop with a draft outline of MIL policy and strategy as it is relevant to its mandate.
“This will contribute to empowering of young people that are competent and enthusiastic to integrate MIL in the daily operation and practices of their youth organisations,” said UNESCO Programme Specialist Mr Alton Grizzle.
“UNESCO has developed a suite of resources for MIL practitioners to use, such as Media and Information Literacy Curriculum for Teachers. Workshops such as this one are a vital part of MIL for youth by youth.
Additional resource persons for the workshop are Prof. I.V. Malhan, Dean of the School of Mathematics, Computers and Information Science from the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, TAB Shahpur, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh; Dr. Arul Selvam, Associate Professor at School of Journalism and New media Studies, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi; and Dr Rajesh Singh, Deputy Librarian at University of Delhi, Delhi.
The workshop is organized as part of a pilot initiative led by UNESCO, MIL Capacity Building for Youth Organizations in India, Kenya and Nigeria. Several follow-up actions are foreseen over the life of the project.
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