Media and information literacy experts from over 20 countries gathered in Belgrade, Serbia, on 12–13 September 2019, for an international consultative meeting about updating UNESCO’s model curriculum on media and information literacy (MIL) and to make recommendations on standards for MIL curriculum development.
The event was co-organised by the UNESCO Communication and Information Sector and the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia. UNESCO IITE was represented at the event by Ms. Tatiana Murovana, the programme specialist responsible for the Institute’s projects on MIL.
The consultative meeting included two rounds of online discussions on fundamental considerations to update the MIL Curriculum:
- New content/ issues to be covered in the curriculum
- Emerging global trends that are not yet prevalent but need to be considered as foresighting
- Assessment of media and information literacy competencies among teachers
Face-to-face stage of the meeting encompassed four plenary sessions and three rounds of deliberations within four working groups submitted their findings and concrete proposals on the main areas of MIL Curriculum updating.
The second day of this international consultative meeting included a high-level session and a ministerial panel, which was open to the public. The key speakers of the sessions included Ms. Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, and H.E. Ivica Dačić, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.
This international consultative meeting is first in a series of regional consultations online and offline that UNESCO will support over the next 12 months. The series of expert consultation on MIL is intended to stimulate national debates and action to develop nation MIL policies and strategies to ensure sustained integration of MIL in formal, informal, and non-formal education.
