Western University’s Faculty of Education has joined a select group of international academia by becoming part of the first international University Network on Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue, launched by UNESCO and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
Established in 2012, the network is comprised of 12 universities from every United Nations (UN) region of the world. It seeks to help develop active, informed citizens on a global scale by developing and disseminating policies, resources and research on media and information literacy, and by encouraging people to use media and information technologies to participate in discussions in their communities and in communities around the world.
Western is the first Canadian university to join the network and the only one to be represented by its Faculty of Education.
“Media and information literacy is an emerging field of human rights in a digital, interdependent world that is integral to the right of freedom of expression,” says Carolyn Wilson, an instructor at Western’s Faculty of Education and a leading expert on media literacy. “Being an informed, media literate citizen is central to active citizenship, tolerance and cooperation and we are thrilled to be part of this important effort.”
Western’s Faculty of Education will provide expertise to the network on curriculum development and educational best practices as UNESCO plans to disseminate the University Network’s policies, resources and materials globally.
Involvement in the network will also yield the opportunity for the Faculty of Education to attract and participate in more international partnership opportunities than ever before.
“At Western’s Faculty of Education, our staff and Faculty are dedicated to taking charge of the future and creating a better world for future generations,” says Dr. Vicki Schwean, Dean of the Faculty of Education. “We are delighted to represent Western University, and Canada, in UNESCO’s efforts to spread media literacy, improve global engagement and develop a more active, informed world population.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Renaud, Senior Media Relations Officer, 519-661-2111, ext. 85165, jrenaud9@uwo.ca, @jeffrenaud99
