The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Naif Arab University for Security Sciences of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are holding a scientific symposium, themed “Media Education: Prospects and Aspirations,” on 21-22 February 2024, in cooperation with the Media and Communication Sector of the League of Arab States, the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Information Ministers and the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication. The event aims to explore ways to consolidate the concepts and values of media and information education and encourage efforts geared towards integrating them into various educational curricula to develop critical thinking skills and enhance mechanisms of information collection from reliable sources.

The symposium, which will be organized in person at ICESCO Headquarters, in Rabat, and shared via videoconference, will witness the participation of ministers, ambassadors, distinguished international figures and researchers specialized in the field of media, information and security education.

The first-day agenda features the opening remarks by the guests of honor, followed by three working sessions, which will see the participation of prominent figures from the Islamic world and beyond. The first session addresses “Pioneering Arab and international national experiences in spreading media education;” and the second session focuses on the “Importance of media education in enhancing the security and ethical understanding of the expression of opinion: an analysis within the framework of Arab and international media legislations and conventions.” The third session focuses on “Educational media partnership: a strategic vision towards building a sustainable knowledge society.”

The second day features three working sessions, during which experts and speakers will discuss several topics, including “Requirements for incorporating media education in the educational systems,” “Basics of dealing with media outlets, social media and information sources,” and “Artificial Intelligence and the future of media education.” The symposium will then conclude by issuing its final report and several recommendations.

The symposium will be broadcast live on ICESCO’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ICESCO.En/live