UNESCO Chair in Futures Literacy and Media Literacy
The ICS UNESCO Chair connects futures literacy and media literacy, so that young people and adults can critically understand information, digital media and the changes shaping today’s society.
About the Chair
Chairholder
Prof. Dr. Zaneta Trajkoska
Director of the Institute of Communication StudiesContact person
Monika Aksentievska, MA
Project managerInstitute of Communication Studies
What is the Chair?
The Chair in Futures Literacy and Media Literacy was established in 2022 within the Institute of Communication Studies. It brings together media literacy and futures literacy as two key capacities for critically understanding information, making responsible decisions and taking an active part in society.
Media literacy helps us understand how information is created, transmitted and interpreted in today’s media and digital environment. In a time of disinformation, artificial intelligence, rapid technological change and declining trust in information, it is essential for recognising manipulation, checking sources and critically assessing the content we use every day.
Futures literacy extends this capacity. It helps us understand that the future is not predetermined, but is shaped by the decisions, values, knowledge and assumptions that exist today. When these two literacies are combined, people not only understand information better, but also find it easier to think about the possible consequences of change, technologies and social processes.
That is why the Chair conducts research and develops training, teaching resources and partnerships for different generations and professional communities. The aim is for knowledge to be accessible, applicable and useful for better information, critical thinking and more responsible participation in society.
What do we do?
From research to learning and practice.
Research
We research how people understand information, media, digital technologies and the future, with a focus on disinformation, artificial intelligence, trust and critical thinking.
Curricula and resources
We turn research findings into curricula, handbooks, teaching materials, tools and resources for schools, training, academies, youth programmes and professional work.
Programmes and training
We develop training courses, schools, camps, programmes and courses in futures literacy and media literacy for a range of educational, professional and civic communities.
Partnerships and international cooperation
We are part of the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Alliance and cooperate with UNESCO networks, universities, media and organisations to develop programmes, resources and practices in this field.
