Ukraine continues to move towards European integration, and the opportunities for transformation are immediate and significant. In Europe of the 21st century, information and digital technologies penetrate and influence all aspects of public, private or professional life and education, and Ukraine is no exception, even under the conditions of Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine.

The importance of media literacy was recognized by the European Parliament in 2008 (Resolution of the European Parliament “Media Literacy in the Digital World” of the 16^th of December 2008) and defined as “an important key qualification in the information and communication society”.

The issue of media literacy is highlighted in the context of the implementation of media education in the country (Concept of the implementation of media education in Ukraine, 2016). In particular, the circle of problems of the powerful and contradictory influence of mass media on the life of the younger generation is pointed out. New media technologies do not only support formal education or become a source of informal education, but often become a leading factor in the socialization of young people and their personal experience. Increasingly, calls to intensify the development of media literacy are due to the need to resist informational aggression and destructive propaganda, prevent human vulnerability to media manipulation and media violence, escape from reality, and overcome the spread of media addictions.

Digital literacy and media literacy skills are promoted and disseminated by the Ministry of Digital Transformation portal. In 2021, the National Media Literacy Project “Filter” of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, in cooperation with the OSCE and the non-governmental organization “Internews-Ukraine”, developed an analytical document “Development of Media Literacy in Ukraine” to coordinate state and public efforts to develop critical thinking and media literacy skills and information consumption among the population.

Key strategies for the development of which the project works

– strengthening cooperation on the development of the information society (Article 389 Ch. 14 of the Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their member states, on the other hand);

– promoting the implementation of national information society strategies, the development of a comprehensive legal framework for electronic communications and the expansion of Ukraine’s participation in EU research activities in the field of ICT (Article 390, Chapter 14 of the Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the European the Atomic Energy Community and their member states, on the other hand);

– cooperation with the aim of promoting the audiovisual industry in Europe, supporting mass media (public and private), with the aim of strengthening their independence, professionalism and relations with other European mass media in accordance with European standards, in particular the standards of the Council of Europe (Article 396 Ch. 15 of the Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their member states, on the other hand).

The purpose, tasks and expected results of the project

The goal is to develop knowledge about the main directions of the EU policy in the field of media education and to involve higher educational institutions of Ukraine in the European discourse of media literacy in the conditions of Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. This project enables implementing the European approach to understanding and developing media literacy in the society, promotes the spread of critical thinking skills, necessary for assessing situations, analyzing complex issues and distinguishing between opinions and facts. This will give people the opportunity to participate in the economic, social and cultural spheres of activity, as well as to contribute to the democratic process. The idea of the project is aimed at the creative cooperation of teachers, leading specialists, students, the public; the development and implementation of innovative methods of developing critical thinking skills in the media space.

Tasks:

1) increasing the awareness of young people about the European media space and countering manipulations in it, developing approaches, forms, methods and means that would positively influence the development of media literacy and critical thinking, taking into account the main trends and initiatives covered by important European documents in this field.

2) spreading media awareness of citizens in the conditions of the negative impact of the war, taking into account the leading experience of the EU countries in the context of promoting intercultural communication, supporting European integration and further international cooperation.

The project provides the following educational activities: “BASIC EU MEDIA LITERACY PRACTICES FOR FORMING STUDENTS’ CRITICAL THINKING IN THE CONTEXT OF LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE” (60 hours per year, for foreign students); “MAJOR EU PRACTICES ON MEDIA LITERACY FOR BOOSTING STUDENTS’ CRITICAL THINKING IN THE FRAME OF THE TARGET LANGUAGE LEARNING” (60 hours per year, for Ukrainian students, Master’s and postgraduate students); “Complex of certified intercultural trainings “Diversity representation: overcoming stereotypes” (40 hours per year, online certificate for Ukrainian and foreign students, masters, postgraduates); “Summer school “Information: truth and fakes in Ukrainian and EU media space: correlation with EU practices” (20 hours per year, trainings for Ukrainian and foreign students, Master’s students, Graduate students, high school students); “Methodological recommendations for educators of higher education institutions regarding students’ media literacy” (20 hours per year, training for educators). In addition, EUSELENA conducts a scientific research, that includes: 3 articles, including 1 in the journal, indexed in Scopus or Web of Science database.

Promotion is provided by the development and support of the project website (Ukrainian and English versions) on the jm.snau.edu.ua domain, outreach activities at various levels (regional, local and national, at least 2 events per year). The project envisages the following level of involvement (training) of target groups: undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students – about 90 (including masters and postgraduate students from Ukraine, China, Afghanistan, various African countries), representatives of the mass media and the non-academic sector (including politicians) – 30 people, high school students – 30 people. Other indicators: printed articles (academic – 3), attendance at conferences (3 in total), prepared didactic materials – 5 (bilingual – Ukrainian and English). 

As a result of the implementation of the project, it is expected:

– deepening the training of students of higher education in media literacy regarding verification and dissemination of information, prevention of manipulation in mass media, fight against disinformation and hate speech;

– strengthening of media awareness and development of critical thinking of the population for effective navigation in the modern media space and implementation of the experience of the European Union in ensuring privacy, human dignity, countering media manipulation, cyberbullying, trolling and overcoming discrimination in the context of compliance with European democratic values.

Project consultant:

Oleh Pasko, Doctor of Economics, Associate Professor, Head of the Research Department, Associate Professor of the Department of Accounting and Taxation of SNAU.

Education programs