{"id":37063,"date":"2025-01-06T17:11:37","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T16:11:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/media-and-learning.eu\/?p=37063"},"modified":"2025-01-06T17:11:39","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T16:11:39","slug":"ics-leads-in-media-literacy-among-youth-and-the-community-in-north-macedonia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/media-and-learning.eu\/subject\/media-literacy\/ics-leads-in-media-literacy-among-youth-and-the-community-in-north-macedonia\/","title":{"rendered":"ICS leads in media literacy among youth and the community in North Macedonia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Aleksandra Temenugova, <\/strong>Institute of Communication Studies (ICS), North Macedonia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Institute of Communication Studies (ICS)<\/strong><\/a>, based in Skopje, is one of the most proactive higher education institutions in North Macedonia, with over 15 years of dedicated work in advancing media literacy. Through its extensive portfolio of activities – including research, non-formal education for various target groups (high school students, university students, retirees, journalists, and academics), campaigns, and more – ICS has established itself as a unique interdisciplinary model of MIL initiatives.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it possible to successfully promote media literacy while addressing diverse audiences?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short answer is yes. ICS achieves this by adhering to two key prerequisites: the first is its strategic goal<\/a> of fostering media literacy (ML), and the second is its status as a higher education institution, which enables a multi-dimensional scope of action. ICS operates across academia, non-formal education for both young and older audiences, as a creator of resources, initiator of campaigns, and advocate for public action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICS\u2019s Media Literacy Portfolio: a snapshot of activities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Higher Education<\/u>: <\/em>As a partner in the five-year USAID-funded project led by IREX YouThink<\/a>, alongside the Macedonian Institute for Media (MIM<\/a>) and the Youth Educational Forum (MOF<\/a>), ICS has been instrumental in promoting media literacy in higher education. So far, ICS has facilitated the inclusion of ML in the curricula of eight faculties<\/a> across various universities in North Macedonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research<\/a> and experience from this collaboration reveal<\/a> that educational institutions vary significantly in their understanding of essential ML skills and competencies, highlighting the need to standardize these competencies in higher education. Topics from these efforts are regularly addressed in KAIROS<\/a>, ICS\u2019s academic journal, the Media Literacy Dictionary<\/a>, and the institute\u2019s annual symposium<\/a> (the next one is scheduled for 12th<\/sup> of March, more info follows).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Screenshot of the media literacy dictionary <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Non-Formal Education for Youth<\/u>: <\/em>Operating under the premise that a society cannot nurture democratic values without a critically minded youth, ICS has established itself as a key promoter of media literacy among high school<\/a> and university<\/a> students<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The institute has developed strong partnerships with high schools through activities such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n