Doha Centre for Media Freedom has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Cairo University to collaborate on projects aimed at promoting media literacy.
Cairo University and around seven other universities formed the International Network on Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue(MILID) to analyse the role of the media and information literacy (MIL) and its contribution in increasing civic participation, democracy and development. The formation of this network was initiated by UNESCO and United Nations Program of Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).
Dr. Samy Tayi, head of the Mass Communication Department at Cairo University, welcomed this collaboration as it would “promote freedom of speech, freedom of information and the free flow of ideas and knowledge” among member universities.
Rania Khaled Al-Hussaini, senior coordinator for the Media Literacy department at DCMF explained that thecentre is looking forward to collaborating with Cairo University to achieve the objectives of the MILIDnetwork.
“This is a great addition to the DCMF MIL programme strategy and I am pleased to inform that we are the first organisation in the region to partner with Cairo University for such an initiative.”
MILID aims to create a virtual centre to research, study and develop MIL initiatives with the intention of developing projects and publications linking universities and research centres.
“We hope to learn from each other, tackle the challenges and develop the understanding of media and information literacy in Qatar and the Gulf region,” added Al-Hussaini.
In an effort to strengthen this partnership, Qatar University has joined hands with DCMF to be the official university MILID network representative in Qatar.
Mahmoud Mohamed Galander, Acting Chair of the Department of Mass Communication at QU, has high hopes from this partnership and aims to enhance intercultural and cooperative research on MIL.
Members of the MILID network:
– The Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
– Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
– Temple University, Philadelphia, USA
– The University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
– Queensland University of Technology, Australia
