Celebration of Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2025 Begins at East West University
Oct 27, 2025
The Department of Information Studies, East West University inaugurated the weeklong celebration of Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week 2025 on October 26, 2025, in collaboration with the UNESCO Dhaka Office and the Media and Information Literacy Network Bangladesh (MILNetBD).
The inaugural ceremony and a pompous rally marked the beginning of the celebration, held under the global theme “Minds Over AI – MIL in Digital Spaces.” Dr. Susan Vize, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, Professor Dr. Shams Rahman, Honorable Vice Chancellor of East West University, Professor Dr. Mohammad Ashik Mosaddik, Pro-Vice Chancellor of East West University, Professor Dr. Saquiba Yesmine from Jahangirnagar University, Dr. Md. Saiful Alam, Professor, Department of Information Studies and Professor Dr. Dilara Begum, President of MILNetBD and Chairperson of the Department of Information Studies graced both the rally and inaugural ceremony. Faculty members of different disciplines, information professionals, alumni, and students from diverse disciplines and universities also joined the event.
Professor Dr. Shams Rahman, Vice Chancellor of East West University, in his remarks, commended the Department of Information Studies for being “at the forefront of organizing such events that promote digital and information literacy in Bangladesh,” and praised its leadership in advancing awareness of the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
Dr. Susan Vize, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh highlighted the importance of the ethical use of artificial intelligence and reaffirmed UNESCO’s continued support for initiatives that promote Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in higher education institutions.
Professor Dr. Mohammad Ashik Mosaddik, Pro-Vice Chancellor of East West University, also identified the critical role of MIL in today’s society.
Professor Dr. Dilara Begum, President of MILNetBD and Chairperson of the Department of Information Studies, presided over the session. She emphasized the importance of integrating media and information literacy into education to build a more responsible and informed generation capable of using digital tools ethically.
The celebration will continue throughout the week with a series of engaging activities. Awareness-building campaign will take place on October 27 and again from October 29 to 31, encouraging students to actively explore the role of MIL in their digital lives. On October 28, a panel discussion on “Integration of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in Higher Education” will bring together academicians and professionals to exchange ideas on strengthening MIL in Bangladesh followed by a quiz competition on “MIL: A Skill Set for Navigating the Modern Information Landscape”. On October 29, a debate competition will be held on topic “Is Artificial Intelligence an Alternative to Information Literacy?
Currently, 14 universities across Bangladesh are part of this program through their membership in MILNetBD. Through these initiatives, East West University, MILNetBD and UNESCO Dhaka Office aim to inspire ethical digital citizenship, strengthen information literacy education, and promote responsible engagement with AI and media in Bangladesh’s higher education sector.
