DOMINOES project addresses the digital transformation the ecosystem
of news media is undergoing. It supports increasing the digital capabilities of
the higher education sector and contributes to innovation in higher education
and vocational training.
The project’s overall objective is to reduce societal
polarization by combating fake news and online disinformation in two target
groups: university professors employed by the partner universities/civil
society trainers and M.A. students in the three partner universities.
The course aims to improve the digital literacy skills, as
defined by the European Commission's Digital Competence Framework, of students
and junior teachers to enhance their ability to understand and tackle online
disinformation. The training programme aims to contribute to better critical
thinking and improved skills in the digital environment, with the ultimate goal
of reducing social polarisation and breaking down the echo chambers associated
with digital disinformation.
In this sense, the course aims to:
- Develop an innovative course package consisting
of several teaching modules on the nature of online disinformation, the factors
that reinforce or hinder it and the strategies to combat it
- To improve the key competences and skills of
target groups in detecting, understanding and critically evaluating online
disinformation.
- Contribute to the development of a conceptual
framework for the phenomenon of online disinformation and for policies to
combat it.
- Raise awareness of the legal framework at
national and European level that governments and private companies must apply
in combating disinformation, and of the limits that this framework imposes on
governmental and private action.
- Gain a comprehensive perspective on the information environment from a vantage point that focuses on the security of citizens and the state.
- To recognise the new threats associated with the emergence of new technologies.
- To improve the ability to recognise this phenomenon and avoid falling into the trap of spreading disinformation online.
- To assess the impact of Fake News on society and democratic processes.
- Understand the role of social media platforms in the fight against the spread of online disinformation.
- To enhance the ability to combat disinformation by providing general guidance on planning, designing and implementing counter-narratives and positive narratives.
- To understand, through simulated scenarios, that the fight against disinformation is a shared responsibility of all citizens and requires a series of decisions that can favour or contain its spread and its impact on our democratic systems.
a. Grade Course Activities
The student must attend 90% of the
sessions, carry out the planned activities and pass the final evaluation
questionnaire.
b.
Certification
Course participants will receive a participant diploma at the end of the course on site. Training certificates for participants detailing learning outcomes and key competences to recognise the professional and personal development of all participants.
The course is developed in collaboration between: “Mihai Viteazul” National Intelligence Academy (MVNIA) – Romania, Ciberimaginario Research Group of the University Rey Juan Carlos– Spain, L-Università ta’ Malta, and New Strategic Center – Romania.
Classroom Ciberimaginario