On 19 May 2026, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) will host the webinar, ‘From misinformation to empowerment – Media literacy for youth and adults in the age of AI’. The event is part of the UIL global webinar series, ‘Unlocking the power of lifelong learning’, bringing together stakeholders from across the globe every first and third Wednesday of the month.
BELL KA PANG / Shutterstock.com19 May 2026
In an increasingly digital and media-saturated world, Media and Information Literacy (MIL) has become essential for enabling individuals to critically access, evaluate, and use information and media content. The rapid expansion of social media, algorithmic filtering, and generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has transformed the information landscape, creating new opportunities, but also amplifying the spread of misinformation and disinformation. These developments pose significant challenges for informed decision-making, social cohesion, and democratic participation. While MIL initiatives have traditionally focused on youth, there is a growing need to strengthen the MIL capacities of adult learners and, in particular, adult educators who play a key role in fostering critical thinking, responsible media engagement, and digital competencies across societies.
To mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, this webinar - organized by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) in collaboration with UNESCO’s Media and Information Unit within the Communication and Information Sector - will explore the role of MIL in adult learning and education in the age of AI. Bringing together policymakers, researchers and practitioners from Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) countries, the event will examine emerging challenges and promising practices for equipping adult educators with essential MIL competencies.
A highlight of the event will be the official launch of our new multilingual self-learning course on media and information literacy for adult educators. This course has been designed to empower educators with practical tools, real-world examples and adaptable strategies to confidently navigate rapidly evolving digital environments. Participants will get an exclusive first look at how the course can strengthen critical and responsible engagement with information and how it can be used immediately in their own teaching and learning contexts.
Date and time
19 May 2026, 13:30 to 15:00 (CEST)
Registration
Zoom https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BUiAKkzGQeqabt7yKqjhUQ
Programme
13:30 – 13:50 - Opening session
Moderator: Ms Sara Acosta, Quality Learning Ecosystems programme, UIL
Welcome remarks
- Ms Isabell Kempf, Director, UIL
- Ms Adeline Hulin, Head of Unit a.i. for Media and Information Literacy and Digital Competencies, UNESCO Communication and Information Sector
13:50 – 14:50 - Session: Media and Information Literacy for Adult Learning and Education
Moderator: Mr Olivier Van Bockstael, Project Specialist, Media and Information Literacy and Digital Competencies, UNESCO Communication and Information Sector
MIL in and for Adult Learning and Education: Policy and practice (40 minutes)
- Mr Pablo Pagés, Head of Digital Citizenship, Digital Territory and Wellbeing Division, Centre for Educational Support for Children and Young People (CEIBAL), Uruguay
- Mr Ousseynou Gueye, Executive Director, Polaris Association, Senegal
- Ms Maarit Jaakkola, Co-Director at the Centre for Nordic Media Research Nordicom and Associate Professor, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Launch of the MIL course in French and Spanish (20 minutes)
- Testimonial video (educator’s perspective)
- Ms Sara Acosta, Quality Learning Ecosystems programme, UIL
Q&A
14:50 – 15:00 - Summary and closing remarks
Ms Rakhat Zholdoshalieva, Team Leader, Quality Learning Ecosystems, UIL
Languages
English, French and Spanish
Further information