On 27 October 2026, the thematic session “Media and Information Literacy for Higher Education” took place at the international conference “Sustainable Central Asia: Silk Roads of Education, Arts, and AI” in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The session explored approaches to developing the competencies students and teachers need to engage critically and responsibly with information, digital platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
The session was moderated by Ms Tatyana Golubtsova, a member of the Information Literacy Working Group of UNESCO’s Information for All Programme (IFAP). Ms Tatiana Murovana, Project Officer in Education at the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE), delivered a presentation entitled “From Discrete Skills to Integrated Competencies: Lessons from Teacher Professional Development in MIL and AI”.
The presentation highlighted that AI has become an integral part of today’s media and information environment. Teachers therefore need to develop AI competencies alongside their media and information literacy competencies. These areas share a common core of competencies, including the critical evaluation and verification of information, understanding bias, privacy, academic integrity and the responsible use of technology. MIL also broadens the scope of teacher development by addressing information ecosystems, the role of platforms, representation, human rights and the wider societal impact of media.
The presentation drew on four UNESCO IITE courses on generative AI for higher education teachers as practical examples of this approach. The translation and localisation of these materials by Kazakhstan’s National Centre for Professional Development “Orleu” has enabled their use in teacher professional development at the national level. The presentation emphasised that ongoing professional development and capacity-building for teachers in AI can and should serve as an entry point for developing their MIL competencies. This integrated approach helps universities combine technological innovation with critical thinking, responsibility and human agency.
Other presentations in the session explored the application of MIL in history and archaeology education, young people’s attitudes towards the use of AI in higher education, the contribution of journalism education to societal information resilience, and the role of university libraries in ensuring access to reliable knowledge. Speakers included Ms Marina Bedelbayeva of Buketov Karagandy University, Mr Alexander Ruzanov of Narxoz University, Ms Jyldyz Kuvatova of the American University of Central Asia, and Mr Peter Lapo of Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University.
Held over two days at the Almaty Museum of Arts, the international conference brought together more than 70 representatives of government bodies, universities, international organisations and cultural institutions from Central Asian countries, Italy, Singapore and Uruguay. The conference was organised by CIMEA and its Regional Office in Central Asia, in collaboration with the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty, the British Council and the Almaty Museum of Arts. The conference highlighted Central Asia’s potential as a meeting point for educational systems, cultures and innovation, where the heritage of the Silk Roads can provide a foundation for new forms of cooperation in support of a sustainable future.