Conference on a model for teaching journalism for sustainable development

7 April 2022

7 April 2022, the conference took place of the UNESCO Chair of Journalism and Communication at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, "Models of International Journalism Education for Sustainable Development" (MTIJ). It brings together media professionals from around the world every year. This year, with the support of the UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office, the sixth meeting took place, bringing together more than a hundred scholars from different countries: the United States, Poland, Turkey, Mexico, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and others.


The event is undoubtedly designed to bring together scholars, media educators, media professionals and NGOs from different countries to promote sustainable development by introducing international standards in higher education.

Khaidar Tasibekov, (he, him) Vice-Rector for Scientific and Innovative Work at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

UNESCO has put the content and technologies of hybrid learning, the problems of media literacy and misinformation response, the lessons of the tragic January in Kazakhstan, and the safety of journalists into the epicenter of discussion. The role of "third-generation" universities, capable of contributing to the development of peace and progress, is growing. The UNESCO Chair brought together academics, media educators, and international journalists from ten countries to discuss coverage of sustainability through the implementation of international standards of higher education.

Participants discussed safety training programs for journalists, gender sensitivity in the media, violence against women, climate change and conflict reporting. Building peaceful, democratically organized societies.


The academia (more than 50 universities from 10 states of the ITIJ) expresses its support and participation in multilateral consultations and activities of UNESCO, appreciates the long-term cooperation that enriches the quality of the SDG reporting.

Nazgul Shyngysova, Head of the UNESCO Chair in Journalism and Communication, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

UNESCO and the UN are promoting global tools to build the capacity of media pedagogy and public officials in the context of journalism safety and pandemic response. University professors, journalists, and students are eagerly exploring UNESCO's massive open online courses and new training materials: Journalism in the Pandemic: Covering COVID-19; Covering the COVID-19 Vaccine; Digital Media and Information Literacy Toolkit; Covering Migration and Refugees. 




These materials are extremely necessary when training media experts, as international standards of freedom of expression, the right of citizens to information need the continued support of the academic community.

Conference participants also drew attention to the tightening of working conditions for journalists, the growth of professional risks, and the demand for professional development courses for journalists and educators. In this regard, it is imperative to unite, to overcome the fragmentation of the academic and journalistic communities, and to develop common approaches and centers of humanitarian power to influence the sustainability of society.

Journalism teachers and trainers provide students and professionals with the knowledge, analysis and critical thinking skills, approaches to covering priority topics, attitudes toward the role of journalism in providing information to audiences in times of unreliable sources, and creating a platform for dialogue for peace, which is now becoming a vital task of education and journalism.

The theme of the conference is relevant in the run-up to World Press Freedom Day with the theme "Journalism under digital siege. New threats to communication, media viability and public trust are on the agenda.

UNESCO webinars for journalism schools

Journalism education and training platform

10 March 2022

UNESCO Chair on Journalism and Communication of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University started the development of four MOOCs supported by the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) project based on the UNESCO/IPDC resources.

Data Journalism

26 May 2021

Four webinars aimed at quality education in data journalism. Universities from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have jointly developed a course on data journalism based on the UNESCO curriculum and the IPDC global initiative on excellence in journalism education.

'Fake news' and disinformation: Challenges for journalism educators

12 April 2021

Dealing with fake news and disinformation has become one of the biggest challenges faced by journalists working across the world. But how does a journalism educator – whether a university lecturer or NGO – approach the subject? How can fake news be taught properly in the classroom?

Reporting on Violence against Women and Girls

26 November 2020

UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty jointly with UN Women Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will host a web seminar for media professionals and journalism universities.

Permanent link: http://en.unesco.kz/conference-on-a-model-for-teaching-journalism-for-sustainable-development