As part of the Erasmus+ KA2 CBHE project, “Development of Soft Skills in Universities of Armenia and Georgia in Line with the Requirements of the 21st Century Labor Market” (DeSIRe), Vanadzor State University (VSU) hosted a series of seminars on June 30 and July 2, 2025. These seminars followed a training session held at LUT University, Finland, and focused on Module 1. ՛՛Media and Digital Literacy Skills՛՛.

The training aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of 30 students and 17 staff members of VSU in the field media and digital literacy, and to explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational processes. Varduhi Hovsepyan, a Vice-rector for scientific affairs, PhD in Biology, Associate Professor, conducted the training.

The primary purpose of the seminar was to empower students and faculty members with essential competencies in media and digital literacy, enabling them to critically navigate today’s complex information environment and responsibly engage with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in education.

Specifically, the seminar aimed to:

• Develop critical thinking skills for analyzing media messages and digital content
• Raise awareness about media manipulation techniques and misinformation in traditional
  and digital platforms
• Introduce modern tools for creative digital expression, such as visual storytelling and
  Photovoice
• Foster ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence in academic and professional
  settings

Main Topics Covered:

• Definitions of media and digital literacy
• Types of media manipulation
• Visual storytelling through photography and video
• Introduction to the Photovoice method
• Applications of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning

The seminar was conducted in an interactive format and included:

Group discussions

• Practical tasks (e.g., headline rewriting, AI output analysis)
• Use of improvisational theatre to explore media-related themes
• Creation of real or fictional stories based on visual prompts

Participants appreciated the structure of the seminar, the relevance of the topics, and the hands-on approach to mastering theoretical concepts.

Particular attention was drawn to the segment on artificial intelligence and ChatGPT, where students shared their experiences of working with AI tools.

The seminar successfully promoted media literacy, analytical thinking, and digital responsibility among participants.

The “Media and Digital Literacy Skills” seminar was a valuable initiative in equipping Participants with the skills needed to navigate the digital age effectively.