About Us
Axis MIL is an outreach program of the Department of Media Studies and Journalism at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) that promotes Media and Information Literacy (MIL) as a lifelong learning skill among students, educators, journalists, advocates, and practitioners in a knowledge-based and media-saturated Bangladeshi society.
Vision
Our vision is to enable people make well-informed decisions about their lives and society.
Mission
Our mission is to teach people the primacy of truth-telling and communicating.
Goals
To work for promoting the issues below:
- Media Literacy
- Information Literacy
- Social media Literacy
- News Literacy
- Internet Literacy
- Digital Literacy
- Data Literacy
Core Activities
Research and scholarship
Agenda and framework development for Media Information Literacy: We strive to put forward a research agenda on MIL in the context of Bangladesh. We likewise recommend a developmental framework on MIL to be pursued by educational institutions and other relevant organizations.
Research on MIL: We conduct cutting edge research on diverse MIL issues such as information behavior, media and information consumption, media literacy and cyber security.
Developing research capacity: We provide training to undergraduate and graduate level students as well as teachers at the secondary and tertiary levels through inquiry-based educational programs.
Sharing discoveries: We share our scholarship, experiences, learnings and innovations through e-newsletter, social media platforms (such as Facebook and Twitter) and website (aimed at various stakeholders).
Education and professional development
Curriculum development and training provision in the following areas:
News Literacy: The acquisition of 21st-century, critical-thinking skills for analyzing and judging the reliability of news and information, differentiating among facts, opinions and assertions in the media we consume, create and distribute.
Social Media Literacy: Having the proficiency to communicate appropriately, responsibly, and to evaluate conversations critically in social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube etc.
Media Literacy: It is an informed and critical understanding of the role and functions of media in democratic societies; the techniques they employ and their effects. It is also the ability to read, analyze, evaluate and produce communication in a variety of media forms (e.g. television, print, radio, computers etc.). Moreover, it is about the ability to decode, analyze, evaluate and produce communication in a variety of forms.
Digital Literacy: It includes a range of ethical, social and reflective practices through digital technologies like internet platforms, social media, and mobile devices in works, learning, leisure and daily life. It is the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.
Data Literacy: It is the ability to read, work with, analyze, and argue with data; and ability to extract meaningful insight from data.
Advocacy
Policy advocacy: We advocate for the inclusion of Media Information Literacy issues in primary, secondary and tertiary levels education in Bangladesh. As part of this effort, we conduct awareness raising activities, organize workshops, seminars and dialogues in collaboration with local news media organizations, National Curriculum and Textbook Board commonly known as (NCTB ) and other stakeholders.
Youth and community engagement: We train student volunteers from various colleges and universities in media information literacy movement.
Children and adolescent engagement: We engage school level students in media information literacy movement through various programs such as workshops, social media platforms and national level competitions etc.
Communication materials on MIL issues: We prepare various MIL-related communication materials such as short videos, posters, and share those on various social media platforms.
Networking and Partnerships
We are the coordinator for South Asia for the Global Alliance for Partnerships on Media and Information Literacy (GAPMIL), a joint initiative of UNESCO and other key stakeholders to promote international cooperation to ensure that all citizens have access to media and information competencies.
We facilitate networking and research on Media Information Literacy (MIL) through GAPMIL and other networks.
We extend alliances and collaborations with local and international researchers and organizations which include NGOs, education institutions, and media organizations.
Coordinator
Md. Aminul Islam
Faculty
Department of Media Studies and Journalism (MSJ)
Advisor
Prof. Jude William Genilo, PhD
Head
Department of Media Studies and Journalism (MSJ)
Dean, School of Social Science (SSS)
Contact US
Department of Media Studies and Media Studies (MSJ)
University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)
Campus B
House 85, Rd 7/A @ Satmasjid Rd
Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1209, Bangladesh
Phone: 911-5242, 913-8243, 912-7977
Mobilephone: +88-01718674830
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AXISMIL/