UNESCO Hosts Academic Workshop on Driving Intercultural Outcomes through Digital Literacy and Competence

With digital mediums assuming an increasingly pervasive role in our lives, impacting peace and cohesion within communities, this workshop addressed the need for digital environments that support respectful and inclusive interaction. Indeed, UNESCO data shows that some 67% of internet users have experienced online hate speech, underlining the scale of the challenges faced By examining how key intercultural competences, such as Ubuntu, Critical Reasoning, Perspective-Taking, Emotional Intelligence, Multilingualism, Social Responsibility, Adaptability/ Openness, and Respect for Diversity, can be embedded into digital literacy frameworks, the workshop aimed to explore the strategies and practical methodologies needed to equip individuals and communities with the resources needed to make digital environments more conducive to peace.

The event brought together 20 international leading academics to explore practical applications of these competences within key areas of digital literacy, such as digital communication, content creation, and digital safety, among others, emphasizing how they can positively impact cross-cultural dialogue, cultural pluralism, intercultural collaboration, and mutual understanding in digital contexts. The workshop concluded with key takeaways on how digital literacy can drive intercultural understanding, helping foster greater digital inclusivity and resilience.

The workshop followed an engaging panel discussion to pre-launch the UNESCO publication More than Welcome: Intercultural Integration of Migrants in and through Higher Education,developed in collaboration with Professor Darla Deardorff, UNESCO Chair in Intercultural Competences at the University of Stellenbosch. The panel discussion explored the importance of finding new models of integration against a growing global backdrop of rising discrimination against migrants, and the strategically important role that Higher Education Institutions can play in this regard. It featured prominent experts from Deakin University, the University of the Western Cape, Harvard University, and Makerere University.

As a next step, the insights from the workshop will serve as a foundation for the creation of a structured framework that supports an intercultural approach to digital competence development. This framework will guide policy development, education, and content creation within digital spaces, aiming to build a more ethically responsible digital future. By advancing these initiatives, UNESCO aims to foster an environment where digital literacy not only enhances skills but also strengthens cross-cultural understanding and global cooperation.