June 30 to July 3, 2026, 16:00-21:00
The Jean Monnet Chair “EU Law, Values and Digital Citizenship “at the Department of International and European Studies at the University of Macedonia announces the organization of the online summer course “Media and Digital Literacy in the EU”, a contemporary and interdisciplinary educational program of 25 hours, aiming to strengthen media and digital literacy, democratic resilience, and active citizenship in the European digital environment. It will take place on ZOOM on June 30 to July 3 (Tuesday to Friday) at 16:00 – 21:00 (Friday starting at 15:00).
The Free Online Summer Course is organized within the framework of the Jean Monnet Chair with the support of the UNESCO Chair of “Intercultural Policy for an Active Citizenship and Solidarity at the University of Macedonia@ and in collaboration with the Alumni Association of the Inter-institutional Master’s of Science “Law and Informatics” (co- founded by the University of Macedonia and Democritus University of Thrace). It contributes to the strategic priorities of the European Union regarding the promotion of responsible digital participation, the fight against disinformation, and the protection of democratic institutions. It is also part of the activities of the MIL ID Universities Network, in which the University of Macedonia is an active member, fostering cooperation, knowledge exchange, and interdisciplinary approaches to Media and Information Literacy (MIL) within Higher Education. It also aims to contribute to Education and Democracy within the framework of the 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals (mainly promoting SDG4 & SDG16, but also SDG5, SDG8, SDG10, SDG11, SDG17).
Throughout the course, participants will explore the role of media, social media platforms, algorithms, and artificial intelligence in shaping the public sphere, democratic participation, and information ecosystems in Europe. Particular emphasis will be placed on European policies and regulatory initiatives, including the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Democracy Action Plan, and EU strategies addressing disinformation, hate speech, and emerging digital threats.The program combines interactive lectures, workshops, case studies, and practical activities using digital verification and fact-checking tools. Participants will develop essential knowledge and skills to assess information credibility, identify manipulation techniques and disinformation practices, and navigate digital environments in a responsible, safe, and informed manner.
More specifically, the speakers are:
a. Four keynote speakers from 4 foreign universities in four different countries, members of the UNESCO MILID Network:
● Professor Divina Frau Meiggs, University of Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, France, UNESCO Chair “Savoir-Devenir in Sustainable Digital Development”
● Associate Professor Maarit Jaakkola, Co-Director of the Nordic Centre for Media Research (Nordicom), University of Gothenburg
● Professor Kristina Juraitė, UNESCO Chair on Media and Information Literacy for Inclusive Knowledge Societies, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
● Professor Felipe Chibas Ortiz, Executive Coordinator of the International Center for Innovation and Development of MIL Cities at the University of São Paulo (ICIDMILC-USP) and Co-leader of the Innovation Group of UNESCO MIL ALLIANCE, Brazil
b. Faculty members of the University of Macedonia
c. Research Associates of the UNESCO Chair of Intercultural Policy and/or the Jean Monnet Chair EULaVa of the University of Macedonia
d. Members of the Alumni Association of the Interinstitutional Master’s of Science “Law and Informatics” (co-founded by the University of Macedonia and Democritus University of Thrace):
e. Guest speakers from other Greek Universities, educational organisations and regulatory organizations
Key Topics
- Media, News and Information Literacy in UNESCO and in the European Union
- European Democracy Action Plan, Digital Platform Governance and Digital Services Act (DSA)
- Disinformation, Fake News
- Propaganda in the age of Algorithmic amplification, Artificial Intelligence
- Hate Speech, Fundamental Rights, and Online Safety
- Fact-Checking and Digital Verification Practices
- Media Ethics and Digital Communication challenges
Target Audience
The program is designed for students, educators, researchers, journalists, communication professionals, public sector representatives, policymakers, and civil society actors who wish to deepen their knowledge and expertise in digital governance, media and information literacy, and European policies shaping the digital environment.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the on-line course, participants will be able to:
- understand the role of media and digital literacy in EU democratic governance;
- assess the impact of digital platforms and artificial intelligence on public discourse;
- analyze European policies related to online safety, transparency, and accountability;
- identify disinformation strategies and digital manipulation techniques;
- apply fact-checking and digital verification methodologies;
- participate responsibly and actively in contemporary digital environments.
The on-line course aims to make a meaningful contribution to the development of informed, critically engaged, and active European citizens who are equipped to respond to the challenges of the digital age and strengthen democratic resilience in contemporary societies.
The on-line summer course is free of charge; there are no tuition fees as the relevant costs are covered by the Erasmus + European Program, Jean Monnet.
Certificates of completion will be awarded provided that participants have attended a minimum of 20 out of the 25 course hours with their cameras turned on throughout the sessions. For further information and registration please send an email to