Seminar at closing ceremony of week-long programs of Global Media and Information literacy week 2018

Abdur Rahaman Sumon, Lecturer 

Department of Information Studies and Library Management

East West University

3 November 2018

The seventh annual Global Media and Information literacy week, 2018 last one week, beginning on, Wednesday 24th October – 31 October under the theme “Media and Information Literate Cities: Voices, Powers, and Change Make”. Information Studies and Library Management Department of East West University is first in Bangladesh who celebrates Global MIL week. For the second time, this year they observed Global MIL week through a week-long program. The yearly Global Media and Information literacy week, initiated in 2012, led by UNESCO. The week-long program closed by a Seminar on “Media and Information Literate Cities: Voices, Powers, and Change Makers” at S.M. Nousher Ali Lecture Gallery in East West University on 30th October (one day before the end of Global Media and Information literacy week).

The seminar graced by Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, Chairperson (Board of Trustees) and former Governor of Bangladesh Bank, the central bank of the country as Chief Guest. The seminar was also joined by Ms Beatrice Kaldun, UNESCO Country Representative in Bangladesh as Keynote speaker, and Kirsty Crawford, Project Director-Libraries Unlimited, British Council as the special guest. Dr Dilara Begum, Chairperson, Department of Information Studies and Library Management chaired the seminar.

The celebration started with a colourful opening ceremony of a ceremonial procession, balloons and cake cutting was held to get rolling the “Global MIL week 2018” at campus premises. The inauguration program presided over by the Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, Chairperson (Board of Trustees) and former Governor of Bangladesh Bank, the central bank of the country, the event was also graced by the Professor Dr Fakrul Alam, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dr. Fouzia Mannan, Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Dr. Dilara Begum, Chairperson, Department of Information Studies and Library Management. Honourable Faculty members, students, staffs from different departments of East West University were present as well. From the second day of the week, Information Studies and Library Management Department of East West University conducted Awareness Building Campaign on Media and Information Literacy at campus premises. Awareness programs included eye-catching decorated campaign booth, number of Literacy Game, instant prize giving to the winner. Along with students, all faculty members actively participate in awareness building campaign. A Presentation Competition also arranged on the topics of “Media and Information Literate Cities in the Eyes of Youth” at the morning of 30th October. Prior to this, on 29th October a selection round was conducted to make shortlist of participants. Around Sixty participants were registered for presentation. Eight participants finally called from sixty participants for attending the final round. And finally, three were awarded.

The closing ceremony started with Global MIL week- Overview, following by Keynote Speech, Special Guest Speeches, Chief Guest Speech, Prize Giving of Presentation Competition, Souvenir Handover to the Guests and the program end by the Vote of Thanks by Program Chair. At the end, there was a Seminar photo session.