YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan, professor in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, in collaboration with scholars from Estonia, Ukraine, and Sweden, has received a one-year Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Project grant from the Swedish Institute.
The “iResilience: Strengthening Democratic Practices and Media Literacy” project aims to enhance the resilience of societies in case of crises by contributing to the growth of well-informed communities and promoting good governance practices. Drawing on leadership and coordination in Sweden, civil society insights in Estonia, academic rigor in Armenia, and technological expertise in Ukraine, the project seeks to create a comprehensive framework of methodologies, insights, and strategic connections. iResilience plans to engage critical stakeholders, including civil society members, university students, and young journalists, through targeted events, training sessions, and collaborative initiatives.
With project objectives focused on building knowledge, competence, skills, and networks to combat misinformation in the media, the role of the Armenian team includes conducting empirical and theoretical research, as well as developing a video tutorial, leading a media literacy workshop, and producing a podcast. AUA students will actively participate by assisting with data collection, event organization, and the production of educational materials. Through these collaborative efforts, the project will build a roadmap for resilience, incorporating best practices, models, and innovative solutions, with the culminating online conference set to share these findings broadly. “Though our research team is currently small, I believe it holds immense potential,” Dr. Ter-Matevosyan notes, emphasizing that the project will foster significant mutual learning and collaboration across countries and fields.
Collaboration with AUA’s Center for Excellence in Journalism as well as the AUA Media Lab will be integral to disseminating information and research results. “One of the most valuable outcomes of the project will be the establishment of a hub of expertise that will continue advancing media resilience,” says Dr. Ter-Matevosyan. “I am particularly pleased that the Center for Excellence in Journalism has expressed interest in supporting this endeavor,” he adds.
AUA is committed to empowering its students, faculty, and the broader community with the tools and knowledge to address modern media challenges, fostering a resilient and informed society, and the grant of the Swedish Institute significantly enhances AUA’s ability to advance these goals, enabling the University to expand its research capacity and collaborate on an international scale.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.