Media literacy and trust: Why education and training are key to the future

In today’s world, media literacy and digital skills form the foundation for sustainable societal development. These themes were central during the European Training Foundation’s (ETF) meeting of visionaries and active partners, marking its 30th anniversary.

“Education is our beacon, showing the way to the future,” symbolically explained Pilvi Torsti, Director of the ETF, emphasizing the need to advance new skills and knowledge.

Education as the key to a new reality

One of the greatest challenges facing the global education system is the rapid pace of technological development.

Media literacy and trust: Why education and training are key to the future

“What will education and the labor market look like in a world of technological change? This is a question we must answer today. We need to integrate digital and green skills into curricula for everyone, ensuring no one is left behind, even in the most challenging contexts,” Torsti asserts.

According to the EU, 42% of Europeans lack basic digital skills, which poses significant challenges for competitiveness in the job market. Vocational education and training are essential for retraining the workforce, especially amid automation and shifts in traditional labor models.

Speaking about the future, Pilvi Torsti underscores the importance of international collaboration in education: “Education is key to building trust between countries, especially during times of geopolitical turmoil. It strengthens social cohesion and creates joint solutions to global challenges.”

Media literacy in schools: the Finnish example

In Finland, media literacy is integrated into school curricula from an early age, helping students make informed decisions amidst information overload and digital manipulation.

“In our curriculum, media literacy is a cross-cutting theme, which means it is not a standalone subject but must be integrated into the teaching of all disciplines,” explains Li Andersson, Finnish politician and former Minister of Education (2019–2023).

The country’s national media education policy, established in 2013 and updated in 2019, forms the foundation for cultivating a critical approach to media across all age groups. A key component of this approach is integrating media education into various subjects to foster both critical thinking and information evaluation.

“This means teachers of different subjects – whether biology or language arts – are required to include elements of media literacy in their lessons. For instance, in biology, students learn to search for reliable information about climate change and verify scientific claims. In language classes, media literacy involves distinguishing between types of texts. Students are taught to differentiate news from opinion columns or advertisements, which is particularly important in the age of social media, where these boundaries are no longer clear,” shared Li Andersson.

Finnish schools also introduce children to journalistic principles: understanding reliable news and identifying credible information versus disinformation. This approach has placed Finland at the top of international media literacy rankings.

Andersson further highlighted education’s role in fostering social cohesion and reducing inequality: “Education is the most powerful tool for social mobility. It gives children from working-class families a chance to build their future and achieve their goals.”

How education shapes our future today

Mario Nava, Chair of the ETF Governing Board, pointed out the challenges of predicting how external factors will impact economic development: “Integration into the EU has its own dynamics, and these changes are not always predictable. They bring both opportunities and challenges that only reveal themselves over time,” he noted.

Nava hopes Europe will focus on anticipating future skill demands. “When we break the picture into components, we begin to see potential future trends. Our goal is to help analyze qualification needs. It is crucial that today’s decisions account for these trends so people can access growing markets, not those where jobs are disappearing,” he concluded.

The European Training Foundation emphasizes the importance of investing in accessible educational systems. Education not only provides academic knowledge but also equips individuals with life skills – civic participation, critical thinking, and responsibility in a democratic society.

“The future of education is not something we observe – it is something we create together,” summarized Pilvi Torsti.

This article was produced with the participation of CFI, the French media development agency, as part of the Yak Vdoma project, a hub in Bucharest for Ukrainian journalists, supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Olha Konsevych: Journalist, researcher | Vital Voices | GMF | WZB Berlin | Max Planck Society Alumna || Mahabahu Correspondent

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