Values of journalism in the field of migration

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University has launched a new project of the UNESCO Department of Journalism and Communication “Region - Central Asia: journalistic education on migration issues” with the support of the International Program for the Development of Communications (IPDC).

                Last year, a research group based on massive open online courses (MOOCs) of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University launched the “Media SDG Platform”, which included journalism disciplines covering issues of gender, ecology and sustainable development, conflict-sensitive journalism, professional safety of media workers . And all of them are not only educational, but also practical in nature. Now the project is developing and its new stage is called “Region - Central Asia: Journalism Education on Migration Issues”, and the main goal will be to expand new teaching technologies through high-quality programs that take into account the ethical aspects of reporting on migration processes.

Member of the Board - Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation of the University, Doctor of Economics, Associate Professor Zhamilya Aitzhanova noted that all projects of the university are focused on the Sustainable Development Goals. At Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, before the start of the current academic year, a lot of analytical work was carried out, as a result of which the concept of quality education is now focused on reassessing, rethinking and revising education to achieve the SDGs. The implementation and implementation of the results of scientific projects is designed to guarantee quality education, responsible production and consumption, and environmental safety. Sergey Karpov, program specialist for communications and information at the UNESCO Cluster Office in Central Asia, emphasized that international validation of the project allows us to attract the best experts in the region to it and will strengthen the dialogue between countries and cultures.

Dean of the Faculty of Journalism of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Temirgali Kopbaev drew attention to the fact that the forecasts of world structures on migration show that it will only grow in the coming years. Therefore, journalists must not only inform, but also be sensitive to the construction of their publications and stories, and observe ethical principles. Head UNESCO Chair in Journalism and Communication Nazgul Shyngysova presented an overview of the team’s multifaceted activities in the field of media research, which allows us to involve as many active and caring people as possible in supporting positive changes in the world and raising the bar of journalism education.

The head of the Political Cooperation Department of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty, Almasha Arenova, emphasized that the ability to give a professional assessment of the situation in the migration sphere, formulate a correct Agenda and positive trends in cross-cultural exchange in multinational Kazakhstan are valuable skills in the work of a journalist. Sultan Khudaibergenov, regional communications manager, explained that migration issues are studied and monitored by many international structures, between which cooperation and regular information to the public are important. Gulnar Asanbaeva, an expert on media literacy, proposed implementing a thesaurus in the project to assess migration processes, and strengthening a retrospective analysis of the causes of the main types of migration. As Sascha Borgardt, a representative of the republican German newspaper Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, explained, sometimes large European media do not follow the principles of a balanced approach and tolerance in interpreting events in the field of migration. Therefore, it is important to study the origins of migration, resources, and methodologies in order to provide ongoing information support for the media image of the migrant. The representative of the UNESCO Department of Copyright, Related, Cultural and Information Rights of the National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia), Ruslan Budnik, expressed the opinion that everything that happens is based on laws, including those related to communication activities.

The MOOC platform of Al-Farabi KazNU is annually updated with new subjects; now there are more than 100 different courses in Kazakh, Russian, and English, which are taken not only by students, but also by everyone who wants to improve their skills from different countries. Senior lecturer at AlmaU University Saltanat Berdikulova, head of UNESCO Department for Sustainable Development of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Tursynkul Bazarbayeva, Associate Professor of the UNESCO Department of Journalism and Communication Bauyrzhan Imangaliev, 3rd year student of the university Kamilla Aisautova. The discussion was attended by Professor of the State University of Middle Tennessee (USA) ZeniSarabia-Panol, Director of the UN Regional Resource Center at the Faculty of International Relations of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Leila Delovarova, Professor of the University of Florida Wayne Vanta, Dean of the Faculty of Journalism and Information Systems of Bishkek State University (Kyrgyzstan) Altyn Asanova et al.

The project “Region - Central Asia: Journalism Education on Migration Issues” was launched to applause; the working group revealed some aspects thanks to which the future course, based on the new UNESCO textbook, will be original and attractive for a modern audience. And the final result will be presented next year.

Regularly learning how to report on migration and improving professional skills through the Journalism Education Platform in the new MOOC strengthens the country's leading university's contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Zhylbek Kerimbek

Lecturer at the UNESCO Department of

journalism and communications