International academic exchange conference ANNIE 2024 on Communication

On December 13, 2024, Faculty of Public Relations and Communications at Van Lang University, in collaboration with the Asian Network of News & Information Educators (ANNIE), organized an international academic exchange program called "The 2024 ANNIE School Net Conference.”

The event attracted 70 lecturers and students from 13 universities across seven countries and territories in Asia, including Japan, Hong Kong (China), India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. During the event, each university sent three students to present their research on news verification projects conducted over the past six months.

In the opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu, president of Van Lang University, emphasized: “The exchange program is not only an opportunity for learning but also an occasion for Van Lang students to connect with friends from across Asia, share unique cultural experiences, and build a network of young people passionate about fact-checking. I believe that after the conference, each of us will become more courageous warriors in the fight against fake news, more dedicated defenders of the truth, and more responsible digital citizens in a connected world”.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Tien Hong, Vice President of the Institute for Communication, Culture, and Society, also highlighted the importance of information verification, stating that it is a core element of being a responsible citizen in the digital age.

During the event, students were divided into 20 teams to perform fact-checking tasks using the Ray's Blog and Chat with Zito platforms. The "Campus Tour" activity allowed international students to explore the Van Lang campus and learning environment. One of the remarkable projects, FactCheck Lab, with 25 multi-disciplinary fact-checking publications, affirmed its pioneering role in the fight against fake news.

Prof. Masato Kajimoto from Hong Kong university and founder of ANNIE, expressed pride in partnering with Asian organizations and universities to equip the younger generation with essential skills. This program is the first step in a series of international cooperation events, opening up many learning and research opportunities for VLU lecturers and students, while building a sustainable cooperation foundation between VLU and international organizations, ensuring a safe information environment and developing skills for the younger generation in the digital age.

In the middle of the program, VLU also led an international student delegation to visit Thanh Nien Newspaper, helping them to exchange and share journalism-related skills.

The Faculty of Public Relations & Communications at Van Lang University, established in 2007, is the first faculty in the southern region to offer a Public Relations program. Known for its strong communication training, the faculty has developed sustainably and produced many talented PR students excelling in various fields.

This program is the first step in a series of international cooperation events, opening up many learning and research opportunities for VLU lecturers and students, while building a sustainable cooperation foundation between VLU and international organizations. It ensures a safe information environment and develops skills for the younger generation in the digital age.

News: Gia My - Duc Phap
Photos: Tri Chau - Nhu Hieu