TWENTY-FIVE young delegates from across Europe have travelled to Belfast this week to take part in an international programme examining how artificial intelligence is shaping media and the online information landscape.
The visit, organised by the British Council, is part of its global Youth Connect initiative and brought together young leaders from Cyprus, France, Greece, Ireland, Romania and Scotland.
The delegates earned their place on the programme after winning national “ideathon” competitions held earlier this year, where participants worked in teams to design digital solutions aimed at tackling disinformation – including apps, tools and campaigns to help people better understand the media they consume.
The study visit in Belfast is part of a programme titled Media Literacy in the Age of AI, which focuses on helping young people understand how digital platforms, algorithms and artificial intelligence influence the way information is produced and shared online.
During their time in Northern Ireland, the delegates took part in workshops, discussions and site visits with experts from universities, the creative industries and the technology sector. It included sessions at The MAC, Belfast, discussions with digital media experts from Ulster University, and a visit to Studio Ulster, the university’s cutting-edge virtual production facility in Belfast, recognised as a global leader in next-generation screen technology.
The group also spent time at the Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC) at Queen’s University Belfast, where they took part in content-creation workshops and discussions with academics and policymakers about the impact of AI, misinformation and data on society.
Speaking about the visit, Colm McGivern, Director of British Council in Northern Ireland, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome these 25 young delegates from across Europe to Belfast. This programme builds on the ideas they developed during the ideathons and connects them with the world-class research, innovation and creative technology taking place here in Northern Ireland.
“Northern Ireland is increasingly recognised as a global leader in areas such as digital innovation, creative technology and the responsible development of artificial intelligence. From world-leading research at our universities to facilities like Studio Ulster, which is at the forefront of virtual production globally, there is a huge amount of innovation happening here.
“Visits like this give young people the chance to engage directly with that expertise while also contributing their own ideas on how we tackle challenges such as misinformation and digital literacy.”
The Youth Connect programme aims to give young people the opportunity to develop leadership skills while working with peers from other countries to address major global challenges.
To find out more about the programme visit: https://www.britishcouncil.org/education/non-formal-education/programmes/youth-connect .
This initiative continues the British Council’s work fostering connections, understanding, and trust between the UK and the world through education, arts, and English language teaching. To find out more about British Council’s work in Northern Ireland, visit their website or follow on X, Facebook, or Instagram.