MVDSI Co-Leads Training on Disinformation and Information Integrity in the REUFORM Project

Delivered in partnership with Strategers Institute, the sessions brought together journalists, media professionals, civil society representatives, students, and youth activists. The opening session featured addresses by Prof. Dr. Veland Ramadani, Pro-Rector for Planning, Research, and Entrepreneurship at SEEU, and H.E. Christoph Sommer, Ambassador of Switzerland to North Macedonia, who highlighted the importance of academic engagement, reliable information, and institutional integrity in maintaining public trust.

Throughout the program, Dr. Palloshi Disha, alongside strategic communication and legal expert Gazmend Ajdini, MA, guided participants through the challenges of disinformation and the importance of safeguarding information integrity, with particular attention to how misleading narratives shape public perceptions of EU integration and institutional reforms.

Through interactive discussions, case studies, and practical exercises, participants explored essential information verification techniques, including source evaluation, evidence examination, and assessment of contextual credibility. The training concluded with participants developing strategic responses and practical recommendations to promote ethical, credible, and transparent public communication.

Reflecting on the impact of the sessions, Gajur Memeti, an International Communication student at SEEU, an MVDSI intern, and a participant in the training, emphasized the practical value of the program: "What makes these modules—and this one in particular—so valuable is the balance between in-depth knowledge and hands-on, practical experience. In today's fast-moving communication landscape, having real-world verification tools and actionable skills is essential for young researchers and communicators to navigate and counter disinformation effectively."

The event also welcomed international participants, including Indah Febriana Asari, an MA student in International Relations at ELTE University in Budapest and a CEEPUS visiting researcher at MVDSI, SEEU, who also reflected on her participation in the training: "As a visiting student from Budapest, I was warmly welcomed. Even though this was beyond my core research area, I learned a great deal and felt truly connected to the wider academic community."

This engagement reflects MVDSI’s continued academic contribution to addressing information manipulation, strengthening media resilience, and fostering evidence-based public dialogue.

The REUFORM – EU Reform Action project is implemented by Strategers Institute, in partnership with South East European University, under the Call for Proposals “Strengthening Public Engagement and Communication on the Road to EU Membership”, within the project “Support to European Integration of North Macedonia”, funded by Sweden, Switzerland, and the Ministry for European Affairs, and implemented by UNOPS.