The Protocol on Cooperation in Youth Policies, signed between the Republic of Turkey and the Federal Republic of Germany in 1994, established the procedures and principles for youth exchange programs to be carried out between the two countries, thereby providing a legal basis for the matter. The Turkish-German Joint Experts Commission (KUK), established under the Protocol, meets annually, and the parties agree on the activities to be carried out mutually during the year.  The German side in this Commission is represented by the Federal Ministry, IJAB, DSJ, BAGEJSA, DBJR, the Hamburg Family Integration Office, and the German-Turkish Youth Bridge (DTJB). The Turkish side is represented by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, and the Directorate General of Migration Management. In this context, the meeting of the “Turkish-German Joint Experts Commission” was held on December 1-4, 2022, and as a result of the meeting, a protocol regarding 2023 activities was signed, and the topic was determined as media literacy for young people. Within this framework, the first phase of the expert exchange on “Media Literacy for Youth” was held in Ankara between October 29 and November 3, 2023. The program featured presentations on activities carried out by children and youth in Turkey, as well as initiatives by NGOs and ministries to increase youth media literacy and awareness, safe internet use, digitization in schools, and curricula implemented in the field of technology. In addition, visits were made to various institutions/organizations relevant to the specified themes. The aim was to raise awareness among Turkish and German experts regarding support initiatives for critical and conscious social media and internet use among young people. As part of the program in Turkey, our Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. G. Senem Gençtürk Hızal and Vice Dean Dr. Ebru Akçay gave a presentation titled “Digital Media Literacy Assessment, Opportunities, and Threats.”

The return visit took place with the same participants from April 21-26, 2024 in Germany (Dresden). As part of the activity program, information was provided on the structure of “Child and Youth Services” in Germany, visits were made to the Saxony State Youth Media Coordination Center and the Saxony State Prime Minister's Office Cyber Security Unit, and presentations and evaluations were made at the PIXEL Youth Center regarding the work carried out.

Our Faculty Dean, Prof. Dr. G. Senem Gençtürk Hızal, participated in the program and established collaborations for bilateral studies on media literacy among young people in Germany and Turkey.