Student-professional interaction on hybrid disinformation narratives results 

In the spring 2024, the students in the bachelor’s degree Programme in Safety, Security and Risk Management carried out online information sessions (vaccinations) for target groups in different organizations in Finland. They took the role of immunisers by reaching out different institutions and organising I2I activities.

At the initial phase, the immuniser students were first trained by I2I project members, who were basically lecturers at Laurea University in a train-the-trainer approach.

The workshops were planned in collaboration with a teacher, group leader, or contact person from each organization. Participants attended in a hybrid format, either in classrooms, via Teams/Zoom, or fully online during a virtual lesson. Each session lasted approximately 1.5 hours.

The aim of these sessions was to clarify the concepts of disinformation and misinformation, provide examples from media, explain the potential threats and opportunities of AI, and encourage the development of digital literacy and critical thinking. Participants were introduced to tools for identifying and managing disinformation. The sessions included examples related to elections in different countries, EU elections, health topics, and the role of disinformation and information manipulation in military conflicts. To engage the audience, discussions, polls, and games were incorporated into the sessions.

Each student group developed their presentation materials using resources from the I2I project, particularly materials from Faktabaari in Finland. They were also encouraged to independently search for additional sources and tailor examples to suit their target audience.

Feedback collected from participants was predominantly positive. While many attendees were already familiar with basic concepts, they found the examples and tools presented during the sessions particularly useful. These elements not only reassured participants but also deepened their knowledge, reflecting a booster effect of the workshops in strengthening the target groups' immunity against disinformation.

Organizations involved:

   - Viherlaakson lukio (high school)

   - Puolustusvoimat/Rannikkolaivasto (Defence Forces/Naval Forces)

   - Mäkelänrinteen lukio (high school)

   - Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu (University of Applied Sciences)

   - OSAO Kempeleen-Limingan yksikkö (vocational school, security sector)

   - Tampereen seudun ammattiopisto Tredu (vocational school)