7th World Meeting of UNESCO Chairs In Communication International Symposium on Communication, City and Public Space, 8-10 May 2018

KITA Director Distinguished Prof. Datuk Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, and KITA Principal Fellow & Board Member of UNESCO-ORBICOM Dr. Eric Olmedo, participated in 7^th World Meeting of UNESCO Chairs In Communication International Symposium on Communication, City and Public Space, held at University of Lima, Peru, from May 8^th to 10^th, 2018. The aim of the symposium was to analyze and discuss the urban growth structure and its impact on communication and development of humanity. The VII Annual Meeting of members of ORBICOM was also held during this event.

In the symposium Distinguished Prof. Datuk Dr. Shamsul presented a paper, “From diversity to super-diversity: the transformation of cities in Southeast with an empirical focus on Malaysia”. Meanwhile Dr. Eric focused on “The halal canopy social inclusiveness & discrimination in greater Kuala Lumpur”. Both papers were on the broad theme of social cohesion and the city, and were very well received.

ORBICOM is also the official think tank for UNESCO as far as Peace Journalism, Conflict Resolution in Media and Intercultural Communication matters are concerned. This was reflected in the symposium where it was culminated with a session of academic engagement with a new UNESCO study in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day. In the session, a panel of four leading academics gave their assessment of the report World Trends on Freedom of Expression and Media Development presented in vivo by a representative of UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Further details of the session and the said report can be found here.

For a feel of the ORBICOM Conference at Lima, kindly check out this video: