The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in Islamabad has opened applications for a Digital Advocacy Program for university students. The program is a four week online training that is designed to help participants become confident and responsible digital advocates. The institute announced it on its official page with the message that applications are now open, and it presented the program as a chance for students to become a voice for informed public discourse. The announcement used the words learn, engage and influence to describe what the institute expects the training to offer to those who take part in it.
The institute has listed the topics that the program will cover. These are digital advocacy and public engagement, the responsible use of social media, stakeholder mapping, and policy and social issues. Participants will also learn about networking on LinkedIn and personal branding, together with critical thinking and effective communication. The list brings together practical skills, such as the way to identify the people and groups who are connected with an issue, and wider abilities, such as the ability to think carefully about information and to present a case clearly, so that students can use online platforms for advocacy in a thoughtful way.
The training runs for four weeks, and it is conducted online, which allows students from different cities to take part without travelling to Islamabad. A certificate will be awarded upon successful completion of the program. The announcement did not give the start date, the number of places or the eligibility conditions in detail, so interested students will need to check the registration page for the full information before they apply. The institute has directed applicants to a registration link where they can submit their applications for the program.
The post was shared with hashtags that include online, opportunity, digital media and advocacy, which place the program within the field of digital media and public engagement. For university students who wish to take part in discussions on policy and social issues through online platforms, the program offers training in the skills that are needed to do so responsibly. Applications are open now through the link that the institute has provided, and students who complete the four weeks will receive a certificate from the Institute of Policy Studies.
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