International Nordic University hosted an international creative dialogue dedicated to promoting the scientific and intellectual heritage of Islamic civilisation through contemporary media and enhancing young people’s media literacy and creative potential.
Held under the theme “Islamic Civilisation: A New Perspective — New Discoveries,” the international media forum brought together university faculty members, students and young people, international experts, as well as representatives of the media and creative industries for an open exchange of ideas.
The event was organised jointly by the Centre for Islamic Civilisation, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and International Nordic University. Particular attention was given to effective approaches to communicating historical and scientific heritage to younger generations and international audiences through the language and formats of contemporary media.
The special guests of the creative session were Ahmed Salim, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the UK-based 1001 Inventions, and Vera Ilyina, a producer at Russia’s ДИВИ television company. They shared their professional experience in international media and the creative industries.
A dedicated presentation on the work of the 1001 Foundation and its global educational brand, 1001 Inventions, demonstrated how historical and scientific heritage can be brought to wider audiences through contemporary exhibitions, short films, interactive displays, festivals, books and multimedia productions.
According to the presentation, 1001 Inventions projects have reached more than 450 million people worldwide. Rather than simply presenting historical heritage, the initiative seeks to transform it into an engaging, accessible and interactive educational experience for contemporary audiences. Its approach brings together history, science, technology, education and creative media within a unified communication framework.
The dialogue also explored, through the experience of ДИВИ, innovative approaches to communicating the scientific and intellectual legacy of Islamic civilisation to contemporary audiences. Discussions focused on adapting historical narratives to television and digital media formats, developing compelling stories for international audiences, and transforming complex academic ideas into engaging media content.
Particular emphasis was placed on storytelling — the art of communicating historical events and scientific ideas through compelling narratives. The experts shared practical insights into script development, visual storytelling, cinematography, editing and the effective use of music, as well as strategies for presenting meaningful content in concise formats and capturing the attention of younger audiences.
The participants also exchanged views on the new competencies increasingly required of journalists, producers, PR professionals, SMM specialists and other creative-industry practitioners. The discussion covered strategies for taking media products to international audiences and the transformation of media professions amid the rapid development of digital technologies.
The open question-and-answer session provided participants with an opportunity to engage directly with the international experts and exchange views on contemporary media practices.
As part of the programme, a special film about the Centre for Islamic Civilisation in Uzbekistan was screened, demonstrating the potential of contemporary audiovisual tools to promote the country’s historical and cultural heritage to broader audiences.
As a practical follow-up to the dialogue, an agreement was reached to make the films and video materials presented by the international experts available for screening among students and young media professionals. This initiative will help connect international professional experience with the educational process and the practical development of young people’s creative skills.
The international creative dialogue served as an important platform for reinterpreting historical heritage through contemporary media, bringing scientific and educational content to international audiences, and developing the modern creative competencies of emerging media professionals.
