BANTING, June 19 — The organising of the ASEAN Digital Cultural Ambassadors Transformation Programme 2022: Unity in Bytes (UIB) is seen as able to foster digital literacy, especially among youths, said Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Dr Santhara Kumar.
He said the cultural exchange programme held in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) would also pave the way for self-development of youths and cultural practitioners in facing the COVID-19 situation which requires creativity and innovation in promoting regional tourism.
“I am very pleased to note that this programme aspires to nurture our youths and cultural practitioners to be adaptable, resilient and tech-savvy. These elements are highly relevant in the current scenario where creativity and innovation are critical towards solutioning the socio-economic challenges we face.
“Unity in Bytes 2022 is an avenue to promote the exchange of ideas and experiences in the cultural space. It features a variety of cultural activities with the integration of digital cultural diplomacy,” he said in his speech at the opening of the programme at the Mah Meri Cultural Village, here yesterday.
Also in attendance was UiTM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Roziah Mohd Janor.
Santhara said a series of seminars and cultural inculcations involving 20 digital cultural ambassadors from ASEAN countries participating in the six-day programme starting June 17, would be held using a grant from the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (ASEAN-COCI).
“Participants will also be involved in seminars and workshops on the regional cultural economy as well as direct learning to create digital content to promote and contribute to the regional socio-economic recovery.
“The role of a skilled digital cultural ambassador in optimising social media such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter is very important to show-and-tell our rich history, unexplored tourist locations as well as the unique arts and heritage of our diverse community,” he said.
