The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and the Media Literacy Council have sealed a three-year partnership to give ITE students a deeper understanding of Internet and media-related issues. The council's partnership with ITE is its first partnership with a post-secondary education institution since the Council was formed in August last year.

As part of the partnership, a new three-hour module, designed to encourage media discernment and critical thinking among students, will be incorporated into ITE's orientation programme. Some 160 ITE students will be involved in a pilot of the new module this month, before is is officially rolled out from January next year, said the two organisations in a joint news release on Monday.

A new co-curricular activity called Media Smart Club will also be introduced from the second half of this year. Students in this club will be trained to be media literacy specialists. They will also spearhead projects to raise awareness of media discernment and responsible online behaviour to the ITE student community.

"As the Internet and media are now an integral part of students' lives, education plays a critical role in inculcating the values and best practices we want youths to carry through to the future," said Professor Tan Cheng Han, chairman of the Media Literacy Council.