MediaRoboLit 65+ focuses on the potential challenges of the present mediatized and digitalized information environment for citizens over 65 years of age, who may lack adequate media and robot literacies to support their lifelong learning, well-being, and participation in society.

Duration of the project: 2023-2027

Consortium: University of Laplanf, University of Jyväskylä and University of Tampere

Funding: Research Council of Finland

Project persons

• Professor Päivi Rasi-Heikkinen
• University Lecturer Hanna Vuojärvi

The project promotes the awareness and implementation of robotics in the welfare sector in Lapland through networks, joint development, research and experiments.

Duration of the project: 2023-2026

Funding: Regional Council of Lapland, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Implementation organizations: Lapland University of Applied Sciences and University of Lapland

• Professor Päivi Rasi-Heikkinen
• Researcher Susanna Rivinen

The INMERS project aims to strengthen the media literacy of older people in rural areas and thereby enhance their participation in the digital society. The project places particular emphasis on territories where several languages coexist.

The project will first assess the specific needs in each region for developing the media literacy of people over 65. Based on these findings, training programs will be designed and implemented: in Navarra, Spain in Spanish and Basque; in Transylvania, Romania in Romanian and Hungarian; and in Lapland in Finnish and Northern Sámi. The project will also include the training of trainers in order to ensure the sustainability of the actions beyond the project’s duration and to facilitate future implementation in other rural contexts.

One of the main expected outcomes of the project is the development of a European Media Literacy Guide, produced through a co‑creation process involving older people, trainers and local actors. This guide will be translated into several languages, including those of the participating territories. The guide will also be published in the Sámi languages spoken in Finland: Northern Sámi, Inari Sámi, and Skolt Sámi.

Duration of the project: 1.4.2026-31.3.2028

Funding: European Commission, Creative Europe program

Project consortium: Government of Navarre (coordinator) (Spain), NASERTIC (Spain), University of Navarra (Spain), University of Lapland, Funky Citizens (Romania) and the Institute for Constructive Journalism of Navarre (Spain).

Collaborators: Ukrainian Institute of Media and Communication, National Library of Estonia

• Professor Päivi Rasi-Heikkinen
• Junior researcher Maiju Saijets