The Arab Fact-Checkers Network from ARIJ celebrated International Fact-Checking Day by organizing a series of in-person events attended by university students across the Arab region. Held under the annual campaign hashtag #دقق_بالعربي, this year’s activities focused on introducing students to the field of fact-checking and the importance of mastering it, particularly in light of the widespread dissemination of false and misleading information.

These activities are part of the “Bousolah” project, led by ARIJ in partnership with Journalisme & Citizenship and supported by the European Union. They also fall within ARIJ’s continuous efforts to promote the integration of its investigative journalism and fact-checking guides into academic curricula, and to support their use as educational and practical tools that contribute to improving the quality of journalistic work.

The events attracted a large number of students across five universities in four countries, including Petra University and Yarmouk University in Jordan, University of Tripoli in Libya, Institute of Press and Information Sciences in Tunisia, and University of East London in Egypt. The activities provided students with a practical introduction to fact-checking through interactive exercises, educational games, and hands-on experiences using AFCN tools such as the Chatbot, as well as an overview of ARIJ Academy and the Fact-Checking Curriculum Guide, alongside open discussions on current challenges in the information environment.

Students and organizers highlighted the value of these open days in strengthening awareness and practical skills. Participants described the experience as rich and useful, helping them better understand verification methods, discover new tools, and recognize the importance of combating misinformation. They also emphasized the growing relevance of fact-checking as a field with diverse applications, while organizers noted the need to further expand awareness efforts given the limited prior exposure many students had to this field.