Education/News/Drafts/Cross-Cultural Knowledge Sharing: Wikipedia's New Frontier at University of Tehran

Cross-Cultural Knowledge Sharing: Wikipedia's New Frontier at University of Tehran

Author: Arash

Summary:

A successful Wikipedia workshop at the University of Tehran's Faculty of Foreign Languages on July 1, 2024, marked an exciting development in expanding Wikipedia's educational outreach in Iran. This event was born from connections made during the Persian Wikipedia's one million article celebration in May, showcasing how one milestone can lead to new opportunities.

The workshop attracted many students from diverse language departments, including Spanish, Italian, German, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian language and literature. Notably, leaders of student academic associations from these departments were also present, adding depth to the discussions and potential for future collaborations.

Three presenters—Arash, Iman Fakhri, and Borandokht—guided the session. They introduced Wikipedia and its history and explained how the platform works. The team then presented the Wikipedia Education Program, highlighting the impressive achievements of Shahid Beheshti University's Wikipedia initiative. This real-world example sparked enthusiasm among the attendees.

Students showed remarkable engagement throughout the workshop, peppering the presenters with questions. This high level of interest was particularly encouraging, as it demonstrated the students' eagerness to understand and potentially contribute to Wikipedia.

A key part of the session involved discussing the possibility of starting similar Wikipedia programs in different departments at the Faculty of Foreign Languages. The academic association leaders expressed keen interest in launching such initiatives in their respective departments for the upcoming term, which begins in September.

This workshop represents more than just a single event; it signifies the potential beginning of a broader Wikipedia movement at the University of Tehran. By involving students from various language departments, there's an opportunity to enhance Wikipedia's multilingual content and diversity.

As the workshop concluded, there was a sense of anticipation for the future. The presenters and student leaders plan to collaborate on setting up Wikipedia educational programs across different language departments for the fall term. This development could significantly boost the creation and improvement of Wikipedia articles in multiple languages, contributing to the global spread of free knowledge. Moreover, the Wikipedia educational program at the University of Tehran's Faculty of Foreign Languages has the potential to serve as a cultural bridge between Persian and other cultures within the Wikipedia platform. By engaging students who are fluent in various languages, this initiative can facilitate the exchange of knowledge and perspectives, enriching both the Persian Wikipedia and the Wikipedia versions in other languages. This cross-cultural interaction through Wikipedia can foster a deeper understanding between Persian-speaking communities and different cultures, promoting a more diverse and interconnected global knowledge base.

The success of this workshop, stemming from the earlier celebration of Persian Wikipedia's growth, illustrates the ripple effect of community events. It shows how celebrating achievements can lead to new connections, which in turn can create opportunities for education and expansion of free knowledge resources. As these students begin their Wikipedia journey, they're not just learning a new skill but becoming part of a global movement to share knowledge freely across languages and cultures.