At the conclusion of DisInfoHack 2026 at the Sofia University’s GATE Institute on Monday, the institution’s rector, Prof. Georgi Valchev, emphasized the necessity for young people to cultivate robust critical thinking skills. He stated that these skills are vital for navigating the contemporary information landscape, enabling individuals to accurately distinguish credible information from misleading content.
According to the rector, initiatives like DisInfoHack are crucial mechanisms for bridging the gap between verifiable facts and deliberate manipulation in today’s digital environment. Valchev stressed that preparing the youth for the complexities of the modern world requires them to take an active role in fostering a sustainable information ecosystem. He cautioned that even seemingly reliable data can occasionally be repurposed as disinformation.
DisInfoHack itself operates as an initiative under the scope of the three-year project, Countering Disinformation Environment (Ecosystem) in Bulgaria (CoDE). This project is designed to strengthen national information resilience through rigorous scientific methodology. The implementation effort involves the university through the GATE Institute, alongside the European Studies Department of the Faculty of Philosophy and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
These academic departments are collaborating with external partners, including the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the European Software Institute. The overall goal remains centered on enhancing public understanding and defense against informational threats.
Topics: #university #rector #critical
At the conclusion of DisInfoHack 2026 at the Sofia University’s GATE Institute on Monday, Rector Prof. Georgi Valchev emphasized the necessity for young people to develop robust critical thinking skil