23/06/2026
The project entitled “A Challenge-Based, AI-Assisted Learning Lab for Detecting and Disrupting Disinformation in Higher Education in Moldova and Türkiye (DISCUSS-LAB)”, led in Türkiye by Dr. Polat Göktaş from the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Sabancı University, has been selected for funding under the 2530 TÜBİTAK-NARD Bilateral Cooperation Program, jointly supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) and the National Agency for Research and Development of Moldova (NARD).
The project, which will be carried out in collaboration between Sabancı University and Moldova State University, aims to investigate the impact of digital disinformation on university students and develop resilience against misinformation through innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted educational approaches. The Moldovan team is led by Assoc. Prof. Ciobanu Rodica and Dr. Mariana Roșca of Moldova State University. The project team also includes Assoc. Prof. Yuki Kaneko, Faculty Member in the Foundation Development Program and the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Sabancı University, who will contribute as a researcher.
Over its 24-month duration, the DISCUSS-LAB project will conduct a comparative examination of digital literacy, critical thinking, and disinformation resilience among university students in Moldova and Türkiye. The project will also analyze disinformation content circulating on the digital platforms most frequently used by students through AI-supported methodologies, enabling the mapping of contemporary digital information ecosystems.
One of the project’s outputs will be the development of the AI Challenge Studio, an AI-supported learning environment where students will engage with real-world misinformation scenarios. Through this platform, participants will undertake activities such as identifying manipulated visual content, verifying misleading claims, and conducting evidence-based assessments of online information, while benefiting from AI-guided support and explainable feedback mechanisms.
Commenting on the significance of the project, Dr. Polat Göktaş stated:
“As digital platforms become primary channels through which young people access information, the spread of false and misleading content poses an increasingly significant societal challenge. Through the DISCUSS-LAB project, we aim not only to better understand how disinformation spreads, but also to develop AI-assisted educational solutions that empower students to critically evaluate information and make evidence-based judgments. We believe that our collaboration with Moldova State University will generate impactful outcomes at the intersection of digital literacy, responsible artificial intelligence, and innovative approaches to higher education.”
The DISCUSS-LAB project is expected to contribute to the development of a new generation of digitally literate, critically minded, and socially responsible individuals who are better equipped to identify, evaluate, and respond to misinformation in an increasingly complex information landscape. The project is among the four proposals selected for funding under the 2025 TÜBİTAK-NARD Bilateral Cooperation Program, jointly administered by TÜBİTAK and NARD.
