The School of Engineering Management proudly announces the successful doctoral thesis defense of Dr. Alwazna Falah, who defended her dissertation entitled "Digital Diplomacy and Public Relations in MENA: The Impact of Social Media and Media Literacy on Political Narratives, Institutional Trust and Security Aspects Among Citizens" under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Milena Cvjetković.
Dr. Alwazna Falah's research makes a significant contribution to the fields of digital diplomacy, public relations, political communication, and media literacy by providing one of the first comprehensive quantitative studies of citizens' digital attitudes in the MENA region. Based on research conducted in Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, and Kuwait, the study demonstrates how social media use and media literacy shape institutional trust, political narratives, digital diplomacy, and perceptions of security and disinformation.
The findings highlight the critical role of media literacy and formal education in strengthening resilience against misinformation and fostering informed civic engagement. Beyond its academic contribution, the dissertation offers valuable insights for governments, public institutions, international organizations, and communication professionals seeking to develop more effective digital communication strategies and strengthen public trust in an increasingly complex digital environment.
We warmly congratulate Dr. Alwazna Falah on this outstanding achievement and extend our sincere congratulations to her supervisor, Prof. Dr. Milena Cvjetković, wishing them continued success in their future academic and professional endeavors.
