Media practitioners urged to take academic opportunities

BY GEORGE KAGAME


The Director of the National University of Rwanda’s School of journalism Dominique Nduhura has called upon practicing Rwandan journalists to take up study opportunities in many of the country’s higher institutions of learning and enrich themselves with latest trends in the media industry.

Nduhura was on Friday closing a week training program for journalism lecturers in Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo at Kigali’s Hotel Okapi.
The 12 member workshop had six journalism lecturers from Rwanda, three from Burundi and three from DR Congo and completed a two week program which began on 24 March to 4th April.

The training was organized by NUR’s Great Lakes Media centre was funded by the Dutch government and targets media trainers in the Great Lakes Region.
“We are committed to producing quality graduates, therefore we are targeting improving teachers’ skills by exposing them to good academic and practical elements so we improve the trade in the region,” Nduhura said.

Bosco Rushingabigwi an official with The Lakes Media Centre said the training program is ongoing; “the next module will begin in July this year and will be held in Netherlands, we are being taught about the latest trends in the media industry in regard to ICT,” said Rushingabigwi.

Gerard Mfuranzima a representative from Burundi said the training workshop has given him the opportunity to learn about challenges that his country faces in developing a media sector which is currently very low standard in his country.

The National University of Rwanda has lately introduced a certificate course to help unqualified journalists practicing the trade in Kigali, the classes leading to the award of certificates will eventually lead to a diploma and degree awards will be conducted from Kigali