University of Malawi to introduce new media degree course

MISA Malawi National Director Innocent Chitosi disclosed that the training is expected to commence at the University's constituent Chancellor College in Zomba City in May this year.

“Journalists will be attending classes during designated times and return to their work places,” said Chitosi on MISA Malawi chapter internet forum on Monday.

For 30 years, Malawi's previous government banned the teaching of any media-related courses in the country's institutions – a decree that only allowed those who had qualifications in other areas like education and other arts subjects to take up media jobs in Malawi.

However, when people voted for a multiparty type of democracy in a referendum of 1993, a number of people established journalism schools that started training journalists, besides a BA in Journalism that was introduced at the University of Malawi's Polytechnic Constituent College in Blantyre.

Malawi's Institute of Journalism was also started and has been offering journalism diplomas and certificates but a large section of Malawian journalists did not have university qualifications.

Commentators say once introduced, the BA in Communication studies degree will help to cover this gap and put Malawi's media on a part par with the rest of the world.

Chitosi said entry requirements include a diploma in journalism, mass communication, or education from recognised institutions.

“Those with considerable work experience will be considered but they should have a Malawi School Certificate of Education qualification,” he said.

The degree course is expected to be comprehensive, and will cover areas such as logic, practical criticism, public relations, communication research, contemporary political philosophy, communication and social change, advanced public speaking.

The electives aspect of the degree course will include parliamentary procedures, broadcast management, critical studies in television, photojournalism, strategic communication and a lot more.

However, Mayeso Chirwa, a journalist working for American Embassy communication department in Malawi wondered if the degree program has been developed enough in terms of its course content.

“I don't know if the people involved in the project will just use a template but I have learnt that framers spend substantial time structuring course work so that curricula hang together across grade levels and address a need,” he said.

Sunday Times Editor Brian Ligomeka lauded the program saying it would easily accommodate those who are working.

Malawi's BBC correspondent Raphael Tenthani while also praising the program suggested that it be made more research-intensive ‘like that long-term MA program at Rhodes where people fly to Grahamstown for two weeks, stay home for two, three months, go back...'

The authorities have announced that fees structure for the program is being finalised although Chitosi said ‘the more students there shall be, the lower the fees they shall pay'.

Currently MISA Malawi is asking journalists who might be interested to pursue the training to apply through it as soon as possible.