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Women journalists of tomorrow

UNESCO to enhance new media capacity of Fatima Jinnah university

RAWALPINDI: To strengthen the voice of Pakistani women through new media and online journalism, Unesco signed an MoU with Fatimah Jinnah Women University on Wednesday.

The agreement stipulates that the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) will strengthen the new media capacity of students and faculty of the university during the next one year. It is hoped that this initiative will encourage and promote a free flow of ideas through innovative methods.

The MoU was signed between Dr Warren Mellor, director Unesco, and Dr Saeeda Asadullah Khan, VC Fatimah Jinnah University in Rawalpindi.

The Unesco official said that women constitute less than 5% of media professionals in Pakistan, with most of them working behind the scenes.

“New technology and online media emerges as the next generation of social activism and has great capacity for enabling universal access to information,” Mellor said.

Director Unesco said while talking to the faculty of the Communication Sciences department of the university, “Unesco wants to extend its international expertise in information-sharing. We are keen to develop the capacity of the wonderful staff of Fatimah Jinnah university.”

“We will bring our technical expertise to enhance the quality of curriculum, teaching and learning, while establishing linkages with other universities in the region and bringing the best practices here,” he vowed.

After signing the MoU, the director visited the campus radio station of the university, known as “Voice of Women” and run by Mass Communication students.

Dr Shamim Zaidi, head of Communication Sciences, told The Express Tribune said FJWU was the first women’s’ university of the country to have its own radio station. Director Unesco also recorded his message in the station.

Yusra Mushtaq, a lecturer at FJWU, said Unesco’s assistance to build curriculum as per international standards would ensure the quality of education in the university and encourage the faculty.
Source: The Express Tribune
Date:11/4/2010