UNESCO’s IPDC funds radio facilities for University of Guyana
31-05-2011 (Kingston)
Students producing radio for Guyana
in the new studios
© University of Guyana /
Nelsonia Budram Persaud
Students of the University of Guyana Center for Communication Studies (UGCCS) now have a learning laboratory to develop their skills in radio writing and production. UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) funded the installation of radio studio facilities at UGCCS.
As part of the setting up process, five faculty and twenty five students of the Center for Communication Studies received basic training in the use of the radio equipment and maintenance of the facility. The installation and training sessions were conducted by former adjunct of UGCCS Gordon Burnett. Burnett is a veteran radio engineer and CEO of Dreamworks Group based in Washington DC.
Faculty member Carolyn Walcott, who teaches television and radio broadcasting, was the first voice recorded while testing the new system.
Under its revised curriculum, which was introduced in 2009 on the basis of UNESCO’s Model Curriculum for Journalism Education, the Center now increasingly focuses on practical media and communication training for its graduates. The UGCCS two main radio courses are Broadcast Reporting and Writing at the basic level for Diploma students, and Advanced Broadcast Production for students in their final year of the degree programme. The establishment of the radio studio facilities will, therefore, result in practical training of approximately 150 students of the Center of Communication Studies who enroll in both the diploma and degree programmes each year.
According to UNESCO’s Advisor for Communication and Information in the Kingston Office, Isidro Fernandez-Aballi, UNESCO is always willing to work with institutions of higher education to improve journalism output as this is considered a cornerstone of a strong society.
In addition to the establishment of studio facilities and training sessions, two operations manuals governing studio protocols and maintenance, as well as standard operational procedures now support the functions of the UGCCS Radio-Television studios. The manuals are also expected to function as future references for students who will eventually create their own radio programmes for the university campus and external communities.
Faculty member Carolyn Walcott, who teaches television and radio broadcasting, was the first voice recorded while testing the new system.
Under its revised curriculum, which was introduced in 2009 on the basis of UNESCO’s Model Curriculum for Journalism Education, the Center now increasingly focuses on practical media and communication training for its graduates. The UGCCS two main radio courses are Broadcast Reporting and Writing at the basic level for Diploma students, and Advanced Broadcast Production for students in their final year of the degree programme. The establishment of the radio studio facilities will, therefore, result in practical training of approximately 150 students of the Center of Communication Studies who enroll in both the diploma and degree programmes each year.
According to UNESCO’s Advisor for Communication and Information in the Kingston Office, Isidro Fernandez-Aballi, UNESCO is always willing to work with institutions of higher education to improve journalism output as this is considered a cornerstone of a strong society.
In addition to the establishment of studio facilities and training sessions, two operations manuals governing studio protocols and maintenance, as well as standard operational procedures now support the functions of the UGCCS Radio-Television studios. The manuals are also expected to function as future references for students who will eventually create their own radio programmes for the university campus and external communities.
Gordon Burnett with students at the training workshop sponsored by UNESCO’s IPDC© University of Guyana / Nelsonia Budram Persaud
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· Guyana
· Media Development
· International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC)
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