IJMMT

hat is This About?

Yarmouk University was founded in 1976 by a Royal Decree and has grown both in size and stature over the years. It has become a leading institution of higher learning, known for its dedication to service, its innovative approach to academic management and human resource development, and its relentless pursuit of excellence in all fields of research and instruction. As chartered, the University is a governmental institution that enjoys a considerable degree of autonomy. The journalism program was launched four years later and offers three specializations: Radio and Television, Newspaper Editing, and Public Relations and Advertising. Yarmouk is the second largest public university in Jordan and has the largest communications program of the public universities.

Improve and expand access to information for under served communities through the creation of a community radio station at Yarmouk University in Irbid;

Strengthen the capacity of the broadcast media program at Yarmouk University through curriculum enhancement and introduction of a new radio journalism module;

Strengthen the capacity of the Yarmouk University faculty to teach to the new curriculum and use the state of the art technology in the new radio lab through training of selected professors (the radio lab is being constructed with the remaining funds from the initial USAID grant);

Capacity Building at Yarmouk University

Anticipated Outcomes: Teachers move from lecture based journalism pedagogy to hands-on activities and practical applications of coursework and theory. Teachers have an improved presence in the classroom and increased knowledge of the latest technical tools. Overall quality of journalism education improves.

Anticipated Outcomes: Students have a better appreciation and are better prepared for the real-world demands of journalism. Broadcast sector improves by having a new generation of better schooled journalism professionals entering the job market with enhanced skills.

This 10 week course will be introduced as a specialized training for the top students in the journalism program. It will be offered in the fall and spring semesters. In order to maximize the opportunities for its success and inclusion into the Yarmouk curriculum, the program will train six professors (it is expected that Yarmouk will add to this number, but the current agreement is for six) in the new radio journalism module. These professors from Yarmouk will benefit from a rigorous in-country training program that will include visiting professors from Western Kentucky University and other consultants involved in the development of the curriculum. Through training designed to support them in their development as journalism instructors, these professors will engage in activities to lay out lesson plans and timetables for delivery of the radio journalism course. This includes:

In-class learning activities, teaching pedagogies and evaluation instruments;

Mentoring with the professional news staff and selected members of the WKU faculty;

Learning the technology of digital audio editing;

Teaching with technology in accessing distance learning opportunities with WKU (this would include web-based video and audio between Yarmouk and WKU).

For the students who will study under this new course, there will be a noticeable change in the approach and expectations. This course emphasizes hands-on practical training, providing students with an additional learning opportunity that is best-suited for real world demands. Students will be expected to learn the latest digital audio techniques and apply those immediately to their work. The 10-week course calls on the students to prepare a radio documentary based on the highest standards of journalism practice.