Rawalpindi, The Department of Communication Sciences at Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), Islamabad, Tuesday organized a workshop on ‘Development of Curricula for Journalism Education’.

The objective of the whole collaborative workshop was to develop a critical understanding in which media works and shapes the world. Unesco’s mission is to contribute to the ‘building of peace’, reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, sciences, culture, communication and information.

Opening ceremony of the workshop commenced with the recitation from the Holy Quran. FJWU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Samina Amin Qadir, welcomed all the guests and delegates of the event. She said, “We need new knowledge to explore the world and its wisdom.”

While talking to audience, Unesco Coordinator from Tehran, Arya Gunawan, talked about the activities in the Development of Journalism Education and objectives of the workshop. He said there is a positive role of Media development in context of post-conflict and post-disaster situations in the present scenario of the world. He said that freedom of expression is necessary for the media development and to strengthen journalism, positive major activities should be done.

The chief guest of the opening ceremony was Unesco Islamabad Director Kozue Kay Nagata. She presented Unesco’s mission that is a leading agency of United Nations in the world. She also said that in Pakistan major institutions and universities should play important role for the sustainable growth of economy. At the end of opening session of the workshop, the vice chancellor presented souvenirs to the chief guests as a token of appreciation.

Those who participated in the workshop include Dr. Shamim Zaidi, Kasim Sharif, Shazia Hashmat, Ushaba Ismail, Ramzan Azhar, Maliha Amin, Altafullah Khan, Inam ur Rahman, Gul Wahab, Laila Khalid, Sayed Irfan Ashraf, Ramzan Azhar, Atique Khokhar, Ghulam Mujaddid, Tariq Chishti, Hasan Farooqi, Nayyar Jamal, Muhammad Shahzad, Sayed Waheedur Rahman, Professor Dr. Syed Abdul Siraj, Professor Dr. Farish Ullah, Professor Dr. Masroor Alam Khan, Dr. Ahsan Akhtar Naz and Javed Akhter.

Speaking to the audience chairperson of Communication and Media Studies Department Dr. Shamim Zaidi briefed about the aims of the workshop that promote the highest standards of academic excellence in teaching and research. The cultural, political, social and economic needs are priority of its vision for education.

Zulkarime Nasution, Recourse Person from Indonesia, explained Unesco’s book Model on Curricula for Journalism education that curriculum is the heart of education and the initial base that influence other elements of teaching activities. He talked about the curriculum structure in which journalism graduate should possess knowledge, skills and attitudes. In journalism skills there are three important factors, which are research, observation and writing.