Why should you choose CIU Undergraduate Program in Journalism?

The Undergraduate Program in Journalism at Caucasus International University has been implemented at the Faculty of Social Sciences since 2012-2013 academic year. The program is distinguished by practice-oriented teaching. Students have the opportunity to master all the practical or theoretical aspects of modern journalism.

As Zaza Tsotniashvili, Supervisor of the Undergraduate Program in Journalism at Caucasus International University and Professor at the same university explains, their main task is to prepare a professional and ethical specialist who will be able to be employed in accordance with modern challenges and media market demands. Simultaneously, Zaza Tsotniashvili notes that by taking into consideration the modern challenges, the main emphasis is placed on digital technologies during the development of the program.

“The content of the Undergraduate Program in Journalism is periodically updated and I reckon it is a challenge of time. We are constantly striving to offer such academic courses that, on the one hand, will be interconnected by content, and on the other hand, will prepare an employment-oriented graduate.

Our goal is to assist future journalists in acquiring multimedia skills, so that s/he can freely work on a media platform that s/he finds interesting in the future. It can be said that a graduate of CIU Undergraduate Program in Journalism is a staff who is well-adapted in a multimedia environment and competitive in the media market.

We are actively cooperating with the academic staff of the program, the Quality Insurance Service, we have international negotiations. In this regard, currently we are signing a memorandum with the University of Graz in Austria in the field of multimedia, which will allow our students to participate in the exchange program. This relationship will facilitate compatibility between the two programs: we will introduce all the European courses focused on international employment. At the same time, students will be able to actively collaborate at the international level, which is very important,” - stated Zaza Tsotniashvili.

Nano Narsia, a graduate student of CIU Undergraduate Program in Journalism, recalls the period when she believed in Caucasus International University for her professional development to. As Nano noted, her expectations came true.

“I wanted to become a journalist since childhood. I have not thought much while choosing a profession. While still being an entrant, I had decided where and why I was applying. Obviously, before choosing a higher education institution, I was gathering information and making anticipation - which university would give me what opportunities. I have decided on Caucasus International University because I knew for sure that here, in addition to theoretical knowledge, I would also gain a lot of practical experience.

My choice was strengthened by the fact that the university has a multimedia center, with the material and technical support of which we become professionals. I think in this profession, in addition to the theoretical basis, it is important to do a lot of practice. At Caucasus International University, each component of teaching is aimed at developing multimedia skills within the university. Here we are taught everything that will definitely help a journalist in his/her professional life, and I am more and more convinced of that,” - noted Nano Narsia.

Multimedia center, with its space and material-technical means, has been operating successfully for several years on the basis of Caucasus International University. The center gives students the opportunity to complete an internship. Professor Nino Chalaganidze, Head of CIU Multimedia Center, provided us with more details on the topic.

“CIU Multimedia Center is an innovative space equipped with the latest equipment, which combines the editorial and technical part. Editorial offices, TV and sound recording studios, editing rooms, directing, dressing rooms - everything is arranged so that the student can feel the real editorial environment and rhythm from the very beginning. At the initial stage, students are assisted by both professors and technical staff. Young people produce multimedia materials completely independently after mastering the basic skills. The technical resource of the center allows students to work in live mode (there is a directing desk, the latest lighting equipment, studio and outdoor cameras, etc.), as well as to record and post talk shows and programs on the website. The technical resources of the center give us opportunity to support any interesting initiative offered by students and immediately turn their ideas into a multimedia product.

Caucasus International University Multimedia Center is a unique space where activities are carried out in two main directions: on the one hand, it is a practical base for future journalists, and on the other hand, self-expression, development of self-disclosure for current journalists, in our case, professors and teaching staff. A place to generate their new ideas and put them into practice. The activities of the center are multifaceted both in form and content. Combined editorial work is the challenge of modernity: newspapers, magazines, podcasts, TV and radio materials, documentaries, photography, digital media and blogs reflect our creativity. In addition, the thematic field is diverse: from human rights to ecological status, culture, economics, social issues and all the topics that a student and professor may consider relevant, are the focus of the multimedia center.

Recently, the topic of mediaology has become especially relevant: the development of media is not only the subject of interest of journalists, first of all, it is the order of the society. A free media that meets professional standards and has ethical values ​​is both the foundation of a democratic state and the guarantor of its strength. That is why, various types of industry forums and conferences are permanently organized in addition to the fact that the staff of the center constantly covers these issues,” - said Nino Chalaganidze.

Caucasus International University Multimedia Center is an open platform, which is focused on providing useful and relevant information not only for students, but also for all people interested in the field, its education and development.

Soso Gazdeliani