[cr-india] Kabul campus FM on-air

Sat May 8 15:15:11 CEST 2004

From: "Bruce Girard" <bgirard at comunica.org>
Date: Fri, 07 May 2004 13:25:53 -0300

Subject: [CR in Afghanistan] Kabul campus FM on-air

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>From UNESCO
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/ev.php?URL_ID=15687&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201

Kabul University On-Air
07-05-2004 (UNESCO Kabul)

Kabul Universitys new campus FM radio station, media library and
computer training and Internet centre for journalism students have
been inaugurated as the highlight of UNESCOs World Press Freedom
Day activities in Afghanistan.

The inauguration ceremony, held on the 4th May, 2004 was officiated
by the Minister of Higher Education, Sharif Fayez, the Rector of Kabul
University, Mohammed Akbar Popal, the Dean of the Faculty of
Journalism, Kazem Ahang, and UNESCO Country Director, Martin
Hadlow.

The new campus radio station, which broadcasts on a frequency of
106.7 MHz FM, is based in the University's Faculty of Journalism and
will serve both as a training tool for journalism students and an
educational out-reach voice for the University in its efforts to further
engage the local community. The equipment for the radio station was
funded by UNESCO and supplied through the Mallard Company in the
UK. It was installed by a UNESCO consultant. Further professional
radio operations training is being provided to Faculty of Journalism
staff by two technical experts funded by the Government of France.

The computer training centre, also located within the Faculty of
Journalism, was funded under UNESCOs INFOYOUTH programme
and comprises eight computers and a high-speed Internet connection.
The facility enables students, especially girls and women, to have
dedicated access, free of charge, to global information and e-mail
connections without leaving the Faculty premises. UNESCOs two
Afghan IT specialists are providing training to staff and students in a
range of Internet and computer applications.

The new media library for students and staff contains thousands of
books received after a UNESCO global Internet appeal. The message
seeking assistance was carried on UNESCOs Webworld web-site in
early 2002. At that time, the Faculty of Journalisms dusty reference
shelves contained a few old magazines and only one book, Das Capital
by Karl Marx. Now, thanks to the UNESCO appeal and the generosity
of donors worldwide, the shelves are stocked with some of the latest
media, journalism and technology titles sent by individuals, publishers
and universities in the USA and Canada, UK, France, Germany and
other countries in Europe, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia and New
Zealand, as well as from Africa and Latin America.

A significant book collection was donated by the international NGO,
Freedom Forum, which had closed its reference library in London and
offered the books to Kabul University. The collection was air-freighted
to Afghanistan at the expense of the international broadcaster, CNN.
UNESCO has also provided new shelving, chairs and tables to the
library, along with a computer to enable the books to be properly
indexed. The Government of France is making available technical
assistance through the funding of an expert librarian.

In opening the three facilities, the Minister of Higher Education, Dr.
Fayez, noted the value of the resources to journalism students in now
enabling them to study both practical and theoretical aspects of their
craft. The Rector of Kabul University, Professor Popal, and the Dean of
the Faculty, Professor Ahang, recalled the situation two years ago
when the Faculty premises were almost devoid of equipment and
materials. Now, they had some of the most modern digital and
electronic equipment available anywhere. In his address, UNESCO
Kabul Director, Martin Hadlow, said that Kabul University journalism
students were the editors, publishers and broadcasters of the future.
"Their grounding in craft-skills and freedom of expression principles
within the Faculty of Journalism will help to ensure high standards of
reporting in the developing democratic environment of Afghanistan" he
said. "The tools are now here to enable them to learn how to do their
work in ensuring citizens receive impartial, balanced and independent
access to news and information".

Previously, UNESCO also funded the renovation of Faculty of
Journalism offices, including the provision of computer equipment,
office furniture and student desk/chair combinations for lecture halls. In
February, 2002, eight Faculty lecturers and professors were sponsored
by UNESCO to attend a one month 'training of trainers' and skills
upgrading course at the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting
Development (AIBD) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Additional support is
being provided to the Faculty by a range of partners, including the
Ecole Superieure de Journalisme at Lille University in France which
has, under Government of France funding, provided training and
curriculum development expertise and a study exchange programme.
--

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Via / By / Excerpted / From / Tip from / Thanks to:

Bruce Girard        -        http://comunica.org/
Montevideo, Uruguay - Tel: +598 2 908.18.25
Fax +31 84 882.6517 or +1 309 210.4135
www.skype.com - bgirard

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