Department of Media and Communication (RUPP)
| Royal University of Phnom Penh Department of Media and Communication | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 2001 |
| Type | Public |
| Director | Som Ratana |
Administrative staff | 2 |
| Students |
2001 ( About 300 in BA) |
| Location |
Phnom Penh, Cambodia 42°22′02″N 71°07′21″W / 42.36722°N 71.12253°WCoordinates: 42°22′02″N 71°07′21″W / 42.36722°N 71.12253°W |
| Campus | RUPP, IFL campus, Russian Blvd., Phnom Penh 12156 Cambodia. |
| Affiliations | Royal University of Phnom Penh |
| Website |
dmc-cci |
Department of Media and Communication (DMC) (Khmer: ដេប៉ាដឺម៉ង់ប្រពន័្ធផ្សព្វផ្សាយ និង សារគមនាគមន៏) was established in 2001, under the Royal University of Phnom Penh, primarily as an academic training ground for journalists and communication practitioners. Since its inception, DMC has received funding from Konrad Adenauer Foundation and technical support from German Development Service (DED), German Academic Exchange Program (DAAD), Ohio University, Mittweida University, University of Hamburg, Ateneo de Manila University, and DW. Throughout the years, DMC has evolved from merely a school for undergraduate course in media and communication into a more dynamic institute in terms of teaching and learning, social issues, and research. We have at the moment a balanced mix of international and local educators, are running Cambodia Communication Institute as a journalism training center, and have regularly been organizing workshops for working professionals in such topics as online blogging, community media, journalism for peace and development, and documentary production.
Within eight years, we have produced dozens of graduates, and a considerable number of our graduates are now communication professionals in various organizations including UNDP, PSI and Action Aid; program producers including with BBC World Trust Service and ABC Radio Australia; and journalists for local print media working on subjects ranging from politics to economy, and entertainment to social issues. These individuals have increasingly been involved and in certain instances taken the lead, through their work, in many aspects of Cambodia’s development including, but not limited to, social conditions of the poor and vulnerable, environment, governance and education. Moreover, DMC itself has received an 18-month grant for a research project on the perception and applications of the Internet for knowledge building among students. The research aspect of DMC’s vision does not end here though, while it aims to thrive also as a dynamic research ground in media and social domains.
Through its work and its intellectual offspring, i.e. graduates, DMC has grown more mature and been making impact, though modest, in a number of ways. We envision a more dynamic role DMC will play in the course of national development, a role where DMC could contribute to a sustainable and inclusive development with respect for the basic rights Cambodians are entitled to. With this in mind, DMC’s media and social programs will be a closer step towards contributing to the nation’s development, through its media content production expertise and media research capacity.
History
The DMC is the only Department in Cambodia that provides a bachelor’s degree in Media Management. It was created under the Royal University of Phnom Penh, primarily as an academic training ground for journalists and communication practitioners. So far it has received funding from Konrad Adenauer Foundation based in Phnom Penh and technical support from German Development Service (DED), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).[1]
It was first known as Cambodian Communication Institute established in 1994 with support from UNESCO and the Danish Government and initially located within the Ministry of Information compound. CCI was integrated into the DMC in 2002 as part of an agreement between the Cambodian Government and UNESCO which provided assistance to CCI with equipment, techniques and finance.
Throughout the years, the DMC has not been just a school for undergraduate courses in media but also a dynamic institute that studies social issues through publishing some research periodicals. The department has both local and international lecturers running the courses while regularly organizing workshops for working professionals on New Media, Community Media, Journalism for Peace and Development and Documentary Production.
BA program
This degree is the only one that the DMC offers, only available as a scholarship, and Cambodian students cannot pay to study this major and have to pass entrance tests before accepted. Successful candidates are required to pay a mandatory contribution fee, $80 currently.[2] Since 2001, it has produced a few hundred graduates who are now working as print and radio journalists, Public Relations officers, Communication officers, media consultants, TV program director and many more media-related jobs.
Its students have been involved or taken the lead, through their work, in many aspects of Cambodia's development including but not limited to social conditions of the poor and vulnerable, environment, governance and education, health and food security.
Student Life
Attendance is considered mandatory for many of the classes, and students have to attend classes regularly. Lessons are conducted in more English than Khmer, except Khmer studies, history and psychology while major assignments, tests and especially the theses are all conducted and written in English. The decision to have most of the lectures in English is to familiarize students with international learning environment.
Application Guideline
As part of the requirement before applying, the current twelfth graders must select the DMC in the list of scholarship institutions which come in as a booklet at the end of the year. They need to come to the RUPP to get the scholarship application from the RUPP administrator. Though it's a scholarship program, the school does not provide any direct financial assistantship to students, but some sponsorships programs come from partner organizations for students each year.
The entrance test includes English proficiency tests, Khmer literature competency test and an English oral interview. As the major teaching language is English, prospective students are expected to have a desirable degree of English proficiency. Also, it is advisable that students should keep up with the news locally and internationally a few weeks before the exam date, as the headlines might appear in the exam.
Current Project
The DMC itself has received an 18-month grant for a research project on the perception and applications of the Internet for knowledge building among students.
Notes
- ↑ "About the DMC". dmc.edu.kh.
- ↑ "FAQ". DMC.edu.kh.