UniSey to start offering training in journalism |23 May 2018

The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation and the University of Seychelles (UniSey) have signed an agreement for the university to train journalists and other media enthusiasts.

The agreement was signed by SBC’s chief executive Berard Dupres and the vice-chancellor of UniSey Dr Justin Valentin at the SBC boardroom at Hermitage.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr Dupres said there are not enough qualified journalists in the country and it is therefore  important that journalists receive appropriate training.

The agreement will also include a training module for other media related enthusiasts who want to begin a career in broadcasting such as soundmen, lightsmen and cameramen.

Mr Dupres said that journalism is changing and developing and here is an opportunity for aspiring journalists to get a professional qualification in journalism.

“There is a rising competition between radio and television thus it makes it a necessity for us all to upgrade our knowledge in this field. As it is said that the media is the fourth pillar of our democracy, for it to be able to emancipate and support this democracy there is a need for human resources to be made available,” Mr Dupres said.

He added that eventually long-serving staff who will be retiring will have to be replaced but these same people who are already in the profession have contributed a lot towards broadcasting and the new recruits can also learn from those already in employment so as to gain knowledge and experience,” said Mr Dupres.

For his part, Dr Valentin said the journalism training course will begin at diploma level and is expected to start in September this year.

“The agreement signed today enables the diploma course in journalism to be concurrently run by UniSey and SBC. It is a course which has been developed at the demand of media societies in Seychelles and where formalities have been followed and approved by the Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA) criteria,” Dr Valentin said.

The journalism course is not restricted to participants from SBC and is also open to all those who would like to develop a career in journalism.