The Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management was founded in 2001. Its mission is to train highly qualified individuals in communications and to support independent and professional media in the Caucasus and European educational space.
Since 2002, with the financial support of the United States Government, students from Armenia and Azerbaijan are annually enrolled in the English language program of journalism. Among the graduates of Journalism and Media Management are students from Abkhazia, Tskhinvali and Nagorno Karabakh.
The following educational programs are functioning in the school:
- Multimedia Journalism and Media Management master’s program
- Public Relations master’s program
- Media Engineering master’s program
- Audio- Visual and Media Arts bachelor’s program
- Digital Media and Communications bachelor’s program
Since 2011, master’s programs are implemented in close collaboration with The University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass communications. Academic programs are focused on developing analytical thinking and giving practical knowledge to the students. The study process is conducted by practicing lecturers in the relevant field and academic personnel with international qualifications. Program’s practical classes are conducted in multimedia and computer labs equipped with modern technologies; many classes are conducted in a workshop manner, which eases students’ transaction to the industry. 85% of school graduates are employed in the relevant fields in the best companies.
Student media is functioning within school’s range, Information portal www.newscafe.ge, Radio GIPA on FM 94.3 and discussion club, Frontline Georgia.
Besides academic programs, the school is conducting the following professional training and certification courses:
A social project, GIPA Media LAB is aims at equipping young ethnic communities with multimedia skills to integrate them with Georgian society. Leading trainers of the project are: academic staff, invited lecturers, Armenian and Azerbaijani students and gradates of Journalism master’s program.
Distance learning for Azerbaijani students
The school is conducting distance learning for journalists, (Young and Mid-career) in Azerbaijan. The project aims to retrain media professionals in journalism and raise their qualification in Azerbaijan. Training and retraining of journalists, serves to improve professional skills and standers in neighboring countries.
