ULAB’s Media studies and journalism program gets GA accreditation

The Bachelor of Social Science in Media Studies and Journalism (MSJ) program of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) has recently achieved the prestigious accreditation from the Academic Council of the Swiss-based Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management (GA).

GA President and CEO Justin Green and GA Delegate-at-large/Academic Council Member Angel Alloza have handed over the accreditation certificate to MSJ Department Head Prof. Jude William Genilo.

As part of series of events to celebrate the accreditation, the MSJ Department organized a webinar using online video conferencing platform Zoom on July 28.

Speaking on the occasion, Justin Green said the certificate is a testament of high quality of education at ULAB.

It will allow the students and faculty of the department to get connected with a network of academics, professionals, experts and associations of communication and public relations from more than 200 counties around the world, he said.

“It will help the ULAB students and faculty members to get insights about all aspects of public relations by participating in training, seminars, presentations, and access to a wealth of resources and materials,” he said.

“The accreditation will also open a horizon of new job opportunities from around the world for graduates of the university,” he said adding that the global capability framework of GA allow will the students to prepare themselves for the global market.

Meanwhile, Angel Alloza said the accreditation process of the GA is very stringent. The Academic Council of GA gives accreditation on basis of multiple criteria which include program objective and learning outcome, program structure, academic leadership, students’ services, and learning environment.

“We have seen that the Bachelor of Social Science in Media Studies and Journalism (MSJ) program has met all the criteria.

The ULAB has an interdisciplinary, progressive, and research-intensive orientation. It offers opportunities for continuing education. The department has the necessary technological resources. The curriculum is well balanced in theory and practice with active apprenticeship programs in the various media, he said.

MSJ Department Head Prof. Jude said the ULAB is committed to provide quality graduates for the industry.

“We always work hard for making sure that graduates are ready in such a way what industry needs. We make sure that our curriculum is aligned with industry manpower requirements,” he said.

The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management is the confederation of the world’s major public relations and communication management associations and institutions, representing over 320,000 practitioners and academics around the world.  Its mission is to unify the public relations profession, raise professional standards all over the world, share knowledge for the benefit of its members and be the global voice for public relations in the public interest.

Some universities and institutes that have received GA accreditation include: LSPR Communication & Business Institute (Indonesia), Universidad San Martin de Porres (Peru), European Institute of Communications (Belgium/Ireland), Chartered Institute of Public Relations (United Kingdom), and Public Relations Society of America (United States of America).