Australian Academy of Media launches Teach Journalism in Bhutan program
Announcement posted by Australian Academy of Media 31 Jul 2019
The Australian Academy of Media is seeking journalists and mass communication industry professionals to volunteer as teachers in idyllic Bhutan, commencing as early as September 2019.
For a period of 4 short weeks, volunteers will help students at the Bhutan Media and Communications Institute (BMCI) develop their journalism and mass communications skills, as part of a 12-month long Diploma of Journalism program.
Australian and New Zealand professionals with minimum 5 years experience in journalism and mass communications, in areas such as: news identification; journalism for social media, writing and interviewing for media; and media and philosophy, are encouraged to apply.
The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communications developed the course modules for BMCI based on UNESCO’s Journalism Curricula.
Volunteers’ knowledge and expertise in working in a ‘western’ context and applying that knowledge alongside the course modules for the benefit of BMCI’s students will be the focus of the engagement.
Expressions of interest can be made at www.academyofmedia.edu.au/volunteer
CEO at The Australian Academy of Media, Jemima McGilvery said:
“It’s an absolute delight to, together with the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communications, facilitate media and communications learning opportunities for Bhutanese students in partnership with the Bhutan Media and Communications Institute (BMCI).
“I can think of no better way to help advance Bhutan’s media industry than to spend 4 weeks training the next generation of Bhutan’s media professionals at the BMCI. It will no doubt be an unforgettable, career-defining experience for all volunteers.
“It’s this sort of volunteer program that allows us at The Australian Academy of Media to demonstrate our organisation’s values, and not just talk about them. This is incredibly important for us, as we continue to build our educational and training capabilities to help advance Australia’s own media and creative arts industry”.
Pushpa Chhetri, Co-founder and Director at the Bhutan Media and Communications Institute said:
“We have been working with the teams at The Australian Academy of Media and the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communications for more than 18-months now to launch Bhutan’s first ever Diploma in Journalism.
“We are really looking forward to hosting industry professionals from Australia and New Zealand who will no doubt have so much to offer students studying journalism at our institute, for the benefit of our developing media industry”
Mrs Catherine Harris AO, PSM, FAICD, Honorary Consul General for Bhutan in Australia said:
Bhutan is a Buddhist country so there is a distinct lack of materialism and consumerism.
While I respect this, as Bhutan grows and education increases, new jobs have to be found and this is the biggest issue facing Bhutan. It’s especially an issue for the cities where young people migrate to off their parent’s subsistence-based farms.
For anyone considering this program, taking a trip to Bhutan makes you realise how beautiful life can be when one focuses on the important things in life, not the material things.
You may think Bhutan is a poor, underdeveloped country, but once there you find yourself emerged in a land of beauty, wisdom, peace, and in a place with a lack of hurry. It’s the absolute perfect escape!
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