The Vice-Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Professor Sunday Elom, has promised to unbundle the Mass Communication programme of the university into different eight new programmes as specified by the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standard (CCMAS) developed by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The Vice-Chancellor gave the assurance recently when the Association of Communication Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria (ACSPN) led by its National Deputy President, Professor Ifenyinwa Nsude paid him a courtesy call.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Professor Abel Ezeoha, the Vice-Chancellor in his remarks noted that the review of Mass Communication curriculum which led to the unbundling of the department was a great idea, assuring that the university is positively disposed to getting it done as soon as the facilities and other requirements are met.
“We are ready to unbundle the Mass Communication programme in our university as soon as the facilities are put in place
“We know how important it is for national development. The redesigning of the curriculum and unbundling of the programme, will help to train students to fit-in in industries “, he stated.
Professor Elom also thanked the association for choosing the university as the host of its eminent person’s series, and assured them of his support within the bound of the university finance.
Earlier in her remarks, the National Deputy President of the association, Professor Nsude noted that the Association of Communication Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria (ACSPN) was established in 2012 to advance scholarship and ensure a collaboration between scholars and practitioners in the field of communication.
She explained that the essence is to bridge the gap between theory and practice, stressing that the association started by calling for the review of the curriculum of the Mass Communication to align it with the media industry.
She added that it was their advocacy that led to the unbundling of the Mass Communication programme in the Nigerian University System into 8 different new programmes, which include; Journalism. Broadcasting, Public Relations, Advertising, Information and Media Studies, Film and Multimedia Studies, Development Communication, and Strategic Communication.
She used the opportunity call on the Vice-Chancellor to unbundle the Mass Communication programme of the university, even if it means starting with three or four of the new programmes, and expanding as resources are available.
Professor Nsude further noted the rapid growth the university has witnessed in the past few years and commended the Vice-Chancellor for pooling resources together to make it happen. She also used the opportunity to announce that the association would be hosting its Eminent Person’s Series in the university on 24th July, 2024.
