Dossier KIJAC ENG - Rrokum TV

Statement by the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media & Cultural Studies,
Cardiff University, on its involvement in the Kosovo Institute of
Journalism and Communications (Kijac)
April 6 2011
Between 2005 and 2010, Cardiff University allowed a small number of the
academic staff from its School of Journalism, Media & Cultural Studies to teach
some academic components of a course offered by the Kosovo Institute of
Journalism and Communications (Kijac). The lecturers involved each spent one or
two weeks a year teaching in Kosovo. This indicated the university’s commitment
to the development of Kosovo, and to fostering a free and open media culture
within the newest of Europe's states. Other parts of the Kijac course were taught
by other institutions or by individuals with expertise in journalism skills.
Cardiff University’s teaching met the highest standards – standards that make the
Cardiff School of Journalism, Media & Cultural Studies one of the top three
journalism studies institutions in the UK. We are proud of this contribution. Our
contribution also included providing two PhD scholarships and one MA scholarship
to three Kosovars whom Kijac wanted to develop as indigenous teaching staff on
the project. Those Cardiff University staff who taught at Kijac part-financed these
three scholarships out of the fees they were paid for their work in Kosovo.
Cardiff University’s involvement in the Kijac project was limited. Cardiff’s role was
confined to contributing specialised teaching on part of the course. Nebraska
University in the United States made a similar, limited contribution. Cardiff
University was willing publicly to acknowledge its input into the course to indicate
the quality of instruction that Kijac students were receiving. But Cardiff University
(like Nebraska) had no responsibility for the leadership, management,
administration, funding and staffing of the project. Cardiff also did not have any
responsibility for the accreditation of the course as an academic degree. Under
the agreements that established Kijac, the Government of Kosovo and the project
leader that exercised executive powers, the Gimlekollen School of Journalism and
Communication, took on responsibility for the accreditation of the degree. As a
matter of policy, Cardiff University does not accredit any degree unless, among
other conditions, members of its own staff teach all aspects and components of a
course of study leading to the award of that degree. This condition, among
others, was not satisfied by the Kijac project.
Questions about the issue of accreditation of a Kijac degree -- and about all
matters relating to the staffing, leadership, administration, management and
funding of Kijac -- should be directed to the Gimlekollen School of Journalism and
Communication in Kristiansand, Norway, that led the project. The people best
equipped to answer your questions at that institution are Mr Kaare Melhus, the
Kijac project manager (kare.melhus@mediehogskolen.no), and Dr Lars Dahle,
chairman of the board of Kijac (lars.dahle@mediehogskolen.no).
signed:
Professor Justin Lewis, Head of School, Cardiff School of Journalism, Media & Cultural
Studies, Cardiff University.
Dr Howard Barrell, Senior Lecturer, Cardiff School of Journalism, Media & Cultural
Studies, Cardiff University.