Status of Learner's Satisfaction in Journalism and Media Education in Changing Times: A study on the UG & PG students of the Journalism and Mass Communication with regard to Bangalore University Syllabus

Abstract

Higher education in India, like in any other developing country is facing sharp criticism for its apparent inability to provide education, relevant to the needs and aspirations of the knowledge seekers apart from providing employability.  The phenomenon of ever escalating unemployment in the area of educational interest has further aggravated the problem of Higher Education. Interestingly the statement made as early as 1985 "the whole process of higher education has become warped, dysfunctional, producing a number of unemployable young women and men” (The challenge of Education) holds well till date.

Unlike any of the professional courses in India, Journalism & Communication and Media Education has never been considered to garner the professional status. The course originates way back in 1948 when Aligarh University launched its Diploma course in Journalism, has seen massive change sprouting out to the under-graduate and master degree courses by various Universities and its affiliated college. This has made the institutions offering media and journalism courses, toddle for placements. 

It seems the present approved curriculum for BA Journalism & Communication and Media Education courses in particular, the Universities by itself does not offer any scope for employment on one end, while an attempt never made to study focusing the attention on students satisfaction who have joined these courses are on the other adds to it.The locale of the study is carried out in aided and private colleges affiliated to Bangalore University. The research study outlines targets the policy makers of University to rejuvenate the skill component which leads to innovative thoughts and knowledge based research in teaching courses of Journalism & Communication and Media Education. At this juncture the study was undertaken to critically analyze the present status of curriculum in terms of learners' satisfaction, with that to examine the perception of available skills in the present trainers by the students.