International Media Studies: New round of students

Before fleeing Syria a year and a half ago, Baydaa Layla (29) had worked for a radio station and had studied English and translation. Having been accepted to the IMS program she says she wants "to learn how journalism can help people back home or those who are now refugees themselves."

She says she's looking forward to exchanges with other IMS students. "I'm interested more than anything in finding out how free the media are in other countries," she says.

This is the first time the IMS program is including young media makers who have fled their home countries. These students have been given special preparation before the program gets underway.

Training advocates of free expression and press freedom

Professor Dr. Christoph Schmidt heads DW Akademie's Academic Department and welcomed the ninth round of IMS students at an opening event. "I'm extremely pleased," he told them, "that over the next four semesters we'll be training a new round of media makers who promote the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press."

Given political tensions worldwide, the IMS focuses on the media's role within a global context. International students will be developing an understanding of the close connection between media and development cooperation.

Luma Mohammad (28) from Jordan has also been accepted to the program and says she was inspired when she heard about the IMS two years ago. Mohammad previously worked for a Jordan radio station and plans to build on this experience after completing the IMS degree.

The International Media Studies program is located in Bonn. Twenty-six students have been in the city since mid-September and over the next two weeks will be joined by four additional students from Sudan, Kenya and Bangladesh. Altogether, 30 students from 21 different countries will be taking part in the program.

Over the next two years students will be exposed to theory and research, and also gain practical skills. Teachers include lecturers and staff from DW Akademie, DW, the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences and the University of Bonn.

Click here for more information about the program, admission requirements and timeframe for applications.