Students taking Communication to the streets
From former WACC scholar Rev Dr John Joshva Raja, Department of Communication, United Theological College, Bangalore, India.
Being one of the members of Asia Region World Association for Christian Communication (ARWACC), the Department of Communication in the United Theological College is actively engaged in providing practical and theoretical training in communication. During 2001-2002 the students in this department were involved in a variety of activities. ARWACC organised its regional consultation in the college with the focus on “Information Society and Alternative Media” for the NGOs, Churches and theological institutions. With the help of NCCI, CSI, SATHRI and ARWACC, a seminar on “The Perceptions of Islam in the Media” was organised by the department for the journalists in Bangalore.
With the help of INSA, a local NGO, the department conducted a day workshop on “Community Communication and HIV/AIDs Awareness”. The Department along with Arch Diocesan Communication Centre, Bangalore conducted special classes to the local school teachers a special one day training on media awareness. This has created a lot of enthusiasm among the teachers and our students who jointly conducted classes to the school children in Bangalore. The training was provided for ten schools and the classes were conducted in two schools. These programmes and seminars highlighted important issues that are common to communication and theology for our students and for others.
Having been influenced by these, our students try to translate the concepts into practice. They performed “Therukooththu” (Street Theatre) among the communities who live in Slum areas in order to bring awareness about HIV/AIDs under the leadership of our principal Dr O V Jathanna. Learning from the experience the students have promised to continue to perform this programme in many areas of Bangalore. Besides this Media Awareness Training(MAT) has created a lot of enthusiasm among our students who displayed banners and charts to bring awareness among the other theological students and communities in the campus. For the first time in the history of UTC a film festival was organised by the students with the support of the department with reviews and critical discussions after the films. Besides these after the skill training programme students produced an amateur video cassette. Some produced an audio cassette in their regional language.
These programmes and courses are offered to the theological students by the department of communication at United Theological College, Bangalore. Some of the courses that are offered to the theological graduates (B.D. students) are Introduction to Communication, Skills in Communication and Media Awareness Training. provides postgraduate (M.Th) and doctoral (D.Th) degrees under Senate of Serampore College to the theological graduates. The department is one of the best centres with highly qualified lecturers such as Professor Michael Traber, Rev Dr Joshva Raja, Rev Sham P Thomas, Fr Dr Sebastian(part time) and Fr Jeyanathan. Both practical as well as theoretical training are provided at all levels. The department is an ecumenical department as many of these programmes are jointly organised by the Department of Communication, UTC and Communication Centre, Catholic Arch Diocese, Bangalore. As one of the best centres in South Asia in bringing theology and communication together the department is looking forward to have students who are interested in exploring this field from all over South Asia. If you are interested in our programmes and courses you may please contact the following address further details: The Chairperson (A) or visit our webpage which has application forms:
www.utcbangalore.com
Department of Communication
United Theological College,
4613, 63, Miller’s Road,
Bangalore - 560 046
South India.
Tel 080 3333438/3330502
joshvajohn@hotmail.com
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