I just finished my English (Hons) and started on a quest for quality Media Education in India. Given the number of years Media has been around I did not imagine it would be very tough. After all what did I want? A school that offers a program that focuses on practical learning and adapts to the changing nature of Media. Well, I searched the internet spoke to people in the industry and they gave me some pointers as to how I should decide on a school.
These were some of them:
1. Board of advisors
2. Industry buy-in of the program
3. Faculty
4. Curriculum
5. Placements
6. Practical learning
7. Infrastructure
Then they gave me a list to start this journey:
1. Asian College of Journalism
2. Manorma School of Communication
3. Jamia Milia
4. Indian Institute of Mass Communication
5. 9.9 School of Convergence
I thought 5 colleges to start my research was more than enough! I started a detailed survey of these colleges on the parameters I was given. Let me analyse each one of them now.
1. Asian College of Journalism
It is one of the oldest and most respected college in India and has alumni working in some of the top Media companies. It has one of the most amazing placement records. The issue is that the curriculum has not been changed in years, people were not very co-operative in giving information and you have to choose a particular stream.
I figured that most people were not going to ACJ for the curriculum but the fact that it had good placements. Though my aim was to learn and I was not sure if that was the college for me. Though I must say that it is one of the best colleges that I came across. It depends on what you are looking for. Honestly, it was one of my options!
2. Manorma School of Communication
Owned by one of the largest media houses Manorma seemed like a promising school. Manorma also seemed to have developed on lines of ACJ. Good college but had something missing from the practical point of view.
3. Jamia Milia
The curriculum has not changed for a decade now. Also, given the reservations etc there are very few seats.
4. IIMC
Honestly, I saw the website and I did not know whether I was on a wrong page. It really was old and torn. The course has been the same, faculty is old. Did not have the charm of a media school. I almost wondered why so many people wanted to get in so bad. But then I realised that it was the placements and the fact that it had alumni working in top media companies that was the biggest puller.
5. 9.9 School of Convergence
This was an interesting school that caught my eye. The minute I saw the website I felt it had a breath of fresh air. Started by Pramath Sinha who had started the Indian School of Business and run by ISB graduates seemed interesting. On investigating further I found out that they have a totally integrated program that combines practical learning. It had the international exposure and an absolutely brilliantly deigned curriculum. It was designed for the nextgen Media. Given it was a 9 year old school I spoke with alumni and realised this school may give me what a Columbia would have offered.
In short I feel that Institutions in India need to change with the changing times. Education concepts designed a decade ago are absolutely redundant now.
In summary this is the way I ranked my choices:
• Board of advisors
1. Asian College of Journalism
2. Manorma School of Communication
3. 9.9 School of Convergence
4. IIMC
5. Jamia
• Industry buy-in of the program
1. 9.9 School of Convergence
2. Asian College of Journalism
3. Manorma School of Communication
4. IIMC
5. Jamia
• Faculty
1. Asian College of Journalism
2. 9.9 School of Convergence
3. Manorma School of Communication
4. Jamia
5. IIMC
• Curriculum
1. 9.9 School of Convergence
2. Asian College of Journalism
3. Manorma School of Communication
4. Jamia
5. IIMC
• Placements
1. Asian College of Journalism
2. Manorma School of Communication
3. 9.9 School of Convergence
4. Jamia
5. IIMC
• Practical learning
1. 9.9 School of Convergence
2. Asian College of Journalism
3. Manorma School of Communication
4. Jamia
5. IIMC
• Infrastructure
1. Jamia
2. IIMC
3. Asian College of Journalism
4. 9.9 School of Convergence
5. Manorma School of Communication
Hope this helps you in deciding your Institute as it did in deciding my list!
