NINGBO, CHINA: The Erasmus SDGs Journalism Reporting Research Grant which was awarded to Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) by the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union has been successfully put into action by the university’s research group.
This research group is led by UUM’s Chief Researcher, Prof. Dr Huda Ibrahim, alongside Prof. Dr Azman Yasin, Assoc. Prof. Dr Mazni Omar, Assoc. Prof. Dr Bahtiar Mohamad and Assoc. Prof. Dr Mazida Ahmad and Dr Azahar Kasim, who serve as research fellows.
The objective of this grant is to develop the SDG Journalism syllabus by integrating components of journalism with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) from six universities from Asia and Europe.
The creation of a journalism syllabus with SDG elements has the potential to enhance global awareness regarding the significance of disseminating SDG-related information to the progressively sophisticated and innovative global community.
According to the leader of the UUM Erasmus SDGs Journalism Project, Prof. Dr Huda Ibrahim, an additional contribution involves acquiring production equipment to facilitate students’ immersion in the world of media following the creation of SDGs-based content.
She stated that the integration of journalism and technology was employed during the establishment of the SDG research laboratory in order to generate news productions and new media programmes using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Journalism approaches.
Prof. Dr Huda further reiterated that, researchers are also engaging in collaboration with several media agencies, including the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), the Malaysia Press Institute (MPI) and the Tun Abdul Razak Broadcasting and Information Institute (IPPTAR). The objective of these collaborations is to offer certificate and diploma programmes that specifically focus on SDG elements for media practitioners.
“We offer journalism SDG learning programmes in the form of certificates and diplomas, aiming to enhance participants’ understanding of the benefits of SDG elements for both the people of Malaysia and the global community,” she said.
She also said that the grant also provides UUM lecturers with the opportunity to acquire experience and knowledge in managing Erasmus + EU grants alongside other universities, particularly those in Europe.
She went on to say that the purpose of the grant is to gather data and incorporate research findings on various aspects of the SDG Journalism Reporting project including subject supply, quality, accreditation, implementation, delivery and sustainability.
Among the other entities involved in this grant are Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Spain; Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (LBUS), Romania and Novel Group Sarl (NGS), Luxembourg.
Meanwhile, the universities in Asia include UUM alongside National University of Battambang (NUBB), Cambodia; Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia; University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), China; Shenzhen Polytechnic (SZPT), China and University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia.
