HAWANA Campus Tour Excellent Platform For Students To Understand Media, Communication Landscape

BANGI, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- The National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2024 campus tour has been described as an excellent platform for students to enhance their understanding of the current reality of the media and communication landscape, especially in the face of the digital era.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International Affairs) Professor Dr Abdul Halim Abdul Gafor, said that it includes exposure to current practices and policies in the field of journalism.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the Ministry of Communications and Bernama (Malaysian National News Agency) for this programme, which provides a clear insight into how technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and online platforms, are enriching the media industry today,” he said in his speech at the event, held at the university’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Also present were the Ministry of Communications secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa; the ministry’s senior under secretary (Management) Mazlan Abd Mutalib; and Bernama chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, who is also the chairman of the Hawana 2024 Working Committee.

Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj; deputy editor-in-chief (News Service) Nasriah Darus; head of Management Services and Finance Sharifah Zaini Syed Zain; and head of TV and Radio Broadcasting Mohd Shukri Ishak were also in attendance.

Meanwhile, Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication dean Associate Professor Dr Hazlina Abdul Halim said that the HAWANA 2024 campus tour offers students the chance to engage in learning sessions outside the classroom, directly interacting with industry professionals.

International Islamic University Malaysia’s (IIUM) AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences’ Communications Department head Associate Professor Tengku Siti Aisha Tengku Azman said that she was honoured to be invited to participate in this tour series.

“We truly appreciate today’s content, which covers important topics such as fake news, fact-checking, and Mobile Journalism (MoJo), as they are directly relevant to the studies of our students in radio, television, and online journalism,” she said.

Today's programme also saw UKM, UPM, and IIUM, together with Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), receiving donations of computer and television sets, valued at RM20,000, donated by the Ministry of Communications, and presented by Bernama as HAWANA Secretariat.

UPSI’s Faculty of Languages and Communication dean Associate Professor Dr Mazura Mastura Muhammad said that the equipment received today will be utilised in the content creation laboratory at the faculty, and will enhance the overall learning experience.

The HAWANA 2024 campus tour programme at UKM is the third edition, after Sarawak on May 25 and Sabah (Oct 25). Upcoming sessions will be held in Melaka (Southern Zone), Terengganu (East Coast Zone) and Penang (Northern Zone).

HAWANA 2024 is organised by the Ministry of Communications, with Bernama as the implementing agency.

-- BERNAMA