The Tajik branch of the British Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) held a round table on the topic “Strengthening capacities of media education in Tajikistan. The event was attended by deans of journalism faculties of leading Tajik universities and practicing journalists applying IWPR standards.

Participants discussed topical problems in the sphere of education and preparation of qualified journalists for local media organizations. They also discussed the ways of efficient cooperation and strengthening of teaching capacities in Tajik educational institutions.

The participants supported the idea of developing new teaching methodologies and textbooks for students; they proposed to increase practical exercises based upon the experience of the leading media, including the application of IWPR standards of writing and editing incorporated into curricula of journalism faculties in the neighboring Kyrgys Republic.

Saodat Asanova, director of IWPR office in Tajikistan expressed readiness to assist in exchange of experience among teachers and professors of universities in Central Asia, in particular, between teachers of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

IWPR is widely known as an independent organization supporting mass media in conflict areas and in countries in transition. The main activity of IWPR is practical projects in the sphere of media development. IWPR started working in Central Asia in 1999.

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