Innovative new course accredited by the NCTJ

The youngest university in Wales can now boast an NCTJ accredited course in print journalism.

 

The Certificate of Higher Education in Print Journalism at Glyndŵr University, Wrexham, has been accredited by the NCTJ until February 2011.

 

The year-long course was developed in partnership with NWN Media (North Wales Newspapers) to provide part-time release for company trainees but it is also open to self-funded students. The certificate is equivalent academically to completion of the first year of a degree.

 

Panel members visiting Glyndŵr University said they were impressed with the course which they felt was completely geared up towards the needs of the newspaper industry.

 

Janet Jones, Journalism lecturer at Glyndwr University, described the accreditation as a great step forward for the new course. She said: “We believe we have developed a programme in partnership with NWN Media that offers journalism students the best possible package of practical experience and academic expertise. To have that confirmed by the NCTJ through this accreditation is a huge boost.”

 

Barrie Jones, editor in chief of NWN Media Ltd described the course as a great partnership between a media organisation and the academic environment. “We believe it is a really innovative way of delivering journalism training and many of our reporters are already benefiting from it,” he said.

 

Glyndŵr University was known as the North East Wales Institute (NEWI), until last year when the institute gained university status and changed its name to commemorate the famous Welsh statesman Owain Glyndŵr, who advocated establishing a university in north Wales.

 

• Established courses which have recently achieved NCTJ re-accreditation for two years are the MA/PgDip at the University of Salford and the high-performing BA in Journalism Studies at the University of Sheffield.