New courses awarded NCTJ accreditation
The NCTJ’s board of directors has accredited five new journalism courses and discontinued accreditation of one course. Directors also confirmed the renewal of accreditation for seven courses at their meeting on 10 March 2011.
The NCTJ’s board of directors has accredited five new journalism courses and discontinued accreditation of one course. Directors also confirmed the renewal of accreditation for seven courses at their meeting on 10 March 2011.
The new courses accredited for the first time are:
- Belfast Metropolitan College – Academic Year Journalism
- North West Regional College – Academic Year Newspaper Journalism
- Nottingham Trent University – MA Magazine Journalism
- University of Sunderland – MA Sports Journalism
- Up to Speed Journalism Training – Fast-track Photojournalism
The accreditation of the long-established journalism courses at Belfast Metropolitan College and North West Regional College means that there are now three NCTJ-accredited courses across Northern Ireland. These courses have transferred from the previous NVQ qualification to the new Diploma in Journalism, and demonstrate the support for quality journalism training that exists in Northern Ireland.
With the addition of the MA at Nottingham Trent University, the NCTJ now accredits nine courses in magazine journalism and the number of accredited sports journalism courses has risen to four with the inclusion of the University of Sunderland’s MA.
Nottingham Trent courses were double award winners at the Journalism Skills Conference in December, with the NCTJ-accredited MA/PgDip in Newspaper Journalism and the BA in Print Journalism topping the higher education postgraduate and undergraduate results tables. The addition of the new MA in Magazine Journalism further extends the university’s range of journalism provision for students.
The University of Sunderland already offers six NCTJ-accredited journalism courses across a range of specialisms and the MA joins the accredited undergraduate level sports journalism course.
There are now two centres offering NCTJ-accredited courses in photojournalism with the course at Up to Speed Journalism Training, which will run from 2011, joining the long-established photography courses at Sheffield College.
Seven courses have also been re-accredited by the NCTJ:
- Cardiff University – PgDip Newspaper Journalism
- Cornwall College – Fast-track Pre-entry Journalism
- St Mary’s University College – MA Sports Journalism
- The Sheffield College, Norton College – Academic Year Journalism and Fast-track Journalism
- University of Salford – MA/PgDip Journalism
- University of Ulster – MA/PgDip Journalism
- Up to Speed Journalism Training – Fast-track Journalism
These courses continue to show a commitment to providing the gold-standard qualification and delivering high-quality journalism training to students who have the talent and dedication to succeed in their journalism careers.
The directors agreed not to renew accreditation for the University of Portsmouth’s single honours BA Journalism course. The university decided not to seek re-accreditation for the combined honours BA journalism courses. As with all current students on previously accredited courses, students at the University of Portsmouth will continue to be supported by the NCTJ and have the opportunity to sit NCTJ exams.
The Accreditation Board, which oversees all NCTJ accreditation activities, has also been working on new projects to support NCTJ students and centres. These projects include providing guidelines for work experience, tips and advice for researching courses, help with CV and cover letter writing, and guidelines for magazine courses. These guidelines and professional advice will be posted on the NCTJ website in the coming weeks.
