Manama: Kuwait is to have an independent media college within five years after the Media Department Council at Kuwait's Faculty of Arts approved the move, a local daily said.
Plans for the college have been presented to the Council of Departments, which recommended conducting more studies before showing them to the competent departments at the university, Kuwaiti daily Al Watan reported on Monday.
The news, however, has already been hailed by the University of Kuwait students, as a highly positive development.
"Here in Kuwait, we are suffering from lack of media influence. We should take advantage of the potentials of youth," Rowan Al Bahwah said.
"Media has an effective and strong influence on the state and the people, and therefore, we should invest in the sector in a positive. Our society desperately needs young Kuwaiti media persons who are well qualified and trained," she said, quoted by the daily.
For Omar Al Mutawa, an independent media college with many sections was a necessity.
"Media is of great importance and should be taught in colleges and not in small departments within a college," he said. "The most serious issue within the department and which should be avoided in the college is the shortage of faculty members, especially in the divisions of radio, television and technology as well as means of communication. The lack of teachers resulted in the closure of some sectors."
Equipped studios are needed to provide training to students and qualify them for the labour market after graduation, he said.
Fai Al Shatti, showing great enthusiasm about the decision, said that it would benefit students.
"Having a college for media will end the sufferings of students who have to move from a college to another to attend lectures," she said.
According to Abdullah Al Kandari, the college should be equipped with the latest technology and studios.
"The current media department at the university is unable to train a generation that can keep up with the tremendous developments," he said. Layla Hussein said TV editing, TV photography and sound engineering should be included in the new curriculum.
"Teaching such courses will help graduates to be creative. There is a need for providing the college with the latest technology," she said.