The new Multimedia Education Center (MEC) in Tbilisi, Georgia officially opens in March, but students at the Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management (CSJMM) [6] got a sneak peek and have already begun classes in the state-of-the-art space.
Recently, first-year graduate students at CSJMM began using the center for courses in radio journalism, visual communication and TV reporting. “It is very important that these courses coincided with us starting to work on our final projects,” said Sopo Mgalobishvili. “At our school the equipment was not enough for all of us and was outdated. Here, we have all the conditions to work effectively, efficiently and in a very comfortable environment.”
IREX’s USAID-funded Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed citizenry and Accountability (G-MEDIA) [7] project built the innovative center to draw students out of the classroom into a working converged newsroom and studio space. The center’s physical flexibility is key to the learning environment. Nearly all the furniture and equipment is built on wheels to allow for flexibility in the space’s design. For example, a classroom can easily be converted into a discussion space, studio or classroom by moving furniture and partitions.
Soon MEC will become Tbilisi’s hub for discussions across various disciplines such as technology, journalism and governance. Along with graduate studies, MEC will offer certificate courses in journalism and media management. CSJMM students will share the space with students from the newly established Radio Liberty Media School in Tbilisi.
The MEC’s grand opening will be held March 14.
The Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed Citizenry and Accountability (G-Media) project supports Georgia’s media sector, which includes media outlets, media support organizations and journalism schools. It is funded by USAID and implemented by IREX.