University of Media, Arts and Communication

The Ghana Institute of Journalism was established on 16 October 1959 by Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana. The school was formally called the School of Journalism and was a department at the Accra Technical Institute (now Accra Technical University). The first principal and journalism tutor was Richard McMillan. The university's library is named in his honor.{{cite web |title=History of the Office |url=https://gij.edu.gh/history-of-the-office/ |website=Ghana Institute of Journalism |access-date=29 July 2023}}

The school became the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 1974.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-02 |title=Ghana Institute of Journalism at 60 with no accommodation? |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/Ghana-Institute-of-Journalism-at-60-with-no-accommodation-742973 |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}} The school received its presidential charter establishing it as a university in 2009.{{cite web |title=Ghana Institute of Journalism now a University |url=http://www.modernghana.com/news/240302/1/ghana-institute-of-journalism-now-a-university.html |access-date=June 21, 2012 |publisher=ModernGhana.}}{{Cite web |last=Wod |first=Lawson |date=2022-12-14 |title=GIJ merges with two other Institutions to become a New University |url=https://coverghana.com.gh/gij-merges-with-two-other-institutions-to-become-a-new-university/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=CoverGhana |language=en-US}} Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), National Films and Television Institute (NAFTI), and Ghana Institute of Languages (GIL) were merged as a University by an act of Parliament (Act 1059) in 2022.

The University is in the face of a transition

The Richard McMillan Library

The school runs Diploma, Bachelor of Arts, and Masters programs.{{Cite web |title=Academic Courses – Ghana Institute of Journalism |url=http://gij.edu.gh/courses-2/ |access-date=2018-09-17 |website=Ghana Institute of Journalism |language=en-US}}

• The Diploma Program is a 2-year program consisting of communication, social sciences, and arts subjects.
• The Bachelor of Arts program is a 4-year program with options of specializing in either Journalism or Public Relations.
• The Masters Programs is a 1-year program with options to specialize in Public Relations, Journalism, Media Management, and Development Communication.
• A two-year B.A. in Communication Studies Top-Up Programme for Diploma graduates.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-18 |title=Home |url=https://gij.edu.gh/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=Ghana Institute of Journalism |language=en-US}}

• Faculty of Integrated Communication Sciences{{Cite web |title=Faculty of Integrated Communication Sciences |url=https://gij.edu.gh/faculty-of-integrated-and-communication-sciences/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Ghana Institute of Journalism |language=en-US}}
• Faculty of Journalism & Media Studies{{Cite web |title=Faculty of Journalism & Media Studies |url=https://gij.edu.gh/faculty-of-journalism-media-studies/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Ghana Institute of Journalism |language=en-US}}
• Faculty of Public Relations, Advertising & Integrated Marketing{{Cite web |title=Faculty of Public Relations, Advertising & Integrated Marketing |url=https://gij.edu.gh/faculty-of-pr-advertising-marketing/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Ghana Institute of Journalism |language=en-US}}
• School of Graduate Studies and Research (SoGSaR){{Cite web |title=School of Graduate Studies and Research (SoGSaR) |url=https://gij.edu.gh/school-of-graduate-studies-and-research-sogsar/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Ghana Institute of Journalism |language=en-US}}
• School of Alternative Learning{{Cite web |title=School of Alternative Learning |url=https://gij.edu.gh/school-of-alternative-learning/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Ghana Institute of Journalism |language=en-US}}

The management of the university was labeled as 'insensitive' to the hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, after the school increased its facility user fees for the 2020/21 academic year. It led to a protest on social media and the decision was later reversed.{{Cite web |date=2020-11-19 |title=UG reduces fees for 2020/21 academic year |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/UG-reduces-fees-for-2020-21-academic-year-1112788 |access-date=2020-11-20 |website=GhanaWeb. |language=en}}

The management of the institution asked students who paid their fees late to defer their courses for the academic year. The students protested and accused the management as 'unfair' and 'insensitive' as they were not aware of the consequences.{{Cite web |title=GIJ students protest over new directive to defer course for late payment of fees - MyJoyOnline.com |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/gij-students-protest-over-new-directive-to-defer-course-for-late-payment-of-fees/ |access-date=2021-03-24 |website=MyJoyOnline |date=24 March 2021 |language=en-US}} Some students were denied access to the two campuses of the institution.{{Cite web|title=GIJ locks out students|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/gij-locks-out-students.html|access-date=2021-03-24|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb}} The management later allowed the students to register for their end-of-semester exams.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-25|title=GIJ pardons students directed to defer academic year over late payment of fees|url=https://citinewsroom.com/2021/03/gij-pardons-students-directed-to-defer-academic-year-over-late-payment-of-fees/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana|language=en-US}}

In November 2020, students who had not been able to graduate since 2013, were given the opportunity by the academic board to register and complete their programs. This was to be done within three years.{{Cite web|title=GIJ grants amnesty to students yet to graduate since 2013|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/education/gij-grants-amnesty-to-students-yet-to-graduate-since-2013.html|access-date=2020-11-27|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb}}

• List of universities in Ghana

{{reflist}}{{Commons}}{{Ghana universities}}

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Category:Universities in Ghana

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1959

Category:1959 establishments in Ghana

Category:Journalism education

Category:Education in Accra

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