History

A Word from UKMA President and School Founder, Professor Sergiy Kvit

Although students were first admitted to the Mohyla School of Journalism in 2001, the history of journalism education at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy began several years earlier. The profession of journalist was always popular at the Academy. Since 1992 our students and faculty have founded 36 samizdat newspapers and magazines, and many graduates have become professional journalists. Even Academy President Vyacheslav Brukhovetsky holds a diploma in journalism, which is why the idea to create a journalism program was initially born. The program was conceived as one grounded on a Western model, but sensitive to Ukrainian peculiarities.

At first our conceptual ideas, namely an MA program without a base BA level, the acceptance of graduates with degrees outside of journalism, a practical orientation of the educational process, etc. created doubts among our educators. However our initiative was supported by the journalistic sphere, and afterwards by academic circles. As a result, the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy received a license for an experiment in the modernization of journalism education in Ukraine. The experiment would have been impossible without the participation of the students who first entered the School and studied conscientiously with no guaranty of graduating with a recognized diploma.

Curiously, there was no hesitation in choosing the school’s name. When I started work at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy I was amazed to learn that domestic media-specialists were convinced that the Academy already had it own journalism program, which they called “The Mohyla School of Journalism”. Thus our school was already in “existence”, enjoying a good reputation even before actually opening its doors.

The history of our technical facilities began with two tables, five chairs, and two rooms, one of which served as a lecture hall. Thanks to several international projects and the support of domestic sponsors, the Mohyla School of Journalism has built up the most comprehensive technical facilities base among Ukrainian universities offering journalism programs, including two TV studios, a photo studio, radio studio, editing studio, and resource center.