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.
Mohyla School of Journalism – A Call For Help
This year the Ministry of Education abruptly discontinued funding for the master program of the School of Journalism. Government officials explained the Ministry’s position only after the admission process was over. The Ministry revoked all of the government fellowships for the Journalism School due to “political bias of the University” and due to the fact that the School has no Bachelor’s level program. They also pointed out that because of lack of finances, state funding to other journalism schools had been substantially reduced. We consider these explanations as absurd and politically motivated.
Unfortunately the most talented students have been left without funding, and many of those who entered the program this year are unable to pay for their education themselves. The School of Journalism has decided to solicit funding for student fellowships elsewhere, and has turned to its alumni, media organizations, NGOs and charitable organizations in Ukraine and all over the world for support.
We ask you to consider joining our fundraising and publicity efforts and support journalism education and media freedom in Ukraine. To find out how you can help, please contact us at
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Find out more about the education funding issue in an op-ed by Marta Farion for Kyiv Post.
More about Mohyla School of Journalism.
Today the Mohyla School of Journalism at National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” is engaged in many journalism and media training initiatives, including:
- Two-year master program in journalism (alumni work in leading Ukrainian and international media);
- PhD program in Mass Communications (part of the NaUKMA Doctoral School, doctoral students represent Ukrainian media research in international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals);
- Digital Future of Journalism – non-degree digital media training program for working journalists (alumni include over 100 journalists and editors from various Ukrainian media);
- New media training program for university instructors (beneficiaries – journalism departments in other Ukrainian universities);
- Joint project with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Thomson Reuters Foundation and the Ukrainian Parliament;
- Joint project with the European Journalism Observatory.
Mohyla School of Journalism at the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” was founded in 2001.
MSJ is a leader in journalism education in Ukraine and it was called by IREX Media Sustainability Index 2009 “the only respected academic program for journalists”. The School offers two Degree Programs - MA and PhD. Also it offers one non-degree program for journalists – Digital Future of Journalism which was founded in 2007 with generous support from Rinat Akhmetov’s “Development of Ukraine” fund.
Our MA program has a heavy emphasis on practical skills in different types of media. The entrance committee accepts only people with BA, MA degrees and some professional experience in journalism. And eventually we have students with social sciences background, cultural studies, linguists, historians, economists, natural scientists as well as graduates from the faculties of Journalism.
The mission of our School is to serve the Ukrainian society:
* Academically – through the increase of standards of journalism education in Ukraine and through the creating of new approaches to teaching of journalism and media reserach
* Publicly – through the influence on the media industry by critique, training programs, professional discussions and through the increase of level of public media literacy
The specialization of School is News & Current affairs coverage for different types of media with emphasis on Broadcasting and New Media.
With more than 15 faculty members and 80 graduate, post-diploma and post- graduate students, Mohyla School of Journalism has become a center for excellence in journalism education and communication research.
