By Rene Anthere Rwanyange
The East African University Rwanda (EAUR) and Romania’s Transilvania University of Brașov are exploring a partnership to advance journalism education. The proposed cooperation focuses on joint research, postgraduate scholarships, academic exchanges and practical journalism training.
The initiative seeks to equip students with professional skills and strengthen teaching and research in journalism and communication. It also aims to create opportunities for students and lecturers to exchange knowledge and experience.
The discussions take place on November 11, 2026, when an EAUR delegation led by Vice Chancellor Professor Callixte Kabera meets Associate Professor Arabela Briciu, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Sociology and Communication at Transilvania University of Brașov. The EAUR delegation also includes Jean Baptiste Hategekimana, a consultant lecturer at the university.
During the meeting, Professor Kabera presents EAUR and highlights the university’s Mass Communication programme and academic activities. He also outlines areas where the two institutions can work together.
Professor Briciu introduces their faculty and its academic programmes. The Faculty of Sociology and Communication offers undergraduate courses in sociology, social work, communication and public relations, human resources, and digital media.
At postgraduate level, the faculty offers programmes in community development, human resource management, company branding and digital communication strategies. It also provides doctoral studies in sociology and communication.
The two sides identify several areas for potential cooperation. These include scholarships for EAUR students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees. They also consider academic exchange programmes for students and lecturers.
Joint research and academic conferences are among the other proposals. The universities also explore capacity-building initiatives to improve journalism and communication education.
Practical journalism training takes centre stage in the discussions. Both institutions explore ways to give students hands-on experience through campus media initiatives.
The proposed activities cover media production, digital storytelling, photography, television and audio broadcasting and video editing. These skills can help prepare graduates for the demands of the changing media industry.
The EAUR delegation also visits Transilvania University’s television studio, photography studio and student editing facilities. The tour provides an opportunity to learn how the university integrates practical media training into its communication programmes.
The latest discussions build on a cooperation agreement signed by the two universities in March 2024. Both institutions now seek to identify practical activities to advance the partnership, particularly in journalism and communication education.
The proposed cooperation offers EAUR students and lecturers opportunities to engage in international academic exchanges. It also opens prospects for joint research and the sharing of expertise in journalism and media education.