The Communication and Journalism Educators’ Network (CJEN) Bangladesh is a not for profit organization.  Initiated in February 2018, the association seeks to build mutual understanding among the country’s media, journalism and communication academics.  It also aims to serve as a platform for knowledge co-creation and teacher capacity building in order to improve the quality of media education in Bangladesh.

Initiatives to form the association may be traced to DW Akademie project: “Media Development in Rural Areas: Supporting Community Radios and Journalism Education in Bangladesh.”  The project’s overall aim was to professionalize the journalism sector so that it can better perform its roles as a fourth estate and as facilitators of dialogue.  Concretely, the project sought to improve journalism education at the University of Rajshahi and University of Chittagong. In the External Evaluation Report (2017) on the project, it was suggested that the next phase move from the pilot approach, which only focused on two universities.  It should look into other regional universities (in terms of sharing practice-oriented education elements); build a network of journalism departments; and interface with working journalists in public and private media-related institutions.

With these in mind, Rajshahi University organized a networking conference among heads of journalism schools in the country in February 2018.  After a workshop conducted by DW Akademie Policy and Concept Expert Udo Prenjel, the participants decided to form the Communication and Journalism Educators’ Network (CJEN) Bangladesh.  Several months later, in November 2018, Chittagong University conducted the second networking conference.  During the event, the participants appointed the following academics to work on the association’s constitution:

• Gayen Kaberi (Dhaka University)
• Jude William Genilo (University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh)
• M. Zahangir Kabir (Manarat International University)
• Sharifa Umma Shirina (Barishal University)
• Mashihur Rahman (Rajshahi University)
• Mohammad Sahid Ullah (Chittagong University)
• Mahmuda Sikder (Chittagong University)

A third and fourth networking conference were then held.  In February 2020, Comilla University explored ways on how journalism education can become more practice-oriented.  In August 2021, Jahangirnagar University look at the role of media educators during the time of the pandemic.  In May 2022, the fifth networking conference will be hosted by the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh.  The conference will be a self-assessment about journalism education as a sector – what is right and what is wrong with journalism education in the light of a changed mediascape.

Vision Statement

Producing skilled, responsive and responsible communicators working for a just and ethical society.

Mission Statement

CJEN Bangladesh is committed to pursue excellence in media, journalism and communication education.  It endeavors to serve as a platform for knowledge co-creation and teacher capacity building as well as become a catalyst for social change in Bangladeshi society through communication policy review and formulation.

Teacher Capacity Building.  This includes training faculty on teaching pedagogy and assessment as well as enhancing their practice-oriented skills.  It also includes standardizing and sharing of teaching and learning resources.

Knowledge Co-Creation.  This includes improving teacher capacity for conducting research as well as setting up platforms for co-creating such as conferences, workshops and research collaborations.

Public Dialogues.  This includes undertaking policy reviews and research as well as liaisons with the government, media industry and international associations.

Faculty Welfare.  This includes looking after the safety and welfare of faculty as well as recognition and awards.

CJEN Bangladesh’s secretariat is on rotation basis.  A university is assigned as secretariat for a period of time.  The following universities have served as secretariat:

First Half 2018 – Rajshahi University

Second Half 2018 – Chittagong University

2020 – Comilla University

2021 – Jahanagirnagar University

2022 – University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh

2023 – Khulna University

Prof. Jude William R. Genilo, PhD (University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh)
Sarkar Barbaq Quarmal, PhD (University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh)
Abdul Kabil Khan, PhD (University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh)
Nandita Tabassum (University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh)
Mohammed Mozammel Huq, PhD (University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh)