Launch of a Club of Journalism at the University of Burundi

The Center for the Advancement of the Information and Development (CEPID), and the department of Journalism and communication from the University of Burundi have launched a Journalism Club. This partnership aims to enhance the practical training of future journalists through workshops led by professionals in this business.

The second year students of bachelor's degree in journalism.

In the context of strengthening the practical skills of future journalists, the Centre for the Promotion of the Information and Development (CEPID) has sealed a formal partnership with the department of Journalism and Communication of the University of Burundi (UB). The signing of this partnership took place Saturday, may 3, 2025, in the context of the university, marking the launch of a Journalism Club for students in training.

The convention has been signed by Patrick Niyonkuru, president of the CEPID and Professor Dr. Hélène Mpawenimana, head of the department of journalism and communication of the UB. This initiative mainly aims to provide students of the second year of the bachelor of journalism, a space of learning, complementary to the academic theoretical conducted in the framework of their university curriculum.

The partnership agreement was signed by Professor Dr. Hélène Mpawenimana, head of the department of journalism and communication from the University of Burundi, and Patrick Niyonkuru, president of the CEPID.

At the end of the signature of the partnership, the representatives of the CEPID and those of the department mentioned above have met with the students involved in the campus Mutanga. This meeting, which was held in a friendly atmosphere, to allow future journalists to express themselves freely on the organization of the club.

The students are interested more than ever

The students expressed their enthusiasm and their commitment to be actively involved in the activities of the club, convinced that such an initiative will contribute significantly to their professional development.

The Journalism Club will be animated during a cycle of five months for each promotion and by the members of the CEPID, all specialized in different formats in journalism. The sessions will be held every Saturday from 9am to 12pm, at the heart of the university. This weekly frequency will ensure regular monitoring and mentoring support of the participants. The pedagogical approach adopted will favor the practical aspect of the profession, and academic leaders who felt that the students already receive training sufficient through the official program.

Several themes will be addressed in the thread of the workshops : the written press, radio, television, online media, and the use of social networks in the work of journalism. The facilitators of the club, from the CEPID, will bring an expertise derived from experience in the field, with the objective to familiarize the students with the professional realities of contemporary techniques for the production of content, the verification of sources, the story, the video and audio, as well as the management of the information on the digital platforms.

CEPID and the university all satisfied with the not crossed

« This partnership responds to a need expressed for a long time, the one of providing journalism students the practical tools and regular practice of the profession prior to their insertion in the professional "said Patrick Niyonkuru. The president of the CEPID also stressed the importance of the practice exercise in the training of journalism, considering that it is an essential complement to train professionals competent, credible, and committed to the promotion of quality information.

For its part, Pr. Dr. Helena Mpawenimana welcomed the commitment of the CEPID, which it sees as a strategic partner in improving the training of journalism in Burundi. " The University of Burundi has always been committed to training journalists to be able to respond to the challenges of the time. This club is an important lever to achieve this goal ", she said, while calling on students to demonstrate attendance and rigor in their participation.

The creation of the Journalism Club aims to provide students with a space of learning, complementary to the academic theoretical conducted in the framework of their university curriculum.

The initiative was generally well-received, both by students and by teachers. It is seen as a rare opportunity of learning by doing, through guidance provided by professionals in the business. The involvement of stakeholders and the enthusiasm shown during the meeting suggest a positive dynamic for the months to come.

Through this club, the CEPID also hopes to contribute to the emergence of a new generation of journalists in burundi, and aware of the stakes of their craft and better prepared to the requirements of the field. This initiative is part of a wider approach to capacity building and promotion of responsible journalism, the vector of development and good governance.