‘iLearn training is perceived as valuable and desirable by Indian participants at all levels – partner institutions, co-ordinators, trainers and trainees – as well as by media organisations.’

That is one of the key findings of an evaluation of a BBC World Service Trust-led programme of blended learning for working journalists in India. The report was written by experts in online training at Dublin City University’s School of Communications. The university was one of the partners in the EU-funded project.

During a tour of Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkota, Bangalore and Chennai, the visiting academics spoke to iLearn trainers and trainees, project and partner staff, and media managers. They concluded:

‘Almost all trainers and trainees, including some with a degree qualification in journalism, thought that the training afforded important exposure to practical scenarios that they had not encountered or that related to skills that they needed to refresh.

‘It was clear … that none of the Indian journalists felt that the training represented an imposition of external values on the developing Indian print and broadcast media system.’

Around 200 journalists earned diplomas by completing the year-long programme, which combined residential workshops with a number of online courses. Only a handful dropped out along the way.

Training was delivered in Bengali, Hindi, English and Tamil. There were courses for more experienced staff as well as beginners. Journalists from India and the UK delivered face-to-face training and acted as online mentors for the trainees.

The Dublin City University team found that:

 There was general agreement among trainees who had completed iLearn that it had made them better journalists and improved their work. A typical comment came from a broadcast reporter: “It was a really good experience. It was a kind of revival for me. I am in the field for eight years, and (there) we just do our work. I learned how to plan and focus. There was so much stuff to learn!”’

‘Without exception all said that they would take another iLearn course.’

 Links:

iLearn in India www.i-learn.co.uk/india/

Dublin City University School of Communications www.dcu.ie/communications/