Irish Ambassador to Zambia has officially launched the first ever Creative Digital Media Diploma Programme in Zambia.
The programme is a partnership between Ballyfermont College of Further Education in Ireland with the Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce of Zambia with support from the government of Ireland.
During the launch of the programme, Ambassador Finbar O’Brien said “this comes at a time of changing and rapid developments in the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) world. One such development is the emergence of digital media and the space that this innovation opens up in our personal and collective lives wherever we are.
He added that “digital media is central to the creative economy and a key component of ICT with significant potential to generate income and jobs. It can also advance social and economic progress and hence contribute both directly and indirectly to poverty alleviation.”
Ambassador O’Brien noted that “the diploma in creative digital media which is being launched this morning combines both the imparting of technical and entrepreneurship skills therefore promoting not just individual employment opportunities but also a spirit of entrepreneurship which will contribute to Zambia’s economic growth.
He said it was in that context that the Irish government was happy to support digital media training in Zambia under its Programme for Strategic Cooperation which begun in 2006 and promotes linkages and cooperation in research and teaching between higher education and research institutions in Ireland and in countries supported by Irish Aid.
The curriculum of the diploma aims to be innovative combining high level technical and artistic skills with understanding of development and global issues which would empower Zambian graduates to shape the emerging digital industry and determine its contribution to cultural, economic, and social development.
He commended the Ministry of Education Science Vocational Training And Early Education for acting pro-actively through Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce by initiating this diploma programme to ensure that a cadre of Zambians are equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively perform digital media functions as the country plans its migration to digital transmission.
Ambassador O’Brien further reiterated the Irish government commitment to supporting education in Zambia and is currently providing support towards improved access to and quality of education at all levels of the school system working directly with the Ministry of Education Science and Vocational Training and Early Education.
Ireland has support to education in Zambia dates back to the earliest Irish missionaries who established schools in the country. This support to the Sector was strengthened with the establishment of the Irish Aid programme in Zambia in the early 1980s.
He said this support was in line with a key goal of Ireland’s policy for international development which is to “contribute to sustainable development and inclusive economic growth. For inclusive growth to happen it is important that gender considerations and other forms of discrimination are actively addressed to avoid exclusion. It is my hope, therefore, that special strategies will be put in place to ensure that girls in particular as well as other disadvantaged groups such as persons with disability are targeted and encouraged to take up this course and become pioneers in Zambia in the area of creative digital media.”
