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History of the Department of “Journalism”
A solid foundation was laid for the opening of the department. The specialty “Journalism” has been conducting its chronology since 1997. Just at that time, the regional media were in dire need of new qualified personnel, but journalistic skills were not taught in any of the regional educational institutions at that time. Doctor of Philology, Professor Zinaida Tabakova and rector of the then North Kazakhstan University Galymkair Mutanov decided to correct the omission. On their initiative, a new specialty was opened at the Department of “Russian Language and Literature”, and North Kazakhstan applicants had the opportunity to learn the basics of journalism without leaving home.
In the early years, teachers of the Department of “Russian Language and Literature” conducted classes for students-journalists, since the opening of the Kazakh department – also teachers of the department of “Kazakh Language and Literature”, experienced practical journalists were involved in teaching special disciplines. For example, Rakhima Zhumubayeva, Luisa Vlasova, Natalia Kopylova, Sergey Kuznetsov and others contributed to the training of today's stars of local, republican and even foreign journalism. And also, for about 20 years, Tatiana Morozova has been preparing new professionals of the media sphere.
By the way, the International Day of Solidarity of Journalists is celebrated on the eighth of September. The date is symbolic for our specialty, because on this day in 2016, at the initiative of the rector of the then North Kazakhstan State University named after Manash Kozybayev Serik Omirbayev, the Department of “Journalism” was opened. And from that moment, a completely different, independent life began for us. The new team actually consists of two already established ones – Russian- and Kazakh-speaking, who had not worked together before. With their own characters, views and rules, however, everyone is a professional in their field. Here it is necessary to mention Zarkyn Taishybai, Gul-gul Tulesheva, Ashekey Saurbayeva. What is equally important, its former undergraduates join the ranks of teachers of the department, for example, Maria Ponomarenko, Erlan Orazov, Kulyaikhan Rakhmet, Nurgul Akhmetova, Aysara Shalabayeva and others. Today the team has become one, we think in the same direction, a healthy atmosphere reigns inside, which is important!
Of course, there are already positive aspects in the work of our department, although it is only a period of formation of its independence. So, in 2018, 27 out of 34 educational programs of M. Kozybayev NKSU participating in the rating of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken”, including the specialty “Journalism”, took prizes. According to the results of the audit, we were awarded the first place among 24 universities of the country, including the capital. We were recognized as one of the best in the country in the following years.
The head of the Department of “Journalism” Aisulu Shaikenova notes: “We are working smoothly and very productively. The proof of this is the high assessment received by the Department of Journalism in the rating of educational programs of “Atameken”. This is a confirmation that the specialists trained at our department have a good reputation in the republic, and our teachers are always striving to update and improve teaching methods. To exchange experience with students, we also try to attract journalists from our region, participate in republican and regional master classes, forums that take place not only in Petropavlovsk, but also in the capital. Such meetings always enrich both students and teachers of the department.”
It is worth noting that the department strives to constantly expand partnerships with the media and other universities. In 2018, three students completed a free internship at the Kazmedia Center in Astana (now Nur-Sultan). Every year, undergraduates undergo a scientific internship at media enterprises in the region, as well as at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, L.N. Gumilev Eurasian National University and other universities. The best representatives of the profession of Kazakhstan and Russia (for example, Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Omsk, etc.) are invited to share their accumulated knowledge and experience with students and undergraduates of the specialties implemented by us.
It is necessary to mention one more key moment in the history of our department. Due to the fact that journalism is relevant and in demand in the labor market, as well as with the requirement of time not to stand still, but to look for new methods and approaches in teaching, in 2020 the educational program of the Department of “Journalism” was updated and transformed into the specialty “PR-journalism”. At the same time, the range of employment opportunities for future specialists has expanded: a PR manager, a public relations specialist, a correspondent and reporter (TV, radio, press), an employee of an online media, a press secretary, a columnist, a literary employee, etc.
During the training, a lot of time is devoted to the formation of practical skills of students: the opening of the editorial office “Parasat” at the department in 2021 made it possible to directly integrate practice into the educational process. All students take part in the preparation of the issues of the TV program and the newspaper “Parasat”, practice reporting and editorial skills, master working with a camera, layout and editing.
In general, since 2001, the Russian and Kazakh offices of the department have produced more than 500 qualified specialists who are in demand in the labor market and already act as employers themselves. Every year the recruitment for the specialty increases. September 2021 marked the 25th anniversary set! Bachelor graduates have the opportunity to continue their higher education in a master's degree, engage in science, practice and share their experience with young journalists.
We are glad that our more than twenty-year history consists not only of facts and opinions, but is written in bright colors: graduate journalists today work in all corners of our country and even abroad, they are awarded honorary awards, they are recognized in person and their work is appreciated.
Former students and undergraduates of the Department of “Journalism”, and now in many ways professionals in the search and presentation of current news, conducting television broadcasts, writing socially significant materials – and they have long headed entire editorial offices or departments that are part of them. The career path, they say, has not always been simple or difficult, but in any case – fascinating and exciting. After all, journalists, by profession, always stay where life is boiling!
