| Field | Value |
| University Name | University of the Punjab |
| Official name of Department/School: | Department of Digital Media |
| Is your university public or private? | Public |
| Department website: | https://pu.edu.pk/home/subdepartment/67037 |
| Department contact email: | chairperson.dm@pu.edu.pk |
| Name of Department Chair/HoD: | Prof. Dr. Savera Mujib Shami |
| Department mission statement: | Our mission is to inculcate the value of continuous learning, experimentation, professional and personal growth among the future generations. We would connect the students with world’s professionals to make them more successful and productive. |
| Are your media/journalism/communication studies degree programs accredited? | Yes |
| If yes, by which accreditation body/bodies? | BS program at university is approved by Academic Council has to be according to HEC guidelines, |
| Total number of students currently enrolled in different programs: | 400 |
What is the total number of your full time faculty?
| 3 |
| Which communication/media/journalism-related degree programs does your department offer? (Check all that apply) | Bachelor’s degree |
| Please give the title of specific degree programs offered (e.g., BS in Journalism, MA in Digital Media, M.Phil. Professional Track, etc.): | BS in Digital Media & Communication |
| What specializations/tracks (if any) do you offer to your final semester students? | N/A |
| Do you offer online or hybrid journalism programs? | No, only in-person programs |
| What is the average class sizes for your various programs? | 50 |
| What are the basic qualifications required for admission to the various programs offered by your department? | A levels/Intermediate |
| Does your department offer a dedicated course related to Media & Information Literacy? | Yes |
| Does your department include topics related to visual verification, digital fact-checking, Media & Information Literacy, countering disinformation, etc., in other existing courses? | Yes |
| What type of gender-based enrollment does your department offer? | Co-education |
| Does your department have formal partnerships/collaborations with media organizations? | Yes |
| If yes, please list key media partners: | Daily Pakistan |
| Does your department have partnerships/collaborations with other academic institutions? | No |
| If yes, please list key institutional partners: | N/A |
| Does your department have student exchange programs? | No |
| If yes, please describe briefly | N/A |
| Does your department collaborate with professional industry associations (APNS, PBA, PFUJ, CPNE, etc.)? | No |
| If yes, please list key industry associations: | We have informal collaboration but not the formal one |
| Does your department facilitate students for internship placement at various industry organizations? | Yes |
| Does your department receive industry funding or sponsorships for programs? | No |
| If yes, please describe briefly: | N/A |
| Would your department like to become a member of the Coalition Against Disinformation – an alliance of academia, media, and civil society that works to counter disinformation through educational interventions? | Yes |
| How many research publications did the department faculty produce in the past academic year? | 1 |
| Does your department publish its own academic journal? | No |
| If yes, please mention the name and URL of the academic journal: | N/A |
| How many student theses/dissertations were completed in the past academic year? | Our first batch will pass out this year in December |
| Does your department host any regular seminars/ symposia to link students with industry professionals? | Yes |
| Does your department have any of the following media productions and publication services? Select all that apply. | Podcast Production, Department Social Media Platforms |
| Does your department maintain a public repository of student/faculty research work? | No |
| If yes, please mention the URL of the public repository: | N/A |
| Which of the following facilities does your department maintain? (Check all that apply) | Television studio, Radio studio, Podcast recording studio, Mobile journalism equipment checkout, Internet connection for students, We have shared facilities for now |
| Does your department have the necessary or adequate high-quality professional equipment (e.g., Multimedia) and software (e.g., Adobe) required for teaching the courses offered? | Yes |
| Does your department require specific equipment for classrooms and labs to improve the learning experience for the courses offered? | Yes |
| If yes, please list up to three types of specific equipment required as a top priority: | High-performance Computers, High-speed Internet Access, VR/AR Devices |
| Which of the following extra-departmental facilities are available to students at your college/university? (Check all that apply) | Central Library (accessible to all students and departments), Career Counseling and Placement Office, Sports Complex / Gymnasium, On-campus Hostel or Student Accommodation, Medical or Health Center, Student Cafeteria / Dining Hall, Transport Services (Buses/Coasters), Central Computer Lab, University Auditorium for Events |
| What are your department’s greatest strengths? (Enlist top three) | Pioneer in Digital Media Education, Up-to-date, Qualified and Experienced Faculty and Industry-Relevant Curriculum, |
| What are the biggest challenges facing your department currently? This question is not for public use. It is only to determine if support can be provided to the department through the media development work of IRADA, CAD and IMS. (Enlist any three) | We are currently facing challenges related to lab facilities and overall infrastructure, which have impacted our ability to fully support hands-on learning and media production. However, we are actively addressing these issues. The construction of our new departmental building is already underway, supported by a grant that we have secured. We are optimistic that this upcoming state-of-the-art facility will be equipped with modern labs, studios, and all the necessary resources to enhance both teaching and practical training for our students. |
| How has your curriculum evolved in response to industry changes over the past five years? (max. 150 words) | Although our department is relatively new, established just four years ago, our curriculum has evolved significantly to align with the fast-paced changes in the media and communication industry. We have continuously updated our course offerings to include emerging areas such as Media and Information Literacy (MIL), Artificial Intelligence (AI) in media, blockchain applications in journalism, and digital content verification. Alongside traditional courses, we have introduced practical modules in digital journalism, social media strategy, podcasting, and multimedia storytelling, ensuring students gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and data analytics platforms. We also engage media professionals and academic experts in regular curriculum reviews to ensure our programs remain relevant, innovative, and responsive to global trends, preparing our students to meet the demands of an increasingly digital and data-driven media landscape. |
| What innovations in media/journalism education has your department implemented recently? (max. 150 words) | Our department has recently introduced several innovative approaches to media and journalism education to stay aligned with global industry trends. We have integrated emerging topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in media, blockchain applications in journalism, and Media and Information Literacy (MIL) into our curriculum to prepare students for the future of digital communication. Emphasis has been placed on experiential learning through hands-on training in digital journalism, social media strategy, podcasting, and multimedia storytelling using industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and data analytics platforms. Additionally, we have adopted a collaborative approach by involving media professionals and academic experts in curriculum development and review, ensuring our programs remain relevant, forward-looking, and industry-responsive. |
| Are there any other aspects of your journalism department that you would like to highlight? (max. 150 words) | Our journalism department is dedicated to providing rigorous academic training while actively planning innovative initiatives to advance media literacy and ethical journalism. We are planning to establish Media Literacy Centre, aimed at empowering students and the wider community with critical skills to navigate today’s complex information environment. This centre will focus on raising awareness about misinformation and disinformation, promoting responsible media consumption, and fostering a culture of critical thinking. Alongside this, we are also planning to launch a Fact Check Lab—a practical facility where students and media professionals can develop and apply fact-checking techniques, collaborate with civil society, and contribute to enhancing transparency and trust in public discourse. These initiatives will complement our ongoing research and policy engagement efforts, through which we aim to influence media policy frameworks and support democratic participation. Additionally, we plan to expand community outreach activities such as seminars, awareness campaigns, and digital content competitions to engage youth and local communities, nurturing informed and responsible digital citizens ready to meet the challenges of today’s media environment. |
What is the total number of your part time faculty?
| More than 20 |
What is the total number of your adjunct faculty?
| N/A |
| Does your department host any regular academic conferences to provide faculty/scholars with networking facilities? | Yes |
