ABU DHABI,25th October, 2024 (WAM) – The Creative Media Authority (CMA) and Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) are partnering to offer a CNN Academy & HCT Professional Certificate Qualification in Global Journalism in a major step for CMA in its goal to identify, nurture and upskill creative talent from within the Emirates.
As HCT is one of the UAE's recognised higher education institutions, students on the CMA and CNN Academy Abu Dhabi programme are now able to earn a professional certificate that is assessed by HCT. By taking this course, students from HCT will be able to gain educational merits towards their Applied Media program.
This year’s CNN Academy Abu Dhabi course will be delivered and assessed in conjunction with HCT’s Applied Media Division and accredited through the Bachelor of Applied Media degree.
Launched in Abu Dhabi in 2020, CNN Academy is designed to empower and upskill the next generation of journalists in multiplatform storytelling. The pioneering training is led by CNN’s anchors, correspondents and technical specialists from around the world. After experiencing a comprehensive curriculum over 12 weeks, participants leave equipped with crucial skills needed to work in a newsroom, including a deep understanding of journalistic ethics, verification techniques, storyboarding and scriptwriting, all delivered via interactive workshops, masterclasses and digital on-demand tutorials.
Mohamed Dobay, Acting Director General of Creative Media Authority, said on the development, “The ability to offer a professional certificate and recognition through an educational institution like HCT is a first for CMA in its efforts to nurture and train young individuals from the Emirate to fuel the growth of the creative industries from within. We aim to offer educational recognition around all courses offered through our talent development arm; creative lab, in order to fuel the economy of Abu Dhabi with skilled talent for the creative industries including film production, digital media and gaming.”
“This year, more than 70 percent of participating students at CNN Academy Abu Dhabi are Emiratis, which is a clear indication how engaged and ready our young creatives are to partake in these opportunities which provide the foundation of a long and successful career within the industry,” continued Dobay.
Dr Luc Verburgh, Chief Academic Officer, HCT, commented, “The collaboration between HCT students and CNN Academy further enhances the development of key professional skills as part of the new Digital Media degrees offered by HCT. As a result of the industry aligned learning experiences, our students will be more prepared for a career in the creative media industry.”
Alireza Haji Hosseini, Deputy Bureau Chief, CNN Abu Dhabi & Director of CNN Academy, said, “CNN Academy provides invaluable skills to budding journalists and storytellers that lay a comprehensive groundwork for a successful career in the media industry. Adding this educational merit will provide a further boost to our cohorts in Abu Dhabi in recognition of the work they’ll be producing and the knowledge they’ll gain from this unique programme.”
Applications for 2025-26 cohort will open at the end of Q2 2025 via the CNN Academy website https://www.cma.gov.ae/cnn-academy
Creative Media Authority partners with Higher Colleges of Technology through CNN Academy Abu Dhabi
