Once again I became convinced of this by undergoing my internship at the Catholic University in Ružomberok, Slovakia.
The internship is conducted at the Department of Journalism, which is a structural unit of the Faculty of Philosophy in this university, within the framework of the academic mobility program by the Government of the Slovak Republic.
During the internship, I carry out a research program on communication between local authorities, media and the public and get acquainted with the educational process in a higher education institution.
First of all, I would like to emphasize that the residents of the city are very proud that they have a university. To be a student or an academic staff at this institution is truly honorable. In any public information about the city of Ružomberok, the university is always mentioned. Being educated is prestigious, and education is considered here as a great value, shares her impressions Olha Harmatii.
University-related events are of great importance for the city, and sometimes even for the whole country. For example, a Film Festival «Ružomberok – University City», during which films about the university, its history and the present were shown in the central city cinema. Students and graduates from other HEIs and from abroad as well as all interested persons were invited for an interesting discussion. It was a really nice and atmospheric event.
Doors Open Days, held at the University on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, were also of great importance. I especially remember that in spite of the terrible weather – heavy rain and strong wind – many people came and arrived from other cities. During the day, academic staff communicated with guests and visitors, speaking about peculiarities and benefits of studying at this university.
The library is considered to be a true pride of the university. This is a large and very nice modern four-storey building. In addition to the traditional storage of books, journals and newspapers, the library has another function – it is a meeting place for students, academic staff, writers, photographers and journalists. It organizes photo exhibitions, writers’ master classes, meetings with famous people etc. It is a kind of public space for discussions and informal communication. Students can come here simply to chat with each other. You can order coffee or tea and relax in a comfortable armchair. Such comfort stay inspires and attracts students. All of this accomplishes a great mission – to fascinate with learning and reading. Students are happy to come to the library again and again, stating that it is cool to read books and work here.
And finally, the Department of Journalism where I underwent my internship: the researches of the academic staff are mainly focused on three areas. The first is the mass media language, journalistic genres and media coverage of religious issues. They emphasize, in particular, the mediation of religious content – its capabilities, effectiveness and role in mass media, as well as the genres used in modern information resources and presentation of religious topics in secular and religious media. The second direction is the perception and understanding of the media, about the habits of media users, issues of media education and media literacy, as well as the impact of the media on the person, family and society. The third is the study of the activities and specifics of regional media.
