The Amrita School of Communication (ASCOM) recently received Indy’s Award for having the best academic curriculum for mass communication. The award was handed over at the seventh edition of Indy’s Awards in Mumbai on February 14, 2013.

Indy’s Awards of Excellence annually honor those who have made an impact in the fields of mass communication, marketing communication, advertising, branding and public relations.

This year, ASCOM was joined by industry stalwarts TCS, Aditya Birla Minacs, Infosys BPO, Wipro BPO and Metlife Global, in receiving awards for contributions in respective fields.

Winners were selected by a committee constituted by the Stars of Industry Group, which consulted data from social media as well, to make the award decisions.

“This is indeed a great honor. It was quite unexpected because we had not even nominated ourselves for the award. I believe the award is in recognition of the excellent curriculum that ASCOM has and our experienced faculty. We equip our students not only for the industry’s present-day requirements, but also for the future,” commented Mr. P. Jayaram, Chairperson, ASCOM.

ASCOM is one of India’s first mass communication institutes to have adopted the UNESCO model curriculum for its B. A. (Mass Communication) program. Courses offered include those in Print Journalism, Broadcast Journalism and Documentary Production, News Media and Design and Integrated Marketing Communications.

The curriculum is annually updated annually by a team of industry specialists and academicians.

ASCOM was recently invited to become part of the UNESCO Open Educational Resources Platform. At an invite-only workshop by UNESCO in Hyderabad in June 2010, experts assessed its curriculum along with that of six other universities in Asia.

In addition to B. A. (Mass Communication), ASCOM also offers a two-year M. A. program in communication with multiple specializations. In addition, a postgraduate diploma program provides students an opportunity to make a lateral entry into the M. A. program, in the second year.

Ms. Anitha Ramachandran, ASCOM alumnus, currently working with CNBC TV, Mumbai, received the award on behalf of ASCOM at the Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai.

“It is very satisfying to know that the organizers have recognized ASCOM for its contribution to the field of education,” stated Ms. Anitha.

“What was most satisfying, of course, was to learn that feedback from our former students and alumni had also contributed in our being chosen to received the award. Having Anitha Ramachandran receive the award on our behalf was our way of saying thank you to our alumni,” stated Mr. Jayaram.

March 7, 2013
School of Communication, Coimbatore