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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=drmanju@wlink.com.np href="mailto:drmanju@wlink.com.np">drmanju</A> </DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Dear Sir /
Madam,<BR><BR>For the past three years we have been working on a project to
establish a <BR>University of Mass Communication in Nepal. The initiative was
taken by the <BR>College of Journalism and Mass Communication and was pursued by
me with a <BR>lot of zeal and enthusiasm. During the royal regime the government
<BR>authorities were unable to make a decision and the responses were somewhat
<BR>lukewarm. But, with the re-establishment of democracy the prospects look
<BR>very positive and we think this is the time to move ahead with re-newed
<BR>zeal. The political leaders of the seven party alliance and the relevant
<BR>ministers are already beginning to discuss our application with interest.
The <BR>project hopes to elevate the College of Journalism and Mass
Communication <BR>into a full-fledged University of Journalism, thus becoming
South Asia's <BR>first university to offer courses in journalism
exclusively.<BR><BR>The proposal which I have handed over to the political
leaders focus on the <BR>following important aspects of this
venture:<BR><BR>*That the university will become an important landmark not just
in Nepal but <BR>in the whole South Asian region where such a specialized center
of higher <BR>education does not exist.<BR><BR>*Out of 14 universities that
exist in Nepal today this is the first one <BR>initiated by a woman. This should
be considered significant in the light of <BR>the emphasis given by the present
government on women empowerment.<BR><BR>*This university can also function as an
umbrella organization in the <BR>education and training of journalists from
around the country. The need for <BR>such an organization to unify the training
of journalists is deeply felt.<BR><BR>*The university of Mass Communication will
be able to function efficiently <BR>only when it has an adequately
developed infrainstructure with a digital <BR>lab, video documentary library, FM
radio and television stations, video <BR>editing lab and such other
facilities where journalists and technicians <BR>working in the modern media
will be able to learn both theoretical and <BR>practical aspects of the media.
It is for this reason that we are drawing <BR>the attention of international
media community. Without international support <BR>such a venture would, at the
present stage of the country's economy, be a <BR>mere dream.<BR><BR>*My
concentration at the present time is on receiving the permission to
<BR>establish the university but, as I have already explained, once the
<BR>university is registered we would like to move ahead with the development of
<BR>the infrastructure, curriculum planning, recruitment of academic and
<BR>administrative personnel and a general publicity throughout the SAARC
region.<BR>I feel, that my background in education and knowledge and skill in
the use <BR>of various languages will help me in leading this university both in
its <BR>development and functioning.<BR><BR>This letter is intended to draw the
attention of the international community <BR>to a very exciting venture that is
presently in the offing in Nepal. It is <BR>also intended to draw your attention
to the need for support in the various <BR>stages of its development.<BR><BR>I
will keep you posted with information as things being to develop and <BR>will,
from time to time, seek your support in its development.<BR><BR>I wish to thank
you in anticipation of support in a project of great <BR>significance in the
development of a free, independent and pluralistic media <BR>in
Nepal.<BR><BR>Sincerely yours,<BR><BR>Dr. Manju
Mishra</FONT><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>