Team Siliconindia

• IIMC Dhenkanal and SRFTI Kolkata sign MoU to collaborate on media education, skill development, and industry-aligned training.
• The alliance aims to blend journalism, film, and digital media education through joint research, cross-institutional exposure, and practical learning.
• Leaders from both institutes emphasized fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and inter-disciplinary growth to prepare students for evolving media careers.

The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata, have entered into a formal agreement to enhance cooperation in the areas of media education and skill development.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at SRFTI campus, is a landmark moment in the coming together of two lead institutions under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to share their expertise, resources, and academic prowess. The move is designed to enhance the academic environment for the students and faculty by creating a culture of collaborative research, joint training programmes, and enhanced exposure to modern industry practices.

The accord is predicated on bringing together theoretical and practical learning with cross-institutional activities that will equip students with a balanced learning experience on journalism, film, digital media, and other associated disciplines. By promoting knowledge sharing and collaborative learning opportunities, the partnership is poised to establish a lively academic and creative culture where students can refine their expertise and prepare themselves for exciting careers in media and entertainment industries.

Praising IIMC Dhenkanal for taking the first step towards the partnership, IIMC vice-chancellor Pragya Paliwal Gaur underlined the necessity of such a tie-up in promoting media education as an all-round approach. She stressed continuous interaction between the two institutions to further innovation and skilling in the rapidly changing media industry. The MoU was formally signed by IIMC regional director Prof Anand Pradhan and SRFTI dean Prof Sukanta Mazumdar, in the presence of IIMC registrar and additional director general Nimish Rustagi, lending institutional heft to the accord.

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Prof Pradhan pointed out that the collaboration is an interesting synergy between two top institutions with complementary strengths. He termed the collaboration as a doorway to new possibilities for students and teachers, allowing them to pursue creative exploration, professional growth, and learning through real-life experiences.

Prof Mazumdar also shared similar views, adding that SRFTI and IIMC, being the flagship institutions in eastern India, would collaborate to initiate skill-based programmes and cultivate entrepreneurial mindset in media, mass communication, and cinema. Nimish Rustagi also added that the partnership would be particularly advantageous for students, providing them with access to wider learning modules, inter-disciplinary exposure, and a richer academic experience.