“Based on the current market and demand, we cannot deny the fact that we need to fill up the void of the digital aspect of the mass communication world which is getting more significant and important,” said Mohd Khairul Irwan Mansor, Head of Programme at the School of Business and Communications (SBC) of INTI International College Subang, about the demands of industry players are expecting out of fresh graduates.
With trends changing constantly, producing career-ready graduates is a mission almost all higher education institutions are embarking on.
Students taking part in one of the activities organized during the Diploma in Digital Media meet and greet session at INTI International College Subang
With that set as a goal, INTI International College Subang recently launched the Diploma in Digital Media programme to nurture more digitally driven individuals who meet the expectations of industry players and set them apart from the rest.
Providing a little background about what media is, Khairul said, “Media originates from the Latin word medius or medium, which means ‘the middle layer’, and it is an expression that brings some type of information or entertainment from one body to another. The word media applies to many things in the 21stcentury, from mass media to news media, and traditional media to the many emerging forms of digital media. While you can come up with several different examples and you most certainly take in some form of media in your everyday life, it can be difficult to succinctly define the word.”
Digital media on the other hand can be any type of media that relies on electronic or digital technology to reach an audience. The same or similar technology can be used to create, consume, edit, store, or distribute that media[1]. “Countless examples of digital media can be found at any given time across the web, including social media posts, videos, images, music, and more,” he added.
Also being transparent about the shift in the media landscape, Khairul stated, “Digital media has disrupted many industries, including journalism, filmmaking, publishing, education, and entertainment. Some of the changes have been extremely positive. Platforms such as YouTube allow individuals to become content creators, giving them a chance to share ideas, speak up for marginalized groups, or start their own businesses. At the same time, podcasting created a space for long-form debates and discussions on important subjects free from the more restricting formats of mainstream news outlets.”
That said, it is impossible to deny the increasing importance of digital media. This is especially the case in pursuits like branding, modern marketing, and audience building.
According to Khairul, embracing digital media is essential for any business hoping to succeed in the digital age because consumers nowadays see the internet as more than just a convenience. It is also a vital part of how they make purchasing decisions and seek information.
Branded digital media distributed across all social media and other online platforms help a business’s target audience become better aware of a brand and product. Hence why, various business sectors are hiring talents who have this knowledge.
Students posing for a group photograph at the end of the Diploma in Digital Media meet and greet session at INTI International College Subang.
“The subjects offered in this diploma course launched in April 2022 addresses the growing demand for graduates with new and diverse skills and a critical understanding of how the internet and digital media influences our lives. We have aspiring content creators, YouTubers, video editors, graphic designers, broadcast journalists, vloggers, account executives and entrepreneurs who would like to launch their own start-up companies. This course will get them the recognition they intend to look for because the subjects are practical, unique, and skewed towards broadcasting. It will enable our graduates to be creative, tech savvy, and strategic planners and thinkers by the end of the programme,” shared Khairul.
The Dean of SBC, Hew Fui Mun explained that digital media students learn a range of high-tech skills that put them in a great position to find work in some of the fastest growing and most exciting industries in the world. She said students will also be exposed to website development, creation of graphics, video editing, designing of 3D virtual worlds, computer-generated effects and models for film, gaming, educational materials, and even financial analytics.
“Digital media courses tend to be focused on hands-on and practical trainings. So, while some will be writing 5,000-word essays as part of their final assignments, students pursuing digital media courses will probably be creating or editing videos on professional equipment,” she said.
Fui Mun added that students will have access to cutting-edge facilities at INTI International College Subang which will enhance the teaching and learning process, as well as have opportunities to develop and refine their practical skills through internships and initiatives such as employer projects and bootcamps.
“Students will have the chance to learn from the best during internships at local radio stations, music labels, production companies, graphic design firms or digital marketing agencies,” she concluded.
[1] https://reports.weforum.org/human-implications-of-digital-media-2016/benefits-and-opportunities/