The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), a renowned institution with a 58-year history in journalism and mass communication, has been granted deemed-to-be university status by the Union Ministry of Education. This status allows IIMC to confer degrees, replacing its previous practice of granting diplomas. Additionally, IIMC is now empowered to offer doctoral programs.
Established in 1965 under the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, IIMC is a premier institution providing high-quality training in journalism and conducting significant research in media and mass communication. The official notification, issued based on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission (UGC), declares IIMC and its five regional campuses as institutions deemed-to-be-universities.
The Ministry of Education expects IIMC to comply with the UGC (Institutions-deemed-to-be-Universities) Regulations, 2023, within six years. Assets will be legally transferred to IIMC within a year, and the institute is prohibited from engaging in commercial and profit-making activities.
Currently offering postgraduate diploma courses in various languages and media fields, IIMC operates from its main campus in New Delhi and has regional campuses in Dhenkanal, Aizawl, Amravati, Jammu, and Kottayam. It also serves as the training academy for Indian Information Service (IIS) officers.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur celebrated the occasion, highlighting the historic significance and the potential for expanded curricula, research, and doctoral programs. The decision to grant university status to IIMC had been proposed in 2016 and received approval after assessments by UGC committees. The institute rejected suggestions of merging with other institutions during previous reviews.
Expressing gratitude to the UGC, IIMC emphasized its commitment to promoting education, training, and research in mass communication.
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