Nearly 50 third-year students from the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Juba on Tuesday visited The Radio Community (TRC) as part of a practical media training program.
The Radio Community is a South Sudanese media organization that operates a network of about nine community radio stations across the country. Each station broadcasts in local languages and focuses on issues affecting local communities, including peacebuilding, health, education, agriculture, governance, and social cohesion.
Speaking during the visit, Delpina Roba, deputy dean of the School of Journalism, Media and Communication Studies, said the tour aimed to provide students with hands-on exposure to how community media operates.
“There is a reason I chose to bring the students here to The Radio Community. What they are getting at the university is more theoretical,” Roba said. “This tour gives them practical experience and the opportunity to hear directly from professionals working in the field.”
Roba said students at the university lack access to functional facilities for media training, including a non-operational campus FM radio station and computer lab.
“In our curriculum, we have field trips for some courses like radio and TV production. Since we don’t have a working TV studio or functional radio station, we decided to take students out of the university to learn the practical aspects,” she said.
She encouraged other faculties at the university to organize similar programs for students, especially those nearing graduation.
“I believe it’s good for students to move out and learn from real-world experiences. Sitting in one place is not enough. They need to interact with professionals or, if possible, have guest lecturers come in to offer practical knowledge,” she said.
Students who took part in the visit described it as enlightening.
Rose Kaku, one of the students, said the tour gave her insight into the challenges and opportunities of working in community radio.
“I’ve gained a lot through this visit. Hearing from the CEO helped me understand how to handle the challenges community radio stations face,” she said. “Challenges are everywhere — even in families and marriages — but they can be overcome through passion and dedication.”
Deng Lor Deng, another student, said the experience helped him realize how impactful community radio can be.
“Working in community media is a way of giving back to the community that raised me,” he said. “There’s nothing hard about it if you follow the rules and stay focused. It’s a great path for anyone serious about a media career.”
Chris Marol, CEO of The Radio Community, said it was the first time his organization had hosted journalism students for a training tour.
“It’s an honor to receive students for a learning session like this,” he said. “The University of Juba should organize more of these visits, not just to TRC but to other radio stations as well. There’s so much students can learn by seeing how a real radio station is set up and operated.”
Marol also noted that many students face challenges during internships due to limited access to practical training at the university.