The Department of Printing and Publication Studies is one of the few latest disciplines that have been inducted in the academic program of the University of Dhaka. As the world is now at the age of amazing technical development of printing technology, the publishing industries need expertise in this field to be benefited from it. This situation demands higher academic education for producing such experts to meet the need of the time. And as such, a proposal was initiated to set up the Department of Printing and Publication Studies at the university to create opportunities for the new generation. This proposal has been adopted by the academic council of the university on 10-09-2014 and approved by the syndicate on 30-09-2014. This has got an endorsement of the University Grants Commission (UGC) on 12-05-2015.
The department has launched its formal functioning with the joining of the Chairman of the department on 06-09-2015. The department has been blessed further with the appointment of four new lecturers, and later four professionally expert adjunct faculty members. Affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences, the department mostly focuses on to generate a command for the students on technical knowledge and know-how in the field of printing and publication keeping in mind the widely stretched big printing and publishing industry of the world, especially Bangladesh.
The printing and publication industry of Bangladesh has been flourishing on its own for more than a century without much support of institutionally educated people. With this program, the industry would be able to get academically learned manpower and will achieve institutional and academic flavor.
Courses Offered and Career Prospects
Modern printing and publishing industries essentially need graduates possessing theoretical and practical knowledge to cope with the demand of time.
The department offers a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) programme for undergraduate level. The four (04) years (08 Semesters) programme covers diversified courses ranging from History of Printing and Publishing, Basic Concepts of Publishing, Concepts of Communication, Bangla and English Writing Skills, Printing and Publication Sectors in Bangladesh, Basic Computer Skills, Graphic Design, Illustration and Photography, Design and Makeup, Copy Editing and Proofreading, History of Bangladesh, Theoretical aspects of Publishing, Publishing in Global perspectives, Professional and Creative Writing, Society and Culture, Finance and Economic Process; Color, Ink and Paper, Ethics and Laws of Printing and Publishing, Academic Writing, Editing for Academic and Non-academic Writing, Children’s Publication, Editorial Management, Publishing House Management, Library Management and Warehouse Control, Principles and Process of Printing, Art of Binding, Market Research and Business Promotion, e-Publishing, Printing in various forms, etc. At their last semester, the students will have to take Research or Internship.
The department also offers an 18 months (03 Semester) Masters of Social Sciences (MSS) programme. The MSS courses mainly focus on Editorial functions, Print production, and management skill, advanced concept of Sales and Marketing, Printing and Publishing business plan and its successful delivery, Contract negotiation and copyright management, Global publishing business, Theoretical aspects of Printing and Publishing, Design and Typographical concepts for publishing, etc. Besides, at their last semester, the students will have to learn the skill of producing books and magazines and other printed materials as their practical project.
After completion of the course, the graduates will enter into a variety of jobs in the field of printing and publishing. The courses will also be useful for those who have no relevant professional qualification yet but wish to advance their career in the printing and publishing industry. The course will continuously encourage students to update their knowledge and understanding of both traditional and contemporary printing and publishing media and methods.
The graduates of the program not necessarily need always to wait for government jobs, rather well used to be employed by themselves after launching their own printing and publication ventures. Besides, they will have a wide scope of getting jobs in the ever-spreading Printing and Publishing industry of Bangladesh. They will also have a chance to get employment in the already flourished newspaper industry of Bangladesh. There are opportunities to be appointed as a publication or information officer in various ministries and departments of the government, various banks, and financial institutions, etc. Being a graduate of Social Sciences, the graduates will also be able to apply for the Bangladesh Civil Service examinations, Government Banks, etc.
With these programmes, the department will be able to provide a big impetus to create a modern and academically trained workforce in the printing and publishing arena of our country.