International Consultant to Develop a Media and Public Relations Diploma and Degree Course

Media plays a vital role in shaping a healthy democracy. The conduct of media is even more crucial in a geographically dispersed country such as Maldives where the reliance on internet and mass media as the main source of information and news to the public is significantly high. Media and Public Relations plays a considerable role in shaping the views of the community thus highlighting on the great need for capacity building of personnel to fulfill this role. Public Relations is an essential field, especially in a country like the Maldives where economy is based mainly on service industries. Many journalism graduates from Maldives National University (MNU) who were employed as journalists previously, are currently employed in public relation jobs in private and public services sectors. As of now, Public Relation is not a discipline offered at MNU, but the current trend in employability of journalism graduates show there is a need for MNU to develop Public Relations as a separate discipline.  This is an avenue that can help produce professionals who are much needed in the country’s services sectors, especially tourism where public relations professionals are highly in demand. This will also offer a new pathway for prospective students to get new training or re-skilling that is need for them to build a new or an alternative career.

MNU has always developed courses to cater to the skill shortage and the job market of the Maldives. As such, the Media and Public Relations course will be the first of its kind in the Maldives and will certainly strengthen career opportunities in media related communication fields.

UNDP has been supporting MNU in different capacities over the years to support academic programmes to build the capacity and skills of students to increase their participation and representation in the public sphere and policy making.

In this regard, UNDP has supported the Faculty of Arts to conduct short term trainings for journalism students and supported the Faculty of Shari’ah and Law to introduce Clinical Legal Education to its students. As part of this support UNDP in partnership with the Maldives National University is seeking the support of an International Consultant to develop a Media and Public Relations Diploma and Degree course for MNU.

Under the guidance of the MNU and UNDP, the consultant will lead the development of a diploma and undergraduate course in Media and Public Relations in consultation with key stakeholders and taking into consideration international best practice. The tasks undertaken by the consultant under the Terms of Reference include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following;

1. Consult and collaborate with the key stakeholders including but not limited to media agencies, PR firms, relevant government institutions, journalists and academia to conduct a gap analysis to better understand the current challenges and feasibility of the proposed course and to ensure that the Media and Public Relations Diploma and Degree course meets the needs and is relevant to professionals, public, and private business and service sector in the Maldives;
2. Identify the major course component requirements for the Media and Public Relations Diploma and Degree course.
3. Review the units/subjects offered at the Maldives National University at present and adopt or adapt relevant curricula in the respective areas of the proposed structure of the media and public relations Diploma and Degree course.
4. Develop the course structure including rationale, aims, intended learning outcomes, contents, methods of delivery and assessment procedures accreditation documents needed for MNU Committee on Courses and for Maldives Qualification Authority of the Media and Public Relations Diploma and Degree course. Consultant also should participate in accreditation and validation meetings by MNU Committee on Courses and bring necessary changes recommendations to the course documents. 
5. Develop an indicative list of books/ resources/ materials/ equipment for the key/core subject areas which include teaching materials and resources.
6. Identify the capacity of the subject experts/professionals to develop the detail subject outlines/curriculums for the Media and Public Relations Diploma and Degree course
7. Organize and conduct a validation meeting to finalize objectives and content/topics for each subject and the course outline.
8. Develop detailed subject outlines/curriculums for a minimum of 4 (four subjects). The subject outline/curriculum should be developed as a standard and format guide for local subject experts/professionals.
9. Identify opportunity for linkages with overseas educational institutions to facilitate continuous program / curriculum improvement and analysis.
10. Ensure that the developed course (structure and subjects) are benchmarked against undergraduate courses in reputed universities.
11. In collaboration with MNU, identify implication of the faculty and staff once the course is introduced and recommend ways forward by proposing a roadmap for implementing the new course. 
12. Submit end mission report
     

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

All documents shall be submitted as stipulated below and all documents will be submitted as drafts and upon review by MNU and UNDP, the consultant shall revise the draft documents. Once, the revised documents are accepted by MNU and UNDP, they will be termed as final documents by the consultancy.

The consultant shall then be responsible for following deliverables;

1. Inception Report: The inception report shall include a summary of documents reviewed, findings from stakeholder consultations, proposed recommendations, and possible constraints with regard to the proposed recommendations and propose actions to be implemented to overcome the constraints identified.
2.  Consultations: Conduct consultation meetings with relevant stakeholders to learn about on-the ground practices including the challenges in implementation and monitoring and to discuss possible actions to overcome these challenges.
3. Course Documents: The Draft Course Documents should include the structure of the Media and Public Relations Diploma/Degree course including rationale, aims, intended learning outcomes, contents/ subjects, methods of delivery, assessment procedures, and identify resources/materials needed for the course. The final course outline is to be submitted based on the review by MNU and UNDP and consultation meetings with relevant stakeholders.
4. Rollout Plan: A plan recommending the rollout of the courses developed should be submitted to MNU and UNDP. The rollout plan should outline preparatory activities necessary for MNU for implementation, relevant trainings to familiarize and enhance staff capacity, and general awareness raising activities for students on the new course. Relevant impact on staff and faculty and recommendations to manage these impacts should also be included in the plan.  
5. End Mission Report and Capacity Building training: A detailed report identifying key challenges and limitations in developing the courses with recommendations for way-forwards, and an in-country training session to train local staff, in collaboration with inputs from working professionals in the relevant field to write and develop the remaining modules. (If circumstances at the time do not allow an in-country training session, to have a virtual contingency arranged)

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant is expected to work closely with MNU. The consultant will be accountable to the Programme Associate of IGP, at UNDP, for each deliverable as stipulated in the proposal. Weekly update meetings will be held with the Dean of the Faculty of Arts of MNU and fortnightly meetings will be held with the ARR of UNDP and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. A briefing and debriefing meeting will be organized with UNDP senior management at the beginning and end of assignment.

Duration

This assignment will approximately take 14 weeks (99 working days) and is expected to start early-December. The consultant should come up with a clear timeline while submitting the proposal taking into consideration the estimated time durations for each deliverable as stipulated above.

Duty Station

Home-based, with an end-of-mission trip to Maldives depending on ease on travel restrictions.

• Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for international civil servants;
• Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

• Functional Competencies

• Knowledge about the UNDP programmes would be an advantage;
• Proven strong analytical abilities;
• Ability to work under pressure with several tasks and various deadlines;
• Ability to actively generate creative, practical approaches and solutions to overcome challenging situations;
• Excellent writing, presentation/public speaking skills;
• A pro-active approach to problem-solving;
• General IT Literacy

Education

• A minimum of a master’s degree in media, journalism, communications and public relations or related field.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience working in the area of journalism, communication and public relations.
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in reviewing, designing and facilitating diploma/degree programs, course development, curriculum development and course accreditation.
• Experience working as a professor is an added asset.
• Experience in the region or similar context is an added asset.

Language requirement

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required

Application process

Interested individuals must submit the following as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications.

• A letter indicating why the candidate considers himself/herself suitable for the required consultancy;
• Submission of an updated detailed Personal CV and P11 form which can be downloaded from http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc
• Financial proposal indicating daily consultancy fee in USD, air ticket cost and daily subsistence allowance in Maldives in case travel is required.
• Details of similar work/proof of work undertaken by the consultant
• At least two references from recent previous jobs or three references contact details

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