Tripoli: The Libyan News Agency (LANA) and the University of Tripoli have formalized a strategic partnership through three significant cooperation agreements with the university’s faculties of Media and Communication, Economics and Political Science, and Arts and Languages. The primary objective of these agreements is to bolster the academic and professional collaboration between the two entities.
According to Libyan News Agency, the agreements were signed by LANA Chairman Abdulbasit Aboudia and University of Tripoli President Dr. Khaled Mohamed Aoun, aiming to create sustainable cooperation channels. These channels are designed to offer students and researchers practical training within a real media environment, enhancing their professional skills and allowing for the exchange of expertise between academics and media professionals.
The agreements outline collaboration across all functional and professional areas within LANA and the university’s academic disciplines. This includes organizing national, regional, and international courses, lectures, workshops, and scientific conferences, as well as conducting training and development programs. Additionally, the agreements address societal awareness campaigns to promote national identity and social cohesion.
One of the key components of the agreement involves conducting scientific research on the agency’s work and activities, sponsored by the university’s faculties through their students and faculty members. LANA will offer free scientific training positions for students, providing them with valuable experience in its areas of expertise.
Moreover, the agreements specify that the agency will employ outstanding students upon completion of a three-month training program. Successful students will receive a professional practice certificate issued by the agency’s general administration.
The signing ceremony was graced by the presence of deans from the faculties of Media and Communication, Economics and Political Science, and Languages and Literature, alongside department heads and numerous journalists from the Libyan News Agency.
During the ceremony, LANA Chairman Abdulbasit Aboudia highlighted the strategic significance of this partnership in fortifying the relationship between academic and media institutions. He stressed the importance of expertise exchange, youth empowerment, and the development of specialized personnel equipped to meet the evolving demands of journalism.
Aboudia emphasized that the agreement provides students with real-world experience in a journalistic environment, offering insights into news production, content creation, and newsroom management. Students will also participate in workshops on journalistic writing, field reporting, language editing, and digital journalism, supervised by the agency’s editors.
He further noted that the partnership aims to invest in the capabilities of Libyan citizens, fostering a conscious and educated generation capable of addressing contemporary challenges. This collaboration will reinforce the university and the agency’s roles as active partners in community and national development.
University of Tripoli President Khaled Aoun affirmed that the partnership will allow the university to leverage the agency’s expertise and information resources for joint scientific research benefiting both parties. He emphasized the role of skills training and communication skills in modern curriculum development, noting that the agreement aligns with this focus.
Aoun also highlighted the value of LANA’s archives for historical studies, as the information is not confidential. This accessibility enables history professors and contemporary history researchers to conduct in-depth studies, with potential applications in master’s and doctoral theses in fields such as history, political science, and media.
He acknowledged the agency’s strong presence and genuine willingness to collaborate with the university. In recognition of the partnership, the university will prioritize candidates from the agency for postgraduate studies, bypassing the regular competitive selection process to strengthen the link between media and academic expertise.
Finally, Aoun emphasized the university’s research center’s potential to train LANA staff in modern technologies related to archiving, languages, statistical work, and questionnaire design. He noted the presence of deans from key faculties, reflecting the university’s commitment to this agreement and the potential benefits for other faculties.