Emphasizing the importance of communication education in the digital age, Dean of the Faculty of Communication Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay said, “Today, there is no sector that does not need a communication professional. Professionals who will specialize in different areas of communication are needed more than ever.”
Not only in the field of communication but also sensitive to rapidly changing trends and technological developments in all sectors, Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay noted, “The young and dynamic structure of the faculty makes it easy to keep up with the times. We observe the needs of the sector and quickly adapt the necessary courses to our curriculum. For the last three years, we have been giving more space to Artificial Intelligence technologies in our curriculum each year. First, elective courses were added, this year there are compulsory artificial intelligence courses in every department.”
Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication Dean Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay drew attention to the importance of communication education in the digital age.
No sector does not need a communication professional
Stating that communication has always been important because it is a fundamental activity and need of humans as social beings, Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay said, “However, it has become much more important today, shaped by digital networks. Today, there is no sector that does not need a communication professional. Professionals who will specialize in different areas of communication are needed more than ever. As Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication, we are in close cooperation with the sector and aware of their needs, and we plan our curriculum and activities to train the best communication professionals. Therefore, it would be a good choice for students who want to be the best in their field, to graduate a few steps ahead of their competitors, to choose our faculty.”
Disciplined education, common courses and project opportunities
Emphasizing that the departments of Cartoon and Animation, Journalism, Advertising, Visual Communication Design, Public Relations and Publicity, Radio-Television and Cinema, and New Media and Communication within the faculty offer students a broad perspective, Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay continued:
“Departments such as Cartoon and Animation, Journalism, Advertising, Visual Communication Design, Public Relations and Publicity, Radio, Television and Cinema, New Media and Communication in our Faculty of Communication were designed with a creative and multidisciplinary education approach in line with the requirements of the era. These departments not only provide professional skills but also enable our students to evaluate the world of communication from a holistic perspective. Most of the courses in our curricula are common for the first two years. This facilitates inter-departmental transfers, Double Major and Minor opportunities. As of the third year, departmental electives, faculty electives, and university electives come into play. This means that students can take courses from the elective pool of either the Faculty of Communication or other faculties of the university. In this way, their perspectives broaden, and special course programs can be created for different career plans. It is very important for communication education to have an integrated structure today. Instead of focusing on a single area, it is necessary to choose schools with programs and education systems that can bring together different competencies.”
Students from different departments come together in common courses
Stating that a communication professional should have knowledge about everything, Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay said, “They should be able to think not only as a communicator but also somewhat as a sociologist, a political scientist, and a psychologist. Because if a communicator can read people, society, and the world they are in well, they can determine the right communication strategies. At Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication, students from different departments come together in common courses, develop common projects, and plan events. In fact, they experience situations they will encounter in professional life while still at university. This is a very developmental process.”
We give more space to artificial intelligence technologies every year
Noting that they are very sensitive to rapidly changing trends and technological developments not only in the field of communication but in all sectors, Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay said, “The young and dynamic structure of the faculty makes it easy to keep up with the times. We observe the needs of the sector and quickly adapt the necessary courses to our curriculum. For the last three years, we have been giving more space to Artificial Intelligence technologies in our curriculum each year. First, elective courses were added, this year there are compulsory artificial intelligence courses in every department. Because communication professionals must make a difference in the sector by using artificial intelligence most efficiently. As the Faculty of Communication, we see it as our primary goal to prepare our students not only for today's professions but also for the media and communication environments of the future. We are training graduates who are equipped with both technical and ethical skills to adapt to new areas such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, data journalism, and digital campaign management.”
The impact of artificial intelligence in communication
Explaining that the impact of digitalization and artificial intelligence on the field of communication has reached an undeniable level, Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay said, “Especially topics such as AI-supported content production, deepfake technologies, storytelling with virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are considered not only technological but also areas that require interdisciplinary evaluation with their ethical, sociological, and legal dimensions. In this context, the curriculum of our Faculty of Communication is not static; on the contrary, it is being redesigned and updated with a highly dynamic, flexible, and open-to-development approach. Our curriculum includes courses that directly address these topics or lay the foundation for these areas. We have a staff of academics who work, publish, and have sectoral experience in these fields. Our instructors not only teach; they also guide students to research projects, competitions, and national/international collaborations.”
TV and Radio studio, editing room and laboratory facilities are available
Stating that the combination of theory with practice is a priority for the faculty, Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay continued:
“Our main goals are not only to equip our students with theoretical knowledge but also to enable them to acquire the skills to apply this knowledge in real-life and industry conditions. For this reason, our education process was designed with a structure that intertwines theory and practice. In applied courses, our students prepare projects and take part in simulations of different processes in the communication sector. Through collaborations with the industry, they experience projects and applications directly aimed at the sector. They can improve themselves by participating in training and workshops given by industry professionals within the faculty. The application areas within the faculty play a very important role in our students' applied education process. Our fully equipped TV studio, radio studio, editing room, Mac and PC laboratories, and workshops were designed to implement professional practices in the best way possible. Our students can learn by experiencing the entire process, from camera to directing, by shooting their own programs in the TV Studio. The Radio Studio and Editing Room provide first-hand experience of the recording and editing phases of audio content, especially podcast broadcasting. Mac and PC laboratories aim to provide students with the knowledge and skills they will need in the design field with software that has become the industry standard for animation and graphic design. In addition, they acquire today's basic digital skills such as video editing, visual and audio editing, and effective use of artificial intelligence tools.”
Graduates gain wide career opportunities
Pointing out that Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication graduates have many career opportunities in different sectors, Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay provided information: “Graduates of the Cartoon and Animation Department work as 2D / 3D animators, character designers, storyboard artists, visual storytellers, visual effects specialists in the film and TV series industry, animation designers in game studios, motion graphic designers in advertising agencies, and content creators on digital platforms. Journalism department graduates can work as reporters, editors, photographers, copywriters, and data journalists in print, visual, and digital media. Advertising graduates advance in areas such as creative director, copywriter, brand and communication specialist, and creative content production in agencies. Visual Communication Design graduates can be graphic designers, UI/UX designers, web and mobile application interface developers. Public Relations graduates work as communication consultants, event specialists in PR agencies, corporate communication specialists in various sectors, brand directors, social responsibility, and crisis communication managers. Radio, Television and Cinema graduates can work as screenwriters, directors, producers, editors, cinematographers, and cameramen in the film and TV series industry, and take part in front of and behind the camera on television and digital platforms. Graduates of the New Media and Communication Department can be social media managers, internet and social media editors, digital strategists, influencer marketing and digital campaign specialists, web content editors, or digital brand managers.”
The most sought-after quality in communication candidates is the excitement to do good things
Addressing young people who will choose the Faculty of Communication in supplementary placement, Prof. Dr. Atalay concluded, “We are in an age of communication, and being a communication professional in this era offers employment opportunities in multiple sectors. Choosing Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication, which best connects these opportunities with students and trains competent communicators equipped with up-to-date knowledge for the sector, means starting the race one-nil ahead. The most important quality we look for in communication candidates, above all else, is the desire and excitement to do good things for themselves, the industry, society, and the world. We teach them everything else.”