Catholic Universities of Communication in Asia Plan Collaboration and Networking

(May 16, 2009) The first gathering of the Catholic universities of social communications across Asia was held at the Assumption University campus in Thailand, from May 11 to 16. Organised by the Office of Social Communication of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC-OSC), the five-day convention provided for dialogue and exchange of experiences in social communication training, extended to the students in Catholic institutions in the continent. 66 delegates participated in the workshop from Philippines, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China and Bangladesh. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Chairman, CBCI Commission for Social Communications led the 11 member delegation from India. In his keynote address the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Msgr. Paul Tighe urged the delegates to seek the possibilities of co-operation between Catholic centres of social communication training and networking with the other universities for sharing of resources for mutual enrichment. The conference drew up a statement which includes several recommendations for promoting social communication education with a view to foster greater professionalism, ethics, social commitment, planning and effective networking among the Catholic universities of Communications in Asia.