St Pauls Institute Inaugurates its State-of-the-Art Infrastructure for Communication Education

- New facilities include a highly equipped studio, virtual classrooms, editing suites

- SPICE to also launch a post-graduate year-long advertising diploma

St Pauls Institute of Communication Education (SPICE), one of the leading institutes for holistic media education, threw open its state-of-the-art infrastructure for the students today. With this, SPICE, located in Bandra, marks the next milestone of its expansion. The highlight is a professionally-equipped television studio with international standards lighting and Chroma key screen. Adding to this, the newest facilities will have a virtual classroom equipped with video-conferencing, a library that is also an e-library, two editing suites along with more classrooms.

Educationist Mr. Subhash Ghai, Founder & Chairman of one of the top 10 film schools in the world (by Hollywood Reporter), Whistling Woods International (Institute of Film, Communication & Media Arts) and Mr. Naseeruddin Shah, eminent screen and theatre actor, inaugurated the added facilities for SPICE students at the function. Mr. Ghai also delivered the key note speech on the rising importance of quality media and communication education and world-class infrastructure.

Ms. Carol Andrade, Dean of SPICE and a renowned Editor, said, “We are delighted to present these world class facilities to the students. The requirement for skilled professionals has increased by leaps and bounds and we are sure SPICE will be able to contribute to the industry by producing well-trained individuals with thorough knowledge of its fundamentals.”

Mr. Subhash Ghai, said, “I have always voiced my opinion about the need for trained professionals in the entertainment, fine arts and media industry, which is a reason for my venture Whistling Woods International. We will always support institutions like SPICE, as it is provides modern training to aspiring media professionals and will contribute in shaping the future of the country.”

Mr. Naseeruddin Shah, said, “I wanted to be a journalist when I was young although didn’t have many learning options like SPICE. It is important to be ready and prepared in today’s day and age. With institutes such as SPICE I believe students can benefit from the experience and knowledge of the experts here. I wish the students all the best.”

Currently providing a range of short term courses as well as workshops on various aspects of media and its processes, SPICE will also be launching a post-graduate year-long advertising diploma to its current bouquet of offerings, with plans on the anvil for a one-of-its-kind course in television entertainment and production. 

For students of mass media in Mumbai, SPICE has been conducting three-hour workshops on the television experience on its own premises, and is also venturing into the creation of year-long programs in media education for junior college and senior school students. 

Some of the top faculty names include senior journalists and advertising professionals such as Carol Andrade, Bachi Karkaria, Rajeev Masand, Agnello Dias, Shashi Baliga, Amy Fernandes, Mahrukh Inayet, Hussain Zaidi, Sarit Ray and Luke Mendes amongst others.

An initiative of the Society of St Paul, a congregation which has marked its presence in book publishing in India over the last 80 years, SPICE marked the beginning of the foray into media education four years ago with a range of media-related short programmes. Three years ago it began its 10 month post graduate Diploma course in Journalism to which it adds a similar course in Advertising this year. With an apostolate in media, St Pauls already runs a government-recognised media university in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as well as media-related institutes in Mexico and the Phillipines.