Director's Teaching Prize Winners Announced
Dr Lucy Duran and Carlos Chirinos in the SOAS Open Air Studio
7 July 2009
The 2009 SOAS Director’s Teaching Prize will be awarded to an academic team who have developed a new course which teaches students to present world music on radio.
Accomplished BBC Radio 3 presenter and world music expert, Dr Lucy Duran, along with Carlos Chirinos, lecturer and station manager at SOAS Open Air Radio, have been praised for developing a practical course, Presenting World Music on Radio, as part of students’ degree programmes with successful learning outcomes.
Carlos explained: “This course developed from Open Air, the student radio project that started in 2005. The demand from students to gain practical media skills was very high so we looked at ways in which to make it part of their degree programmes. Having a BBC expert like Lucy Duran already teaching at SOAS allowed us to build a professional programme of study.
“The outcomes of this course have been remarkable. Since 2005, several students have gone straight into jobs in the radio industry. They are in a unique position having studied particular parts of the world as well as developing additional skills to produce and present shows on their area of expertise. One student is now working on specialist programmes for the BBC while another is working as a media consultant for countries in conflict.”
The Director's Teaching Prize recognises excellence in teaching and the promotion of learning within the School. It aims to stimulate teaching and creative activities, particularly at undergraduate level. The prize is open to all members of SOAS academic and teaching support staff.
Presenting World Music on Radio focuses on developing practical skills required in presenting and producing world music on radio, primarily with reference to the BBC, and to community radio in the UK.
Students learn how to use radio as a resource for the study and appreciation of music in a critical way, and develop their knowledge of various music traditions. They also learn about issues surrounding the marketing and representation of world music. Each student has the opportunity to present and produce their own radio programmes.
The prize will be presented to Lucy and Carlos at one of this year’s graduation ceremonies (24 July).
For more information about Presenting for World Music on Radio visit soas.ac.uk/courseunits/155800076.php
Tune in to Open Air Radio by visiting www.openair.fm
To listen to Lucy Duran on BBC Radio 3 visit bbc.co.uk/radio3/presenters/lucy_duran.shtml
