Hunan University, China's oldest university based in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, has unveiled a new college for modern mass media.

The Radio, Film and TV Art College of Hunan University, will be jointly run by a local radio film and TV art organization and Hunan University, built on the Yuelu Academy which was founded in 976.

The new college will cover 120 hectares, cost 800 million yuan (about US$96.39 million), and will be completed within five years.

It will have dozen of departments, with specialties ranging from journalism, performing arts, writing and directing art, production, advertising, to music. When fully completed, the college will be able to enroll and accommodate 5,000 students.

Wang Kemin, president of Hunan University, said a board of directors will be set up to manage the new college, with the dean of the new college being chairman of the board.

According to Wang, the new college will start enrolling students in three majors, radio and TV programs, writing and directing and the art of broadcasting and hosting, as well as the performing arts this autumn.

In China, 700,000 people are employed in the mass media, of whom, only 200,000 have received professional education.

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2002)