MEDAS 21 is a post graduate program concerned with various aspects of international media development assistance in the 21st century. Currently, seven fellows are part of the program pursuing their doctorates at the intersection of academic theory and practical application.

While conducting research projects in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa or the Indian subcontinent, the fellows entertain close relationships with media development practitioners from specific partner organizations. This makes MEDAS 21 a post graduate program that actively seeks to contribute to solving problems of practical relevance.   

The program’s academic home are three institutes of the University Alliance Ruhr (Erich Brost Institute, IfM Bochum, IfK Duisburg-Essen) and the respective program initiators Prof Dr Susanne Fengler, Prof Dr Barbara Thomaß and Prof Dr Jens Loenhoff. Their perspectives combine journalism studies, media studies and communication studies, thus allowing for innovative theoretical approaches to international media development assistance in the 21st century.