The 7th International Conference on Media, Religion, and Culture took place at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, 9-13 August 2010. This series of events was initiated in Uppsala, Sweden, in 1994, followed by an international public meeting in 1996 in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Past conferences have brought to the fore research into both very old and very new mediums of communication, with traditions ranging from ancient indigenous practice to the most recent cyber-ritual, from settings in the global north and south.

The conference was organised by Joyce Smith, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the School of Journalism. Some 150 participants heard Canadian artist Jane Ash Poitras speak of the role of art in religion and of religion in art. This was followed by three and a half intensive days of in which papers were presented, discussed and critiqued on a wide range of topics.

Local Scholarships Offered
The HRD & Scholarships program offered its respective grants to 26 postgraduate students, comprised of19 male and 7 female from different colleges in 2009-2010 academic year ( Ph.D program = 11; Masterprogram = 6; MBBS program = 9). Total grants was Ks.3,900,000.00. Besides, in order to encourage hightheological education, the program also granted Ks. 9,500,000to 100 theological students (Master = 28;Bachelor = 72) from 22 Theological Schools. In terms gender distribution, 50 were male and 50 werefemale.

Higher Theological Education Scholarships
HRD offered its respective scholarship grants to 22 Theological Schools in 2009-2010 academic year. In terms program, 72 students were from B.Th program, 26 students from M.Div, 1 student from MTS and another 1 student from M.Th program respectively. The total amount of grant was Ks. 9,500,000 (Ninety five hundred thousand Kyats only). This amount was totally contributed by Anglican Church of Canada.

Capacity Building Projects
Capacity Building Projects called Study Abroad Program has been going on by the corporation of ESP(Germany), WCC, and other ecumenical partners. Under the sponsorship of the ESP, 13 candidates were 2 sent to abroad to study in different fields (PCU = 4; SEARSOLIN=3; CCNEF=3; CORAT = 2; CLSU = 1).By the assistance of Church world service, 1 male candidate was sent to OMSC.
We are expecting to send more candidates to abroad in the year 2010. There will be at least two staffcapacity building trainings will be conducted next year in accordance with the needs of staff that maypromote the work performance.