The PRCA International University Advisory Group (IUAG) was established in April 2022 to address the enduring gap between academia and professional practice across the global PR and communications industry.
Led by Jared Meade and Ana Adi, the Advisory Group is made up of leading academics from across the world, including the UK, North America, South Africa, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Germany, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, and Pakistan. The IUAG's works with both academics and PR practitioners to develop global research, campaigns, and events to help bridge the academic-professional gap, better support students' transition from school to career, and ultimately, advance the industry's standing in the business world.
The Group's membership continues to expand to reflect its global remit, so please contact PRCA Head of Communications Michael Collins if you would like to get involved: michael.collins@prca.org.uk. We're particularly interested in hearing from top academics in Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and APAC.
Resource of the Week
We're building a database of helpful resources, innovative programmes, key events, and influential voices for PR academics and practitioners around the world. Each week, we'll highlight a Resource of the Week to help the wider global industry realise the full power and value of integrating theory into practice. Please share and amplify.
Week of 19th September, 2022
What books should PR professionals be reading? PR Daily has put together 10 books that every PR professional - whether you're recently graduated or a 10-year pro - should read to keep up on industry trends and continue honing their craft.
Take a look here.
Week of 5th September, 2022
The PRCA Global Ethics Council has launched a first-of-its-kind global research project, in partnership with Washington D.C.-based Ethics & Compliance Initiative (ECI). The global survey seeks to measure key ethics outcomes including, the amount and types of workplace misconduct observed by PR practitioners, and the frequency of retaliation experienced as a result of reporting the misconduct.
The PRCA Global Ethics Council will use the findings to paint a clear picture on global attitudes towards workplace ethics and the potential roadblocks to engaging in ethical practice. The findings will also inform recommendations on how the industry should handle unethical requests and mandates from management and clients.
Week of 29th August, 2022
PRCA's global podcast Fuse is a 15-minute podcast for PR, communications, marketing, and creative professionals. In the latest episode, host Dan Gold, based in Canada, chats with Orchan Consulting Director and Kuala Lumpur-based Dr Craig J Selby about the role communications is playing in higher education’s race to stay relevant and thriving during the covid-era.
Listen on Spotify, Apple, or your other favourite platform.
Week of 15th August, 2022
The Quadriga University of Applied Sciences' PR2025: Trends, competences and solutions for the near future of PR/Communications report shows the best of scholarship and practice in an easily digestible toolkit. PR2025 complements and unifies three major trends which have been at the focus of most research and professional debates - operating in a VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous), technological advances, and the continued professionalisation of PR - identifying areas of immediate focus for communicators and a list of solutions with immediate implementation potential.
Download the results from the Delphi method study here.
Week of 8th August, 2022
The ICCO University PR World Cup is a IUAG-led initiative designed to showcase talented undergraduates studying PR and communications.
In eams of two, participants will work together to invent a PR campaign that demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of a brief which will be set by a chosen NGO (TBA) and meets all their detailed requirements. Campaigns will be submitted to a list of international judges (academics and PR professionals) who will, using a scoring system, select a winning campaign.
The competition is free to enter and open to any university around the world. The winning team will be rewarded with an internship at a respected global PR agency, free tickets to PRCA's prestigious International Summit 2023, and be featured in global publications/newsletters.
Week of 1st August, 2022
The State of PR Salaries – a survey taken by more than 1,800 PR pros in North America – is a deep dive into PR salaries, budgets and hours worked across PR titles and company types.
As inflation rates rise and the job market remains tight, the report provides a strong reference point for practitioners wanting to know if they’re earning fair wage. Academics can also use the findings as a key indicator to PR's value compared to better recognised professions in the world of business.
Week of 25th July, 2022
Which academics are most active in pushing the boundaries of knowledge in communication management, corporate communications, strategic communication, PR, and reputation management? We've compiled lists, via Google Scholar, of the academics that are making vital contributions to public relations around the world. Organisations looking to add to their teams a layer of expertise across several communication disciplines should look no further than these five lists:
- List of top cited researchers in Communication Management
- List of top cited researchers in Corporate Communications
- List of top-cited researchers in Strategic Communication
- List of top-cited researchers in Public Relations
- List of top-cited researchers in Reputation Management
Week of 18th July, 2022
The 'Wellbeing in Public Relations and Communications Industries' survey, conducted as part of the EUPRERA network on 'Women in PR' led by Leeds Beckett University's Dr Martina Topic, asks questions about work-life balance and feelings/perceptions of organisational culture. The research, which is being fielded in the UK, Romania, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, and Jordan, intends to examine the extent in which wellbeing presents an issue in the industry and whether there are differences in genders. Participation will help form an understanding of wellbeing in a national context but also enable international comparison.
Week of 11th July, 2022
After a two year pause, the annual international PR research symposium, BledCom 2022, returned earlier this month, drawing top insights from Public Relations academics and practitioners. With over 60 sessions across two days, BledCom asked, 'should organisations rediscover communication with internal & external stakeholders?'
How to use it
Did you miss attending BledCom 2022? Stephen Waddington, Managing Partner, Wadds Inc., has shared his key takeaways from the conference in his award winning blog, along with an informative Twitter thread which captures the most fascinating perspectives from the hybrid conference. Next year is the 30th anniversary of BledCom where its focus will be on the contribution of PR to supporting sustainability. Stay tuned.
Week of 4th July, 2022
The USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations’ annual Global Communication Report explores the impact polarisation and societal issues have on PR departments and professional communicators. In this year’s edition, 1,600 communications professionals, journalists, educators, and students were surveyed at the start of the year on the future of corporate activism.
How to use it
The report found that 93% of PR professionals are spending more time in their jobs navigating societal issues than five years ago, and these challenges are expected to increase. The comprehensive study provides socially conscious practitioners with a foundation of layered insights to help navigate this new reality facing the global profession. Simply download the report here.
Week of 27th June, 2022
The European Communication Monitor is an annual review of communication practices across Europe. Organised by the European Public Relations Education and Research (EUPRERA) and the European Association of Communication Directors (EACD), the survey has been running for more than 10 years.
How to use it?
This year's European Communication Monitor examins highly debated topics such as the practicial challenges of diversity and inclusion in stakeholder communications, empathetic leadership, CommTech and digital transformation, as well as quality in communications consulting. If you are an academic or practitioner then register to the online launch of this year's Monitor, which takes place on 30th June, 16:00-17:00 CET.
Week of 20th June, 2022
Public Relations Journal is a free, web-based, open-access, quarterly academic journal presented by the Public Relations Society of America and the Institute for Public Relations dedicated to offering the latest public relations and communication-based research.
How to use it?
The academic journal presents blind, peer-reviewed research on important concerns for PR stakeholders. The depth and richness of content provides a unique opportunity for PR practitioners to weave the ideas explored in the literature with their practice. The latest volume touches on the importance of early career socialisation, ideal leadership traits according to female CCOs, and media literacy - all of which have important implications for those training future professionals or mentoring young entry-level professionals.