Dear freinds

Presently, many institutions are providing UG / PG programmes on Public Relations throughout the country. . Advertisement and Journalism are traditional subjects for a long time and the faculty members are sufficiently equipped to handle these subjects.  But PR courses are being introduced in the past 5 to 6 years in many institutions. 

When I interact with the students of such PR courses, I find that PR classes are being handled by totally unconnected people or by the people who have studied PR in their text books.  They read the chapters in the class rooms  as available in some traditional text books.  Even in big centres, where practising professionals are available, the colleges are hesitant to involve them even for interaction. 

A student of a city college remarked to me, " the faculty members are afraid that their incompetency and ignorance of PR will be exposed if the professionals come for interaction".  Whether there is a truth in it or not, this is the perception, the students are carrying silently because of the attitude of these colleges.

One of the  Colleges started a MA (PR) Course few years back.  They had included my name and few other senior professionals name in their brochure / website as if we are taking sessions.  Though, four or five batches have completed their course, till date none of us were invited to interact with students even for one hour.  I came to know about the inclusion of my name after 18 months (!), when a student approached me for some help. 

Three years back, another college included me in their Advisory panel for developing their MA (PR) course.  Three months before the start of the course, there was a meeting for one hour (!) to finalise the course syllabus, which they had prepared.  The purpose of the meeting was to crreate a record that professionals were involved in developing the syllabus and to get approval from University/UGC.   We received the invitation for the inaguration of the course.  Till date neither myself or any other professional had any interaction session with the students.

With personal contacts,  some students get internship with some of the PR Agencies / Corpcom  and enter the PR profession.  I also observe none of these colleges / Departments handling PR courses have any knowledge of the PR Companies or Corporate Communicators. They also do not have contact with professional bodies.

I have personally found that many of the faculty members handling PR subjects do not even show interest in joining the discussion groups  like this for updating their knowledge and to network with industry professionals.

Some well known institutions like Symbiosis, Pune take interest in involving the practising professionals and seeking their advise.  I am associated with Symbiosis in their Board of Studies.  They invite the members for serious discussion.  Many practising professionals also are invited to interact with the students.  That helps the students to develop contact with the industry.  May be very few institutions involve the industry professionals for the benefit of students.

Why many of the educational institutions running PR courses shy away from involving the practising professionals?  Does it reflect their lack of confidence?  Why many of the PR faculty members do not show interest in updating their knowledge or networking with industry?

May I requet members to suggest ways as to how we can bring academia and industry together.  I invite students, and young professionals who have completed their PG/ UG courses, Faculty members also to share their views. 

srinivasan
Moderator