The creation of PR degrees in the UK

• The first UK undergraduate degree was launched at Bornemouth in 1989
• The first UK postgraduate degree was launched at Stirling University in 1989 followed by the Manchester Metropolitan University
• In 2003 a research was conducted which revealed that there were 22 PR or similar undergraduate degrees in Britain
• It is estimated that there are 500 students currently taking a PR degree

Reference: Exploring Public Relations- Ralph Tench/Liz Yeomans

To have or not to have a PR degree? That is the question.

From the day that i decided to study PR i had one single question: How can PR Practitioners don't need a degree in public relations? To become a lawyer you have to study law so why don't people who decide to enter the PR Industry don't have the need to study public relations? Especially now where the industry in booming?

Is it because Public Relations is all about character and the gift to persuade people? Before deciding to study Public Relations many people were telling me that public relations is 80% character and 20%  knowledge. But can you coin the term "professional" to a PR Practitioner who hasn't studied or  public relations?

Everyone agrees that education plays a key part in establishing any profession. So why don't professional bodies, organizations and businesses enforce and impose the need of education and training to all PR practitioners?

The CIPR Code of Conduct encourages " professional training and development among members of the profession". But let us not forget that only 8000 PR Practitioners have become members which means only 1/3 of the PR Practitioners in the U.K.

Of course education and constant training is important in order to keep up the pace with our fast-moving society. Technology, politics, economy and society are constantly evolving and it is inevitable for the PR profession not to be affected by these changes. So, is education and training a way to be up to date with this constant changing world that we live in? If education is the solution for better practice of the profession should'nt it be obligatory?

Kirsty O'Connor, a Leeds Metropolitan PR student, expressed her own personal opinion on the subject by sending PRWeek's magazine a letter entitled " Forget English grads and hire PR students". In her letter she supports PR Degrees by adding that those who decide to enter the industry and haven't got a degree in PR, usually quit. Is it because a PR degree might prepare the student of what he or she, might be facing in the future?

 

Education in Public Relations

Public Relations has become one of the most important professions in today's communication world. It is a growing profession which can offer a challenging career to people who want to broaden their horizons concerning the public relations field. More and more people decide to study Public Relations since a degree will offer them the basic guidelines in order to proceed in a successful professional future in the field of Public Relations.

In the past Public Relations degrees didn't exist . Nowadays, business and organizations realize the importance of Public Relations and how the profession can affect their image and they way that they communicate with their publics. 

As the Public Relations field becomes more professional and more developed and as the number of PR Practitioners increases each year, obtaining a PR Degree can lead to higher standards and a greater professional status for the industry.

In my blog i will try to describe how the creation of PR Degrees and the importance of Education can affect the PR industry.