Lecture series helping students to be ‘workplace ready’
Industry experts to share their experiences with corporate communications students.
Industry experts in the field of corporate communications will take the time to share their real-life industry experience with public relations students on the Masters in Journalism and Public Relations. The faculty of Journalism & Media Communications has extended invitations to individuals in some of the leading companies and public relations consultancies in Ireland, in order to to help students understand how to apply their knowledge to real-world experiences.
Commenting on the series, Public Relations lecturer Aoife O’Donnell said: "Today’s communications graduates are not only required to have the theoretical knowledge but also need to be multi-skilled content creators who possess vital competencies such as critical thinking and communications skills. The public relations modules at Griffith College are designed to assist students in developing these skills and competencies and close collaboration with industry is a core component of this strategy. We are in no doubt that the contributions from these industry experts will give our students a unique insight into the real-world of communications and a competitive edge in the market."
The lecture series, to be held in evenings throughout the spring semester, will cover a wide range of topics, from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to Sponsorship and Advertising. See the full list of lecturers below:
Branding and Rebranding
Róisín Reilly, Communicorp - 25th Feb at 5pm
- Case study – Communicorp.
- The process of image change.
- The image development process.
- The corporate logo and straplines
- Public relations and corporate image.
Sponsorship and Advertising
Joanne O’Sullivan, TENEO - 10th March at 5pm
- Understanding sponsorship.
- Advertising theory and practice.
- Media buying.
- Paid, earned, shared and owned media.
Change Management
Maeve Townsend, Consultant - 24th March at 5pm
- Principles of change management.
- Change management communication.
- Communications and mergers/acquisitions.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Sinéad Hickey, Abbott; Fergal Fitzgerald, ESB - 31st March at 5pm
- The role of CSR in organisations.
- CSR’s function in business.
- CSR and the developing world.
- Public relations and CSR.
Corporate Public Relations
Aileen Power, Standard Life - 7th April at 5pm
- Public relations as a strategic management function.
- Functions of public relations within organisations – strategic and marketing communications.
- Public relations and the bottom line.
- Public relations and measurement.
- Planning and executing corporate communications strategy.
- Corporate public relations and the marketing mix.
- Managing agencies.
Internal Communications
Lisa Quish - 14th April at 5pm
- Understanding internal communications.
- Internal communications channels.
- Internal communications, human resources and public relations.
Not for Profit Communications
- Not for profit communications challenges.
- The multiple roles of the not-for-profit communications professional.
- Drafting a not for profit strategy.
- Budget and not for profit.
- Partnerships and associations – media partnerships, sponsors, brand ambassadors.
- Patronage.
Stakeholder Relations
- Globalisation.
- The 21st-century customer - multinational, multicultural and multiple expectations.
- Customer, client and supplier relations.
- Customer services and the media.
- Developing long-term customer care processes and practice.
