Public relations program blooms at Ipswich campus

The University of Queensland’s Ipswich campus this week is welcoming more than two dozen first-year students into its increasingly popular communication and public relations program.

Program director Dr Eric Louw said that while some other students had previously transferred into the new program in the latter half of 2001, this year’s intake of new students would be the first to go right through the entire 24-course program under the public relations banner.

“We’re also delighted to welcome three really highly qualified communication professionals into our full-time teaching team for our program as part of our expansion,” Dr Louw said.

Dr Louw said UQ’s Bachelor of Social Science (Communication and Public Relations) program offered students a unique opportunity to prepare for careers in a wide range of industries with its industry-focused courses.

“We have eight core communication and public relations courses complemented by six professional research and writing courses, including an applied research project within industry, as well as 10 electives to allow students to further specialise.

“When they graduate, our students will be working for government or community bodies, small to medium enterprises, larger organisations or even for themselves,” Dr Louw said.

“So we’re giving them a good grounding in a wide range of useful skills and technologies, including traditional public relations practices, targeting and understanding audiences as well as the latest in web-based communications.

“Ipswich has proven the perfect place to do this because local organisations have been more than willing to work with our students and, in the process, give them an insight into what industry really needs.”

Dr Louw said the program’s incoming students were mostly from the Ipswich and greater Brisbane area. The program would also welcome a number of international students into its courses, Dr Louw added.

The PR welcome program (involving approximately 26 students) will take place at 11.30am, Wednesday February 27 in Building 15, Room 102 on the UQ Ipswich campus.

The Dean’s Welcome (involving approximately 160 students) will take place at UQ Ipswich at 11.15am in building 12.

Media: For more information, contact Dr Eric Louw (telephone 07 3381 1516), Trina McLellan (telephone 07 3381 1549, mobile 0402 338311) or Loretta Porche (telephone 07 3381 1068, mobile 0418 772 819).