How prepared will we be for the public relations industry? Can I practice in Japan?

  Professor and chair of the Department of Communication at the University of Maryland, Elizabeth L. Toth and Linda Aldoory, associate professor at the University of Maryland, conducted one of the first in-depth studies of how "us," the students are being taught and prepared for the workplace.   Dr. Aldoory said that the project built on valuable earlier studies, and “our analysis broadened the geographic scope of study and stressed in-depth qualitative discourse as a basis for its conclusions.” 


  Toth and Aldoory used qualitative methods in order to conduct their studies.  In their studies they reviewed  218 educational  institution websites in 39 countries and in 20 of those countries, they conducted 20 in-depth interviews.  In their studies, they found that "undergraduate programs almost without exception are focused on professional preparation rather than academic theory. Dr. Aldoory noted that “Internships, industry participation and course work that provides skills plus knowledge are the norm. Graduate programs are highly focused on strategic thinking and advanced practice.”  


  In my experience in studying public relations in my undergrad at Iona College and moving forward, I agree that this is the matter in which "we" are being educated.  Their research gives an accurate picture to how "we, the new age practitioners" are being molded for the workplace.


    “A First Look: An In-Depth Analysis of Global Public Relations Education,”  funded by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), is essential to the field because it is important to see how "we" are being molded and prepared.  Although geography and cultures vary, key ideas still prevail.  Molded an prepared for the workplace in the United States, can I be a "new age" practitioner in Japan?  Will my education be just as effective in the preparation for another countries workplace?  

   Aldoory said "...overall, we found many well-developed, substantive programs preparing future public relations professionals with the knowledge and skills they will need for our profession."