• Print
• Email to Friend

PRIA's University Degree Accreditation Program

Since 1991, PRIA has conducted an academic accreditation program to ensure Australian public relations and communication degrees are of a high standard.

This program ensures that professional knowledge is passed onto future generations of practitioners through a controlled and industry-supported education system.

While accreditation is a private, voluntary process it is sought by educational institutions as a measure of PRIA recognition.

Studying a degree accredited by PRIA is your guarantee that your qualification has prepared you to enter the profession. Your skills have been accepted by potential employers.

It shows that the university has undertaken an extensive and ongoing process to ensure that your training will equip you with best practice skills and competencies.

Accreditation is an ongoing process. This list of university degrees comprises undergraduate and postgraduate courses accredited by PRIA or currently involved in the accreditation process.

Guiding Accreditation Philosophy

Education for Public Relations and Communication Practice must Achieve Two Things:

• the development of intellectual faculties and strategic, analytical and problem-solving, or ‘advisory’, resources to be put to use as the graduate moves through his/her career
• the necessary technical skills to enable graduates to adequately perform their initial jobs

For more information on this process, contact our education officer at julian.kenny@pria.com.au or by calling 02 9331 3346.

How to Get a Degree Accredited

The NEC's members include leading public relations practitioners and communication academics who broadly represent the views and aspirations of the industry. The NEC seeks to contribute to the ongoing collective knowledge of the profession.

The accreditation guidelines are provided as a minimum standard for public relations degrees. The key documents for accreditation are:

• Accreditation guidelines
• Application form for PRIA UG accreditation
• Application form for PRIA accreditation - subject statement
• Application form for PRIA PG accreditation

As a university, if you would like to get your degree accredited, fill in the appropriate documents above and email them to our education officer, julian.kenny@pria.com.au

Why is PRIA Accreditation Important?

A prerequisite of a profession is that a body of knowledge exists about its practice. Public relations has assembled that body of knowledge. The way to pass this knowledge on to future generations is through a properly constituted, controlled and industry-supported education system.

PRIA encourages educational institutions to seek accreditation as a measure of recognition by the industry's peak professional body. PRIA favours institutions with accredited degrees when providing resources such as guest lectures, teaching materials, scholarships, prizes and work experience opportunities.

Last Updated: May 2, 2013