Development
PRIA Accredited University Degrees
The PRIA conducts a rigorous academic accreditation program to make sure degrees which prepare practitioners for a vocation in the public relations and communication profession are of a high standard.
This program ensures that the assembled body of knowledge held by the profession is passed onto future generations of practitioners through a properly constituted, controlled and industry-supported education system.
Whilst accreditation is a private, voluntary process it is sought by educational institutions as a measure of recognition by the industry's peak professional body, the Public Relations Institute of Australia.
Studying a degree accredited by the PRIA is your guarantee that the qualification has prepared you to enter the profession and that your skills have been accepted by potential employers. It signifies that the University has undertaken an extensive and ongoing process to ensure that your training will equip you with best practice skills and competencies.
A guiding accreditation philosophy is that 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.
An academic study sponsored by the PRIA in 1989-90 resulted in the development of guidelines for courses in public relations and communication at Australian tertiary institutions. From 1991 undergraduate and postgraduate courses at universities have received PRIA accreditation.
"The role of an industry body includes setting standards within that industry, promoting professionalism and encouraging skills development. With that in mind, it is easy to understand why employers rely on course accreditation as a benchmark when vetting job applications"
Gwyneth Howell MPRIA, Chair, National Education Commitee
Accreditation is an ongoing process. This list of university degrees comprises undergraduate and postgraduate courses accredited by the PRIA or currently involved in the accreditation process.
Further information is available from the PRIA National Secretariat - national@pria.com.au or by calling 02 9331 3346.
Last Updated: May 24, 2010