Thursday, 16 February 2012

One Change That Would Make A Difference To Masters of Public Relations

The students of the Masters of Public Relations course in the University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus bond over assignments, notes and discussions during lectures. This bond is important from an academic point of view. There needs to be a sense of understanding towards each other. This is helpful when after the course everybody starts working in different Public Relations sectors and would need some information from each other. Such networking is always useful when one starts working in the industry. This is also the reason why the faculty also always encourages the students to interact with their seniors. When the students pass out from the course their seniors will already have one year of work experience in the industry and will be working with different companies. Hence they will be able to guide their juniors well.
         One change that would make a difference to the Masters of Public Relations in University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus would be setting up a 'Fun Committee'. This will give another chance for the students of the whole department to bond with each other. The committee will have two students from each class including journalism, public relations and electronic media. These students will have regular meetings to decide the activities for the weekend. These could include activities such as documentary film screening, performing folk dances or skits. The faculty will be invited and the committee will take their valuable feedback. Any student from the department can come for the meeting and give their inputs. Every weekend could have a different theme. It would be very interesting to see how different groups interpret the same theme in a different manner. This will not only give the students an opportunity to showcase their talents but also increase their motivation and enthusiasm towards such extra curricular activities. The members of the committee will change every month so that every student who is interested gets a chance to discuss and implement his or her ideas. This will generate a sense of excitement and bring all students together.
       This will make a positive difference not only to the Masters of Public Relations in University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus but to the entire department of Communication and Journalism. It will help strengthen the bond among the students of the department and everyone will get to learn something new be it managing an event or hosting a show.

USP of Masters of Public Relations

The Masters of Public Relations course at the University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus is any aspiring Public Relations professional's best bet. It not only gives one a complete understanding of the history, evolution and theories of Public Relations but also studies the current trends in the industry. It also gives every student a great opportunity to conduct a research on any topic of their choice in the field of Public Relations in their fourth semester. Thus every student can feel they have contributed to the subject of Public Relations in their own way. The research thesis of previous batch students is available at the department for reference. The professor also conduct researches in their respective subjects from time to time.
       The course of Masters of Public Relations at the University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus is of two years and is divided into four semesters. Each semester has four subjects each. Students are marked on their performance in class assignments as well as the written examination. The structure and design of the course i believe is the USP of the course. By the end of the course every student has knowledge about so many subjects which helps them when they enter the work environment. They also learn how to conduct research and why it is important. After the second semester students are required to do a compulsory six weeks internship. This gives each student a chance to get practical experience which is extremely essential. The student is required to submit a report about the internship after six weeks.
         The Masters of Public Relations at the University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus also communicate through a google group. Information about assignments, notes, lecture timings etc are all mailed on the group so that everybody is informed. The faculty and students also mail relevant articles and stories on their particular subjects on the google group.

Experience at Masters of Public Relations

I had joined the Masters of Public Relations course at the University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus with an open mind as I was eager to learn more about the field of Public Relations. I knew from the beginning that this would be a great learning experience for me. This course has taught me a lot. It has been a very enriching experience. We as students learn something new everyday. Each day tells a new story. We get to know more about the latest events and happenings from around the world from not only our professors but also from our peers. We are encouraged to have healthy discussions on various issues in class. We keep working on assignments which make us think of new and fresh ideas. We have an exchange of thoughts and views on many topics.
        We also have group assignments which teach us how to work in teams. Everyone in the Masters of Public Relations at the University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus has something unique to offer. Everybody is friendly and helpful towards each other.It is a positive learning environment. We also have some really good seniors who we interact with on and off. They share their experiences with us and tell us about their assignments which gives us an understanding of what our other semesters will be like. They also tell us about the things they learnt during their internships. They are working on their research which is a course requirement in the final semester. We also discuss about their research topics. They work on their research under a guide who are the faculty members.
         My experience as a student of Masters of Public Relations at the University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus has been very refreshing. I have learnt so many new things, met many new people and it has helped me grow as a person. We learn many subjects which helps us to get a complete understanding of a particular field. It gives us a boarder perspective on the subject. The department of Communication and Journalism also arranges for a study tour every year. This year the place was Kerala. We had two business visits one to Malyalam Manorama printing press and news studio. It gave us an understanding of how the media in Kerala works. It also was a great opportunity for everyone in the department to bond with each other. We visited a bird sanctuary and also spent a couple of hours on a boat cruise at Allepy. We were given an assignment to perform a skit. We were divided into groups and each group had a different topic. It was a great learning experience for everybody in the department.

Pillars of Masters of Public Relations

There are many important pillars of the Masters of Public Relations course in the University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus. These pillars are not only responsible for shaping a students academic life but also act as role models for them. Their years of experience reflect in their style of teaching. Students look up to them and aspire to be like them someday. They are always approachable. Students have heir initial interaction with them during the admission process. They are the ones who take interviews and decide the topics for the group discussion and set the entrance examination question papers. They are always willing to share their insights and experiences with the students and clear any doubts that may arise in their minds. They are extremely hardworking and humble people. They themselves set excellent examples for the students.
       In my opinion every professor who has taught or is teaching the students of Masters of Public Relations in the university of Mumbai, Kalina Campus is a very strong pillar. They are not only extremely knowledgeable people but are also imparting their knowledge everyday to their students. Students have a lot to learn from them. It is fascinating to see the way they work and deal with different situations. They are efficient at teaching and make learning an enjoyable experience for the students. At heart they are warm and compassionate teachers guiding students through their academic lives.
      Students of Masters of Public Relations of University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus consider themselves fortunate for having such wonderful pillars. They ensure that everything is running smoothly and that everything in the department is managed well. They are a source of inspiration for every student. They constantly encourage and motivate students to perform better. They are remarkable people who play a key role in the academic life of their students.




Where does MA PR take you two years down the line?

A Masters degree course such as Masters of Public Relations in the University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus gives its students an edge over other students. The students study different subjects which gives them a lot of knowledge on the subject. They are always updated on current affairs and the latest happenings around the world. The department conducts many guest lectures on various topics thus the students also get a chance to interact with industry professionals from time to time. These professionals come and share their insights and views which give the students an opportunity to understand their perspective on different matters.
        Every lecture in the course of Masters of Public Relations in the University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus is of two hours which gives enough time for a healthy discussion on a particular topic. There is an exchange of ideas among the students which is guided by the professor. Everyone has sufficient time to clear all their doubts. The students have on going assignments which help them keep their minds stimulated. Some of the assignments require the students to give presentations which enhances their skills and makes them more confident individuals. There is a subject called 'Research' which inculcates scientific and inductive thinking, promotes the development of logical habits of thinking and organisation.
        Another requirement of the Masters of Public Relations course in University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus is a six week long internship after the second semester exams and before the third semester begins. The internship can be done at any Public Relations agency or a Corporate Communications department of a company. This helps students to get a feel of a professional working environment and to learn many new things. This experience is very important as it introduces students to the corporate world. The students are required to submit a detailed report after the internship is over.