Colleagues,
You may be interested in this symposium on 5 or 6 December (depending where you are in the world).
Educating Global Communicators
Symposium Chair: Sky Marsen
Date and Time: Monday 6 December 2021, 09.00-15.00 (Central Australia Time)
Venue: Online and Flinders University City Campus, Victoria Square, Adelaide, Australia
Description
The symposium brings together leading academic researchers and industry practitioners to explore communication study in universities and its impact on the practices of communication professionals internationally.
Program (times in Australian Central Time)
9.00 – 9.15: Introduction to symposium – Dr Sky Marsen, Flinders University
9.15- 10.45: Panel One: Critical communication research and its impact on the communication industry
University education, as opposed to other post-secondary training, is presented as being research-led and as focusing on the development of critical thinking skills. In communication courses, students are often taught to be critical of the practices of journalists, public relations practitioners and other communication professionals. Yet, these students probably enter professions where 'research' assumes a different meaning implying data collection, sometimes in order to influence consumer perceptions and sway political opinions, which is at odds with the critical analysis espoused by academics. Is this dichotomy real and, if so, can (and should) it be bridged?
Chair: Professor Peter Cardon, University of Southern California, USA
Panelists: Kim Barbour, University of Adelaide; Stephen Carradini, Arizona State University, Angela Scarino, University of South Australia; Ben Smeaton, SA Rep of Public Relations Institute of Australia
10.45-11.15 Morning Coffee
11.15- 12.45: Panel Two: Connections among different communication disciplines
Many academics in communication fields, as well as communication professionals, have an educational background in diverse fields, such as applied linguistics, English, or cultural studies. In some universities, communication forms a department or faculty of its own, while in others it is subsumed in another department, or combined with another subject such as 'media' or 'health sciences.' Also, communication associations, such as the International Communication Association (ICA) comprise a variety of sub-disciplines or branches. Is this an advantage of communication, leading to valued diversity, or a hindrance making it difficult for an expert in one discipline to talk to experts in others? Is there a discipline of Communication and can we, or should we, combine and synthesize approaches and methods from the different branches?
Chair: Professor Terry Flew, University of Sydney, Australia
Panelists: Helen Fordham, University of Western Australia, Luke Goode, University of Auckland; Colleen Mills, University of Canterbury; Damien Spry, University of South Australia
12.45-1.15: Lunch
1.15-2.45: Panel Three: Aligning course design with the international communication industry
Communication implies exchanges and interaction. But how is the communication taught at universities related to the practices of communication professionals? In addition, English speaking universities, such as those in the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, maintain they offer an international education and invite students from across the globe to take their courses. Are the skills and principles taught truly international or biased towards specific cultures only? Can we enhance collaboration between universities and industry, as well as between universities internationally, to increase the relevance of learning in a globalised and networked world?
Chair: Professor Donald Matheson. University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Panelists: Curtis Carbonell, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, UAE; Alex Craddock, Head of Content at Insider Guides, Australia, Misa Fujio, Toyo University, Japan
2.45-3.00: Where to from here? Dr Sky Marsen, Flinders University
The symposium is free but participants must register here by 30 November:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/symposium-educating-global-communicators-tickets-206887495067
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Sky Marsen
Flinders University
Australia
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