Symposium: Educating Global Communicators

IN-PERSON TICKET SALES ARE NOW CLOSED IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE LIVE STREAM HERE.

The symposium will bring together world leading academic researchers and industry practitioners to explore communication study in universities and its impact on the practices of communication professionals internationally.

The value of communication is recognised implicitly: being a ‘good communicator’ and possessing ‘excellent communication skills’ are essential criteria in many job advertisements, on par with problem solving and teamwork. Also, the versatility that contemporary workplaces require for success always entails communication strategies. However, university communication courses are losing prestige in many contexts internationally, or have an ambiguous status. Communication practices in the workplace are also rapidly changing with developments in technology, corporatization of the media industry and the intercultural skills required by globalised business.

Each panel will have a Chair, who will introduce the theme, and invited panel members. Presentations will be followed by a discussion and Q&A.

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, and other communication professionals. Yet, these students probably enter professions where ‘research’ assumes a different meaning implying data collection, sometimes 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

Panellists: Kim Barbour, University of Adelaide; Stephen Carradini, Arizona State University, Angela Scarino, University of South Australia; Ben Smeaton, President of the Public Relations Institute of Australia in South 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?

Chair: Professor Terry Flew, University of Sydney, Australia

Panellists: 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, many English speaking universities 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

Panellists: 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

Event Contact: Sky Marsen, [email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Flinders University Victoria Square Level 1 Room 1, 182 Victoria Square, Adelaide, Australia