The Covid-19 situation may have impacted the process of education, but it did not derail efforts by Tunku Abdul Rahman University College’s (TAR UC) Bachelor in Public Relations (Hons) Year 1 students from organising the “PR and the Pandemic: Managing Challenges and Expectations in Communication” e-forum on 7 April 2021.
Held via Google Meet, this educational and industrial event was a conscious effort by the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia Students’ Association (IPRMSA) TAR UC Chapter to keep the annual forum tradition going albeit the challenges of organising a virtual event.
Given that Covid-19 is today’s hot topic, the 4th IPRMSA-TARUC E-Forum covered how the pandemic has disrupted the industries, including public relations, media and communication. The virtual forum also discussed ideas to increase knowledge of crisis-based communication and expectations towards PR practitioners, as well as giving ideas on how to manage the challenges in learning and teaching PR, in addition to what the industry wants in the years ahead.
The e-forum was officiated by Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, President of TAR UC, who was accompanied by Ms Dearna Kee June Chen, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Creative Industries (FCCI).
“This pandemic crisis offers us all an opportunity to learn and excel further. It has transformed us through technologies and adaptation, proving that we can persevere and survive no matter the challenges.
I believe the e-forum today will have students obtaining valuable and experiential insights from our guests in adapting to the current situation surrounding the public relations industry,” said Prof Ir Dr Lee in his keynote speech.
Despite the challenges of being a virtual event, the e-forum managed to attract hundreds of participants to attend the discussion from panelists namely Dr Chang Peng Kee, Associate Professor of Communication from UKM, and Mr Tan Chee Kun, Associate Director and Senior Marcomms Strategist at Lumos Hill+Knowlton Strategies.
“Students should embrace this crisis as an opportunity to enhance their digital communication and social media skills, while PR educators should take these moves online as preparations for the future of online media industry and also that of further education,” said Assoc Prof Dr Chang Peng Kee during the discussion.
Panelist Mr Tan Chee Kun, who graduated from TAR UC in 2012, shared how brand managers, marketers, entrepreneurs and other industry players cope with, adapt to, and succeed in expanding their professional competencies and personal capabilities in this pandemic.
Online Education Fair 线上教育展
Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC)
拉曼大学学院（拉大学院）
https://edufair.fsi.com.my/taruc
