Üsküdar Üniversitesi held the 5th edition of its traditional Public Relations Symposium this year. At the symposium where the concept of International Public Relations was opened for discussion, 'International Public Relations' was addressed from academic and sectoral perspectives. At the symposium attended by prominent figures in the field, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özge Uğurlu Akbaş stated that public relations involves the process of correctly managing image, reputation, and perception among target audiences.
This year, the 5th Public Relations Symposium, organized by the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication's Department of Public Relations and Promotion with the participation of esteemed figures in the field, was held.
Interest in the online symposium, which aimed to bring together theory and practice, academia and the field, was very high.
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör; 'It is a very good thing for the symposium to be held uninterruptedly and continuously.'
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, Dean of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication, who delivered the opening speech of the symposium, stated that the symposium, which has been held continuously for 5 years, is a recurring event for the Public Relations department. Güngör made the following remarks: "This year's topic is important. Of course, International Public Relations has always been very important… But as you know, as things get complicated in the world and tensions rise, we see that international public relations, international communication, diplomatic relations, crisis management, and similar concepts and phenomena come to the forefront with much greater importance. In Turkey, we are also experiencing very active days, going through a very dynamic period. On the one hand, the highly active internal political dynamics, and on the other hand, of course, international dynamics, show that public relations is on the agenda. Our Public Relations department has been organizing this symposium for 5 years. The name of our Public Relations department was changed to Public Relations and Promotion last year, at the request of YÖK (Council of Higher Education), thus finding its classic name. Organizing such events is not very difficult, but making them continuous and maintaining them as an academic discussion platform is, of course, not easy. It is the product of significant effort, patience, and diligence." she said.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özge Uğurlu Akbaş; 'Looking at the Public Relations Symposium today, which we have always hoped would become traditional since the first day we started, we are holding its fifth edition.'
Özge Uğurlu Akbaş, Head of the Department of Public Relations and Promotion at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication, who spoke during the symposium's opening remarks, stated that as the Department of Public Relations and Promotion, they are growing stronger and larger each year. Akbaş said, "Since our establishment, we have positioned ourselves as a department that strives to integrate theory and practice based on scientific formation. Today, when we examine practices both nationally and internationally, we believe that public relations should be based on very important information. Public relations is a discipline that involves the process of correctly managing image, reputation, and perception among target audiences. For our students who wish to pursue a career in public relations, it will only be possible to perform certain applications based on scientific foundations, be aware of the philosophy of public relations, and follow new developments. For this purpose, we gathered here today. Looking at the Public Relations Symposium today, which we have always hoped would become traditional since the first day we started, we are holding its fifth edition. This is very valuable for us. Today, we intend to bring the topic of international public relations, one of the fundamental elements of the public relations field, to the discussion agenda."
International Public Relations discussed in academic and sectoral contexts…
Following the opening speeches, the sessions began.
In the first session, under the title 'Academic Perspective', Prof. Dr. Sema Yıldırım Becerikli from Ankara Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication addressed the topic of 'Ecological Perspectives in International Public Relations'. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gonca Yıldırım from İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication also made evaluations under the title 'International Public Relations from the Window of Cultural Diplomacy'.
In the second session of the symposium, under the title 'Sectoral Perspective', Hatice Kumalar, President of Brand İstanbul PR Agency, Youth Worker MARTEK TTO Specialist Nursu Yüce, and Berna Kürekçi Şendir from BE İletişim Danışmanlık (BE Communication Consultancy) shared insights into the field operations of public relations and promotion.