Your four categories for successful PR education highlight that this blog post only touches on a wider debate. My focus for the moment will be on students getting practical experience – as this is the area which matters to me right now. It is in this area where I would like to see the CIPR make the most improvement.

The mentoring scheme at Leeds Met sounds brilliant.  

There are at least four parties to successful public relations education: the student (most important), the teacher/course (next), the industry that supplies placements and graduate jobs and (last and least) the professional body/ies.

Well established approved courses should have the staff, the connections and the infrastructure to provide plenty of opportunity and extra-curricular support for students. At Leeds Met, for example, we have introduced a mentoring scheme connecting practitioners and students.

The problem at Cheltenham (as I know from experience) is the lack of permanent teaching staff. The CIPR can’t fix that – but should restrict its approvals to established courses with a sufficient team of subject specialist lecturers. It’s one of the few times in life when bigger probably is better.