GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT
The Global Communications Project (Globcom) is an international project run by 13 universities of 13 countries across 5 continents. The participating students will be in their 2nd or 3rd year degree programme or in the postgraduate course. About 9 international teams are formed. Each team gets the same PR briefing and has to develop a presentation of a PR problem – as in a real pitch – which has to be presented at the end of the project. The virtual teams collaborate using the interactive tools E-Mail, Skype, Teams, Google Meet, Meta, Instagram, Twitter, SnapChat, WhatsApp etc to accomplish the seven primary tasks of the project:
- To work in an international virtual PR team
- To collaborate in a multicultural team and overcome cultural barriers
- To persuade through online (and, offline) presentations/communication methods
- To work as an international agency solving a global PR issue with local ramifications
- To recognize the strength of cultural diversity
- To learn implementing global strategies locally
In 2003 the project was organized for the first time in Germany with great success. Since then each year more than 200 new students of 15 universities around the world are taking part in this unique project.
In the past the students have visited several countries and were hosted by the respective universities, and in 2017 it was India’s turn to host international faculty and students in Bangalore.
Earlier symposiums were held at the following countries: Boston, USA (2023); Barcelona, Spain (2021); Lisbon, Portugal (2019), Lithuania (2020); Thailand (2018); Abu Dhabi (2016); Borneo, Malaysia (2015); Boston, USA (2014); Stellenbosch, South Africa (2013); Abu Dhabi, UAE (2012); Barcelona, Spain (2011); Cheltenham, UK (2010); Abu Dhabi, UAE (2009 and 2008); Lisbon, Portugal (2007), Palma de Mallorca, Spain (2006); Gorizia, Italy (2005); Barcelona, Spain (2004); and Erfurt, Germany (2003).
The coordinator of the project is Dr. Volker Stoltz, president of the charity organisation, Global Communication Institute e.V., honorary consul general and former CEO of Shandwick Europe.
- Australia: Curtin University, Perth
- Chile: Universidad de Valparaiso, Valparaiso
- Germany: University of Erfurt, Erfurt
- India: Dayananda Sagar University (College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Bangalore)
- Italy: Università degli Studi di Udine, Gorizia
- Malaysia: Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak, Borneo
- New Zealand: AUT University, Auckland
- Portugal: School of Communications and Media Studies, Lisbon
- South Africa: University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, Cape
- Spain: Ramon Llull University - Blanquerna, Barcelona
- Thailand: Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok
- Turkey, Kadir Has University
- UAE: Zayed University, Abu Dhabi
- United Kingdom: Leeds Beckett University, Leeds
- USA : Emerson College, Boston
Needless to add, Dayananda Sagar University is the only institution from India to be a part of this prestigious project, which will be a great cross-cultural learning experience for the students.
The high-profile projects that the students have worked on, since Globcom’s inception in 2002, include,
- Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project for Abu Dhabi Species Conservation Foundation
- Heart of Borneo Campaign for World Wildlife Forum (WWF), Malaysia
- Global Tourism Campaign for the City of Stellenbosch, South Africa
- PR Campaign for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
- CSR Campaign: General Electric (GE) Foundation Policy
- “Keeping an Eye on Earth” Summit for Climate Change
- Global PR and Communications Strategy for Carl Zeiss Vision Care
- Airbus Support for the International Year of Biodiversity
- Promoting Abu Dhabi as Cultural Capital of the Middle East
- Communicating the New Abu Dhabi to the World
- Reputation Strategy for Cognis GmbH
- Germany as a tourism destination (Soccer World Championship 2006)
- PR Campaign for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
- PR for the Kingdom of Swaziland
- CSR Campaign: General Electric (GE) Foundation Policy
