Singapore, 21 March 2011 (Monday) – In response to the steady demand for senior communication professionals in this region, the Singapore Management University launches a new Master in Communication Management. This programme is offered in collaboration with Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano, Switzerland, which runs the world renowned programme in corporate communication, and their partner, the UCLA Anderson School of Management in the US.
This Master in Communication Management will be the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. The part-time programme by coursework is tailored for mid-level professionals in corporate communication, public relations and public affairs. It will also be useful for those looking to attain the relevant qualifications to enter the communications industry.
The 12-month three-country programme will begin in February 2012. Participants will take courses in Singapore and join their peers in USI for courses and study visits in Lugano and Los Angeles. Most of the courses in Singapore will be taught in the evenings and on weekends. Participants will learn about areas such as strategy, communication law, investor relations, crisis management, global journalism and digital communication.
Please refer to the following Annexes for information:
Annex A: Programme schedule
Annex B: List of courses
The instructors will consist of professors from SMU, USI, UCLA, and senior practitioners in Singapore and the region. In addition, two leading scholars of the field will teach at SMU as Visiting Professors: Professor Paul Argenti of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and Professor Miriam Meckel from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.
Director of the Programme, Associate Professor (Corporate Communication Practice) Gregor Halff says, “The growth and diversification of the Asian economies is creating a steady demand for senior communication professionals. These talents can be groomed from within the region. The SMU Master in Communication Management not only responds to the industry's call for quality graduate education opportunities, but also provides participants with a global perspective.”
Provost and Deputy President of Academic Affairs, Professor Rajendra Srivastava, says, “ Managing an organisation's communication has never been in higher demand, but it has also never been more demanding. As Asian businesses grow, they face increasing challenges in managing and communicating their brands. They must also respond to conflicting demands from multiple stakeholders – customers, investors, employees, media, and investors. As a management university in Asia, we are offering a programme relevant to the industry's needs. ”
President of the Institute of Public Relations Singapore (IPRS) and Head of Group Communications at UOB, Mr. Ng Wei Joo, says, “The curriculum at SMU gives graduates the best pedigree possible to move up and thrive in executive roles.”
Applicants must have a good academic undergraduate degree, possess relevant professional experience and demonstrate proficiency in English. This programme costs S$38,000. It will admit up to 30 p articipants in the pioneer batch.
About the Università della Svizzera italiana
The Università della Svizzera italiana (USI – www.usi.ch) is the leading Swiss institution in communications. Its Executive Master of Science in Communications Management (www.mscom.usi.ch) is a part-time, postgraduate programme specifically designed for experienced corporate communication professionals. Launched in 1999, it links the latest academic research with best practices from the world of business.
It is a young and dynamic university, continuously evolving to pursue excellence in research and education, through collaborations with prestigious institutions, research projects at local, federal and international level, a strong multidisciplinary orientation and an international scope. Research activities at the University of Lugano are carried out within institutes and laboratories focused on the various research areas of the four Faculties.
Education at USI supports the students' professional and human growth at various levels (basic, specialized and long-life learning), through excellent quality of teaching, the possibility - thanks to its contained size - of being followed closely by teachers, and a constant attention to the ever-evolving needs of the job-market and of an increasingly global society. At present, USI has 2338 full-time students representing more than 30 nationalities, over 600 academic staff and 30 research institutes, with approximately 50 active scientific projects.