Teaching
Contact
Dr. Andreas Schwarz
Head of iRisCS-Com – International Risk, Crisis, and Science Communication Research Group
+49 3677 69 4694
Dr. Andreas Schwarz
Head of iRisCS-Com – International Risk, Crisis, and Science Communication Research Group
+49 3677 69 4694
In teaching, iRisCS-Com focuses in particular on the areas of crisis communication, risk communication, international strategic communication, communicator research and research methods. You can find more information about thesis supervision here.
We offer various seminars and lectures for the Applied Media and Communication Science Bachelor's degree course. These include, for example
Introduction to the technique of scientific work
Communicator research
Both research modules and specialization modules are offered for students in the Master's degree course in Media and Communication Science. These include
Research Module: International Risk and Crisis Communication Research
Specialization Module: Public Relations and Communication in the Context of Globalization
Specialization Module: Managing Strategic Risk and Crisis Communication
The PR career orientation course is offered annually at the beginning of the winter semester for students in the 3rd semester of the Bachelor's degree course in Applied Media and Communication Studies and runs for two semesters. In the first half of the seminar, students are given an initial insight into the professional field of public relations by their seminar leader Elisabeth Wagner-Olfermann and learn about relevant methods and tools that they will need in PR practice. Step by step, they practise how to develop a successful PR concept using examples, write their first press releases and listen to guest lectures by PR professionals who talk about their careers and everyday working life, impart additional know-how and give the students important tips.
In the second half of the seminar, students apply what they have learned and put it into practice. They set up junior agencies and develop strategic communication concepts for two real clients from the region, which they present in a celebratory PR pitch at the end of the seminar. They work very independently and under real conditions (real assignment, given budget, time pressure) and are actively supported by their lecturer and, since 2018, also by Ninette Pett, founder and owner of the first specialized consulting firm for strategic communication management in SMEs "MITTKOM".
In the past, the seminar participants have already been able to inspire numerous different clients such as Thüringer Klimaagentur, GB Neuhaus GmbH, Regionalmanagement Kreis Gotha & Ilm-Kreis, Schmitz Cargobull, Flight Design and SAE Schaltanlagenbau Erfurt with their concepts and provide them with many suggestions for their PR work. For the students, the career orientation is an excellent opportunity to gain initial practical experience in their future field of work and to make contacts with potential future employers.
As part of the specialization module "Public Relations and Communication in the Context of Globalization", students on the Master's degree course in Media and Communication Science and International Business Economics have also been able to regularly gain exciting practical experience for several years. The students come from many different countries and continents around the world due to the international orientation of the English-language course. In small groups, they set up junior PR agencies and develop PR concepts and international campaigns for clients such as KI Bundesverband e.V., the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Plan International, LEG Thüringen, SETI Institute or Robert Bosch GmbH. The aim of the seminar is to develop strategic and practical skills in international PR and science communication.
