GLOBCOM @ CURTIN

GlobCom @ Curtin

"GlobCom is not just a student competition. It's not a stand alone learning activity for a selected number of students. For us, GlobCom presents a key learning experience, deeply embedded in the PR Major (taught as part of the BA Arts and B Commerce)", Dr Katharina Wolf, Course Coordinator of Curtin's PR Major.

Due to an existing, exclusive arrangement, Curtin is the only Australian AND Malaysia-based university involved in the GlobCom Project, thereby clearly differentiating the Curtin PR Major from other study options across the nation(s). The PR team has been a firmly established partner and Executive participant since 2009. Hence, Curtin students are global ambassadors for their countries, the university, the Business School (in which the PR Major is based), the PR Program – and themselves. This important role is re-enforced throughout the curriculum.

At Curtin the GlobCom Project is deeply embedded in the PR curriculum as part of the compulsory Cross-Cultural Communication (CCComm) unit (although participation is not limited to this particular unit).

The program has had a substantial impact on student learning, by enabling all Curtin PR students to apply their skills in global, culturally diverse settings. Its influence has been confirmed via feedback in our end of semester eVALUate surveys, but also through scholarship of teaching and learning projects, which have been published and presented at relevant conferences.

Our involvement in GlobCom has to date been recognised with a Faculty and a university teaching excellence award.

Students have commented that they found the project extremely challenging, but also exceptionally worthwhile. Alumni of the course, now working in public relations and related fields, have commented on the impact the GlobCom project has had on their lives and careers (see reflections by our GlobCom alumni Jacinta & Stav).

In 2005 Curtin University hosted the annual GlobCom Symposium at our Malaysian campus in Borneo, further raising the profile of Curtin University and our PR degree internationally.

Even when restricted to our Australian campus, Curtin's delegation of PR students and staff has always been diverse, as illustrated in the photo below:

Global connections beyond the student competition

GlobCom has opened the door for international teaching collaborations and student exchange, as part of Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations at Ramon Llull University's public relations program in Barcelona. A cross-cultural communication research centre is currently being established among key GlobCom universities, including Curtin and Emerson College in the USA.

In February 2020 Curtin Australia hosted the 4th International Cross-Cultural Communication Research Symposium, which has evolved out of the GlobCom alliance, following Abu Dabi (2019), Barcelona (2018) and Bangkok (2017). The conference, hosted in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Public Relations Research and Education Network Symposium, provided work experience for recent GlobCom alumni and an opportunity to (re-)connect with past participants.

See https://www.perth2020.info/ for more information.

2012 Curtin Bentley delegates at the Gala Dinner in the UAE, representing not just Curtin, but also their respective home countries (including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and India - a truly diverse delegation)

Thanks to generous support by both the School of Marketing and Curtin’s Business Faculty, Curtin’s PR students have had the opportunity to travel to the GlobCom Symposia in:

Lisbon, Portugal
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Cheltenham, UK
Barcelona, Spain
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Boston / New York, United States of America
Borneo, Malaysia
Bangalore, India

.....to meet their global team members and pitch their ideas in front of the international, real life client, peers, the academic team and industry leaders.

Past L&T awards for the Curtin GlobCom team:

2014 Curtin Award for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching: Programs that Enhance Learning: The GlobCom Project (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq_oTpAkDOs) (representing the PR teaching team)

2013 CBS Teaching and Learning Award: Programs that Enhance Student Learning “The GlobCom Project – a truly international learning experience”, with Catherine Archer.

Curtin graduate Ashwini Sivanantham reflects on her GlobCom 2010 experience, including challenges, learning outcomes and long term impacts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71FG58kH4ZU

This is an example of the videos and guest speakers we use to prepare current students for the GlobCom experience. Our alumni are a vital part of both the Curtin and the international GlobCom Alumni community .

Ash was formally recognised as the Best Presenter at the 2010 Symposium in the UK, awarded by representative of the real-life client Airbus

International representatives of the 2019 winning team celebrate after being announced by their real-life client Wellness World USA as overall winner in Lisbon, Portugal.