Department of Communication Studies, HKBU

Career Development Workshop Series Held for Final-Year PR Students PRAO4045 PR Writing and Media Training hosted industry experts and academics throughout the semester to prepare graduating students for their professional careers. Dr. Angus Cheong, a COMS alumnus and CEO of uMax Data Technology, and DiVoMiner Research Director Ms. Wendy Cao presented on GenerativeAI's impact on the PR industry. Their session covered AI developments, challenges, and practical applications in social listening and press release preparation. The University of Melbourne Associate Professor Dr. Suwichit (Sean) Chaidaroon discussed sustainability reporting analysis using the Circuit of Culture framework. PR consultant Amy Tam shared insights on career development and participated in mock interviews alongside course instructors Helen Ching and HUA LI (Harry). Students also met Dr. Angela Mak via Zoom to discuss the case writing assignment in group chats while she was on long-term sick leave.

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Angela Mak, Associate Professor in our department, has been awarded first place in the Teaching Paper competition by the Public Relations Division of AEJMC! 🎉 Her paper, "Role-Play-Based Gamification in the Use of Guest Speakers: A Disney-inspired Approach for Student Learning," offers an innovative perspective on enhancing public relations education through engaging pedagogical methods. In the previous academic year, Dr. Mak led her Advanced PR Writing students in organizing the successful "Into the Unknown: World of Frozen PR Sharing" event on campus. The collaboration with Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals' Association and 香港迪士尼樂園 the Hong Kong Disneyland Communications team made it a truly memorable experience. 🏰 https://lnkd.in/gqQskJ7R Congratulations to Dr. Mak on this well-deserved recognition! #EducationInnovation #PublicRelations #AcademicExcellence

As we are in the season of caps, gowns, and new beginnings, let’s also take a moment to throw back to a night of glitz and glam as we celebrated a golden milestone 🌟 – the 50th Anniversary of The Young Agency (TYA)! 🎉 A heartfelt thank you to all the distinguished guests and passionate students who made this evening unforgettable. Here’s to celebrating past achievements and toasting to future successes! 🥂 Check out the video highlights now! #TYA50thAnniversary #HKBU #HKBUCOMM #HKBUCOMS #PRA #TheYoungAgency #TYA2024 #GoldenAnniversary #CelebrationDinner

【 Career Talk: A Road Map for Landing Your Dream Job in PR and Advertising 】 Are you looking for summer internships or full-time jobs in public relations and advertising? Are you ready to unlock the secrets to successful job interview preparation? 🌟 Join us for a career talk titled ”From Campus to Career: A Road Map for Landing Your Dream Job in PR and Advertising“! 🗓️💼 📅 Date: June 20th, 2024 (Thursday) ⏰ Time: 18:00 – 19:30 📍 Zoom Speakers: 🔸 Mr. Cody Roberts - Founder & Managing Partner of Genesis Partners - Event Co-Chairs of PRHK (2023-2024) 🔸 Mr. Andy Miu - Manager of Weber Shandwick - PRA Alumnus (2019) This event is your golden ticket to gaining invaluable knowledge about #CareerPlanning, acing #JobInterview, and #Excelling in agencies. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to kickstart your career journey! Register now at the link below and secure your spot. 🎟️👇 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eadScPwa (You can also scan the QR code on the poster.) Spread the word and tag your friends who are passionate about PR and Advertising. Let‘s embark on this exciting journey together! 🚀💼 #HKBU #HKBUCOMM #HKBUCOMS #HKBUPRA #PR #Advertising #CareerTalk #CareerDevelopment #DreamJob #StudentOpportunity

【 COMS Faculty Recognized for Their Performance 】 Dr. Stephanie Jean Tsang, Assistant Professor, and Dr. Dominic Yeo, Associate Professor and Associate Head of the COMS Faculty, have been honored for their remarkable achievements and contributions in scholarly work and service. Dr. Stephanie Jean Tsang was recognized for her outstanding performance as an early-career scholar, with numerous publications and over 670 citations in her field of expertise, misinformation research. Moreover, she has successfully secured three external and nine internal research grants, exceeding a total of HK$3 million. Beyond serving as a reviewer for more than 55 academic journals, her expertise in misinformation research has resulted in more than 20 media interviews, both locally and internationally. Dr. Dominic Yeo has demonstrated exceptional dedication as Chair of the Department's Research and Development Committee. He has enhanced the institution's academic reputation by cultivating a culture of quality research and ethical practices. Additionally, his role as a departmental representative on the Senate has contributed to the establishment of guidelines for students on academic integrity. He also serves on the editorial boards of several flagship communication journals. Dr. Yeo’s influence beyond academia is showcased by his contributions as a judge for the David Ogilvy Awards for Excellence in Advertising Research by The Advertising Research Foundation in New York. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to both Dr. Stephanie Jean Tsang and Dr. Dominic Yeo for their well-deserved recognition. Their contributions have had a lasting impact on students, the research community, and society. #HKBU #HKBUCOMM #HKBUCOMS #CommunicationStudies

This year, we celebrate the momentous 50th anniversary of The Young Agency (TYA), part of the Department of Communication Studies. To commemorate this milestone, a grand dinner party themed "The Golden Jubilee of TYA" (傳・盛), organised by TYA and the Communication Alumni Association (COMMAA), took place on May 17. The event brought together students, alumni, and esteemed industry professionals on campus, creating a memorable evening of celebration and reunion. With this remarkable 50th anniversary, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the presence of our dearest PRA alumni over the years. Their presence was invaluable, as the experiences and wisdom they shared during the dinner inspired young professionals and current students alike. Furthermore, we were honoured to have industry veterans Kitty Lun and Helen Ching, who fondly reminisced about their time as TYAers, adding a special touch to the celebration. Their stories served as a witness to the enduring legacy and impact of TYA over the years. It was a great honour to have the executive members of PRHK, HK4As（香港廣告商會）, and the Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals' Association on this joyous occasion. Their unwavering support and collaboration have been instrumental in our organisation's success and growth. As we reflect on this remarkable milestone, we look forward to the future of TYA, fueled by the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and excellence. Together, we will continue to shape and inspire the next generation of communication professionals, ensuring that the values and traditions of TYA remain vibrant and influential for years to come. #TYA50thAnniversary #HKBU #HKBUCOMM #HKBUCOMS #COMMAA #PRA #TheYoungAgency #TYA2024 #StudentSuccess #GoldenAnniversary #CelebrationDinner

This year, The Young Agency (TYA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and we are hosting an Anniversary Celebration Dinner on Friday, 17th of May. The event, themed "傳·盛" (The Golden Jubilee of TYA), will bring together TYA's esteemed alumni and current students for a night of celebration. We will also be honouring some of our outstanding contributors with awards. PRHK, HK4As（香港廣告商會）, and Hong Kong Public Relations Professionals' Association will receive the Industry Partner Excellence Award for their outstanding commitment to excellence and partnership with us. We look forward to celebrating with everyone this Friday evening!

【Empowering Future Graduates: Advertising Industry Sharing Session with Sunny Idea on April 30th】 We are delighted to share the highlights from our recent advertising industry sharing session for our “graduate-to-be” students! We had the honor of hosting esteemed advertising experts from the renowned local independent agency, Sunny Idea (HK). A special shoutout and heartfelt thanks go to Chung Leung, Vincent Tse, Adrian Li, and Yan Kwan for their valuable contributions and insights. Throughout the session, our students had the opportunity to delve into in-depth and up-to-date industry knowledge with topics such as the evolving landscape of brand narratives in the social media age and the essential qualities of a “good adman.” Additionally, they gained a comprehensive understanding of the differences in work cultures between multinational agencies and local independent agencies, providing them with practical information to prepare for their careers in the advertising industry. We extend our sincerest gratitude to Sunny Idea for their meaningful sharing and unwavering support.✨ #HKBU #HKBUCOMM #HKBUCOMS #HKBUPRA #AdvertisingIndustrySharing #CommunicationStudies #SunnyIdea

【 📣 Calling all Year 3 and Year 4 students! Get ready for an EPIC opportunity this summer! 】 Join us for two exclusive workshops in collaboration with Ruder Finn, a leading internal communication agency and potential employer for you! Led by Charles Lankester 林啓達, Managing Director of Ruder Finn HK and a renowned PR crisis practitioner with over 20 years of experience, these workshops will equip you with valuable skills in managing risk and reputation. 🔝 Workshop Details: 📅 Date: June 17th and June 24th ⏰ Time: 2 pm – 5 pm 🔥 Topics: Crisis management and ESG This is your chance to enhance your CV and stand out to future employers! Ruder Finn is actively seeking interns from BU, so don’t miss this golden opportunity to get your foot in the door! 💼 Hurry and secure your spot by scanning the QR code or registering at this link: https://lnkd.in/gNie5rc5. Remember, attendance for both sessions is mandatory, and seats are limited. Don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity to boost your career prospects and gain invaluable industry knowledge. Sign up now and take the first step towards a successful future! ⏳ #HKBU #HKBUCOMM #HKBUCOMS #HKBUPRA #WorkshopOpportunity #RuderFinn #PRSkills #CareerBoost #RegisterNow

【 The Successful Conclusion of PRAO2037’s Peer Mentoring Program 】 This semester, students from the PRAO2037 Interpersonal Communication course wholeheartedly embraced the spirit of service learning by serving as peer mentors and organizing online workshops for over 80 secondary school students from Tseung Kwan O Government Secondary School and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Yu Mak Yuen Integrated Services Centre. Under the guidance of our students, the service users had the opportunity to refine their interview skills for university admissions and develop better interpersonal communication skills. Dr. Henry Fung also administered over 10 sessions of mock interviews to further enrich the significance of the program. 🌱 And that’s not all! Everyone had the unique privilege of gathering face-to-face at HKBU earlier last month, creating a perfect conclusion for this service-learning project. The energy and enthusiasm were palpable! ✨ #HKBU #HKBUCOMM #HKBUCOMS #HKBUPR #HKBUCISL #MockInterviewWorkshop #CommunicationStudies #InspiringJourneys #ServiceLearning