PRAUganda-FAQ

FAQ's
	Will I get a job when I have finished my studies? This is a question commonly asked by all learners not only in the public relations profession, but also in other business sectors. You have to market yourself when you have completed your studies. Learners should ensure that they have the necessary (minimum) practical experience to include in their CVs. If you do not have practical experience we suggest you work as a volunteer in an organisations public relations department to gain the necessary knowledge of the skills needed in the field.

	Do you have any vacancies? or Will you help me find a job? or Does PRAU help with job placements? PRAU is not a recruitment agency and does not place learners in positions, however the Institute has an informal job grapevine, a service to registered members providing the member with contact details of possible vacancies they can apply for. These vacancies are normally positions advertised in the newspapers and by PRAU members in the education, corporate, government and consultancy fields.

	How much will I earn when I have completed my studies? This will depend on the organisation that you have applied to work for. Your salary will be determined by your qualifications and practical experience gained.

	How much does an account assistant earn? The salary will be determined by your qualifications and practical experience. To get broad spectrum remuneration background you can contact us on +256 412 343171.

	On what level of registration will I be if I am an account assistant/executive? On either Public Relations Practitioner (PRP) level or Associate/Affiliate level. PRP is the first of three senior registration levels. The PRP can plan, launch and implement communication programmes and undertake a basic evaluation of them. Associates and Affiliates have recently entered the field of public relations and are qualified for junior practitioner or assistant positions.

	Do you offer a qualification in special event management? PRAU does not offer a qualification in special event management. A two-day workshop on special event management workshop is offered. The workshop is on a strategic rather than a tactical approach.

	Do you offer bursaries? PRAU is a registered Section 21 company (non-profit organisation) and do not offer any bursaries. Bursaries can normally applied for from big corporate organisations.

	Will I get a job overseas? PRAU is a member of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management Assocations. The APR status (accredited in public relations) is internationally recognised by USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well as PRAU membership in the United Kingdom. If you are a member of PRAU this could be a favourable advantage.

	How do I do press cutting analysis - what is the value of my article? This is normally measured according to the column centimetre publicity received. The circulation of the newspaper, the day, the section and page number will have an influence on the value of the article. This is normally compared with the advertising space of the publication. Some practitioners multiply the value of the editorial with 3 (weighing factor - editorial worth three times more than an advertisement), however PRAU do not believe in this multiplying factor as it is not justifiable.

	What is a reasonable number of press releases to be written per month? There is no reasonable number of press releases to be written per month. This will depend on the nature of your organisation and whether there is something newsworthy to report on. If you are a consultant this might be different as you would have more than one client and would have to produce several releases per client.

	Who are the top 10 public relations consultancies in the country? PRAU does not have a list of top 10 public relations consultancies in the country. The Association has a list of all registered consultancies with approx 200 PRCC (Public Relations Consultants Chapter) members presently. A list is available from The PRAU Secretariat

	How many public relations practitioners are there in this country? PRAU has a members' base of 199 registered members. Not all public relations practitioners in this country are members of PRAU and it would be difficult to establish how many practitioners there are in the country as there are different specialisation areas like special event management that does not necessarily qualify a person as a public relations practitioner.

	Is a public relations magazine published? The Trumpet is the official public relations magazine published by PRAU. This publication features public relations education updates, tips and case studies.

	Why does everything always happen in Central Uganda? The bulk of the Association's members are based in Central Uganda. A pilot project was introduced in the beginning of 2002 to host workshops in the Central Uganda regions, however the workshops have been withdrawn as most of the workshops scheduled in the first half of the year had to be cancelled due to a lack of support from members in these regions.

	How do I become a member? You complete a membership application form and submit it to the registration committee of PRAU. Click on membership application form under the membership page, complete and submit.

	What are the reasons for becoming a member? Ten reasons to become a member of PRAU PRAU is the professional body representing public relations professionals in Uganda. PRAU is the first and only Institute in the world to obtain the ISO 9002 Quality Assurance Certification. PRAU is a founder member of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management Associations. The PRAU Education & Training Centre is registered with the Department of Education. PRAU offers senior practitioners the opportunity of being assessed and registered as an APR (Accredited in Public Relations) - an internationally recognised status. Registered practitioners of the Association qualify for discounts when attending workshops and conferences. PRAU offers high quality CPD workshops at competitive prices - guaranteed to be lower than the normal commercial rate. Other services and benefits include networking opportunities, professional publications, awards & recognition, business opportunities and a library facility. PRAU is committed to providing quality service to its members.

	What are the fees? Membership application fees (UG Shs.) include: Life membership - 200,000/= (paid once in a lifetime) Corporate membership - 150,000/= Ordinary membership - 25,000/= Student membership - 15, 000/= Honorary membership No student applications are accepted without payment No payments are accepted without a completed membership application form Applications must be accompanied by a copy of their CVs

	What is PRAU? PRAU is the The Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) is the umbrella public relations body of Uganda, representing practitioners throughout Uganda. It is affiliated with other regional and global public relations bodies such as the Eastern African Public Relations Association (EAPRA), the Federation of Africa Public Relations Associations (FAPRA) and the International Public Relations Association (IPRA).

	What is the definition of public relations? Public relations is the management, through communication, of perceptions and strategic relationships between an organisation and its internal and external stakeholders.

	Do I receive a formal qualification for workshops? The workshops are not formal qualification courses, but merely practical workshops. You will receive a certificate of attendance.

	Who should be a PRAU member? Public relations and communication management students and practitioners should become members of the Association.

	Is there any qualification needed to become a PRAU member? No, however with no public relations or communication qualifications you would either be registered as a PRAU Students member (if you are busy studying towards a qualification) or an affiliate.

	Is there an exam one should undergo to become a member? No. Registration is based on academic qualifications and experience.

	Does PRAU offer correspondence courses? Flexible learning is currently being assessed.