CIPR Diploma update
Thursday, November 29th, 2007 at 10:33 am
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I’ve been studying for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Online Diploma since June this year.
It’s been hard work so far, but it was nice to hear that Ellee, who started the diploma well before me, has passed her third paper on the course.
Ellee found the qualification helped her get a better strategic understanding of the practice of public relations. That’s a benefit I’ve experienced too.
The first part of the course was heavily focussed on academic theories and research reading, which was a bit of a shock having not read or written academic text since 1999.
That section of the course culminated in the Critical Reasoning Test (CRT) which I completed in September. Last week I heard that I’d passed this with a “merit”, which gave me some comfort that I was making progress with my learning.
We’re now well into the planning assignment which needs to be completed by early January. This is a combination of a “real-life” scenario where students need to write a PR plan and writing an academic rationale for the decisions made in the plan.
I’m finding this easier than the CRT although it’s still a bit odd writing a PR plan and having to justify everything in it using academic research. The rigour this introduces into my thinking can only be a good thing.
Once the planning assignment’s out the way, there’s the small matter of the 10,000 final project to think about, but that’s for next year…
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Thursday, November 29th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Simon, good luck, I know you will pass with flying colours.
Monday, December 3rd, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Simon, I’m going to read your essay answers (just not at 10pm). The Diploma is something I want to do myself at some point, and I would be interested to hear how you found the time demands of the course?
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 at 12:32 am
Ellee - thanks for the good wishes
Chris - I’d definitely recommend a strong coffee before reading them! Timewise I try to allocate 3-4 hours per week to study/assignments (I’m studying the online route, which is more flexible but misses out on valuable face to face interaction). That time commitment seems to work most of the time, although it is hard balancing work, study, family and blogging - it’s usually the latter that suffers first.
Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
I had always thought about posting my essays too - especially as one question was about corporate blogging. My dissertation (deferred) should also be interesting as it looks at whether UK political bloggers have an impact on the MSM agenda. Watch this space.
Sunday, December 9th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Hi Simon - look forward to reading your dissertation. Once I’ve got the planning assignment out of the way, I’ll have to start thinking what mine wil be about.
Wednesday, December 19th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I have would have to say I found my CIPR course (the certificate) to be one of the best things I have ever done!
I found it really did give me a better understanding of PR and make me look at areas I have little exposure too. However y far the best benefit was meeting my future wife on the course - we get married next year!!
Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 at 11:08 pm
[…] started studying back in June 2007, and was delighted to pass the first hurdle, the critical reasoning test, last […]