At the festival honoring the top public relations offices of universities, research centers, and technology institutions in the country, held on Tuesday, July 23, with the presence of Dr. Mansour Gholami, Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, and a number of senior officials from this ministry at the Hall of Scholars of Scientific Jihad, the winners of the "Festival of Top Public Relations of Universities, Research Centers, and the Technology Institutions" were announced and honored.
In this festival, the public relations office of Qom Industrial University succeeded in obtaining the third rank in group (D), in the section of "Information dissemination and media relations" at the festival of top public relations of universities in the country.
According to the public relations office of the university, initially, Dr. Alireza Abdollahi-Nejad, the scientific secretary of the festival of top public relations of universities and higher education institutions in the country, referred to the virtual nature of this festival and its theme "Green University; Green Public Relations," stating: the main goal of this festival is "to introduce and honor active, creative, and impactful public relations in higher education," promote a culture of optimal resource consumption in public relations in line with green management," as well as "empowerment, motivation for healthy competition among them," and also "elevation of the position of public relations." He added: This festival was held under three general themes including "Information dissemination and media relations," "Advertising and publications in the context of green management implementation," and "Electronic public relations," along with two special themes including "Green management and optimal resource consumption" and "Social responsibility."
He mentioned that about 105 universities or institutions participated by submitting their works in this festival, emphasizing: Since the announcement of the festival, about 5,000 works were sent to the secretariat of this festival, which after judging the works based on existing guidelines, universities across the country were divided into four groups (A), (B), (C), and (D), and in each group, first, second, and third ranks were selected in three general themes.
Dr. Abdollahi Nejad concluded by expressing gratitude for the support of the Minister of Science and senior officials of the ministry in holding this festival, stating: Undoubtedly, the brilliant and impactful presence of public relations offices from universities, research institutes, and science and technology parks across the country, along with the encouraging support of the presidents of universities and higher education institutions for holding the festival, will strengthen the resolve of the General Directorate of Public Relations of the Ministry of Science in including the festival of top public relations in higher education in its annual work calendar and professional priorities, and hopefully, this festival will be held annually from now on.
The necessity of wider use of information technology by public relations / Public relations of universities and higher education institutions have notably transformed
Dr. Mansour Gholami, Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, emphasized at the virtual festival of top public relations offices of universities, research centers, science and technology parks, and affiliated institutions of the Ministry of Science that public relations must increasingly lean towards utilizing information technology in their professional activities.
According to the General Directorate of Public Relations of the university, Dr. Gholami, in this virtual festival attended by the ministry's deputies, the director of ministry affairs, and top public relations managers in region one of higher education in person, and participation of other public relations managers virtually at the conference hall of the Martyrs of Scientific Jihad, emphasized: The public relations offices of universities and higher education institutions have indeed transformed; certainly, this transformation is just beginning and must continue to the best possible extent using information technology and contemporary knowledge.
The Minister of Science stated that, interest and motivation in work is the main axis of success and should be strengthened, adding: Academic environments have their peculiar characteristics, and usually, professors and researchers have little interest in promoting and showcasing their achievements, as their workload continuously involves undertaking new tasks.
Continuing his remarks, the Minister of Science said that public relations are the universities' arm: One of the duties of public relations is to inform about the scientific and technological achievements of the country on the international stage, and to be informed about these achievements, we need to approach scientific institutions, obtain new information, and provide it to the public. This action will please professors and researchers, even if they do not expect it.
Dr. Gholami noted that it has been a long time since communication technology has been established in the world, and a vast majority have benefited from it, stating: The outbreak of the corona virus directed our attention towards technology, and we were able to utilize the collection of human achievements in this regard.
Dr. Gholami, while stating that in universities, we had to move towards information technology to prevent damage, indicated: Public relations have always played an influential role, especially during the corona period when student presence in universities diminished and the perception that there is no significant news in universities arose. Here, the role of public relations is paramount as they can diminish the impact of the news about university closures by informing about the activities conducted in universities during these times. During the corona outbreak, universities remained open and continued to function; only the format of education shifted from in-person to virtual and electronic education, which does not mean the closure of universities.
He referred to the festival's slogan "Green University; Green Public Relations and described public relations as the arm of achieving green management in universities and higher education centers, saying: The impact of public relations can be quantified and anticipated both individually and collectively. Of course, the Ministry of Science's headquarters will support large-scale programs, and the General Directorate of Public Relations of the Ministry of Science must hold the higher education family together like a string of prayer beads.
Dr. Gholami added: Considering that the timeline for the eradication of the corona virus is uncertain, we are fully prepared to advance operations under these conditions.
The Minister of Science, in another part of his speech, described the festival of top public relations of universities, research centers, science and technology parks, and affiliated institutions of the Ministry of Science as "a good and appropriate action" and noted: Utilizing cyberspace saves time and costs, and should be prioritized more than ever in the new context by public relations in the country's educational system.
Injecting hope into the community is one of the main duties of public relations / Public relations of higher education centers serve as a bridge between the university and the community
Dr. Mohammad Taghi Nazarpour, Deputy for Administrative, Financial, and Resource Management at the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology, emphasized at the festival of top public relations offices of universities, research centers, science and technology parks, and affiliated institutions of the Ministry of Science that injecting hope into the community is one of the main duties of public relations in universities and higher education and research centers, which can be achieved by presenting the scientific and research achievements of the country's scholars and researchers.
Dr. Nazarpour stated that today is named the day of dialogue and constructive interaction with the world, indicating that in this context, the mission of public relations of universities and research and technology centers becomes very prominent, especially under the conditions of sanctions and the corona virus outbreak where public relations have played a very effective and useful role in informing about scientific and technological successes.
He explained that public relations of universities and research centers serve as a bond between the general public and other executive bodies with the higher education community, researchers, technologists, and the knowledge-based economy, stating: In fact, public relations in universities is the central hub and think tank and is the only official institution reflecting the viewpoints and achievements of higher education and articulating diverse university programs.
Dr. Nazarpour added that in the present era, public opinion is considered a significant and even invisible power driving social and cultural movements of any society, noting: Guiding and controlling public opinion is a strong guideline and strategy within the science of public relations and is always emphasized in training workshops.
The Deputy for Administrative, Financial, and Resource Management stated that the view of public relations should not be merely superficial and ceremonial, asserting: Your work is not just to publish daily news, cover ceremonies, and promote national and religious occasions. Your primary mission is to recount and narrate the acceleration of progress and development, instill hope in the general public, the academic community, and future generations.
According to him, the art of public relations consists of converting limitations into opportunities, which is well reflected in actions such as cooperation and participation in organizing conferences virtually, informing, defending performance, and introducing the academic community and their scientific and research achievements, especially during this corona period.
In the concluding part of his remarks, Dr. Nazarpour identified one of the main duties of public relations in universities as identifying the needs of the audience and stated: Besides the general public, the academic community, students, graduates, intellectuals, and enthusiasts of higher education also fall under your audience. It must be acknowledged that one of the issues with academicians and researchers is that many individuals are introverted and do not have a strong inclination towards media communications and publicity, and here the role of public relations is crucial in informing and introducing these individuals and their scientific achievements to the community.
At the end of the festival, the Minister of Science symbolically awarded the certificate and trophy of the festival to the winners of the first festival of top public relations in the country, among whom Qom Industrial University was celebrated for earning the valuable third place in group "D" in the information dissemination and media relations index.