LONDON–The PRCA has unveiled a new partnership with 11 UK universities, offering their in-house comms teams and students a range of member benefits.

The scheme offers PR and Communications students at partner universities free membership to the PRCA, unlimited free access to PRCA online training courses, reduced rates for PRCA training and qualifications and access to a range of networking events, work placements and graduate schemes.

In-house university PR and Communications teams will also become PRCA members as part of the initiative.

The 11 partner universities are:

Bournemouth
Buckinghamshire New
Cardiff
DeMontfort
Greenwich
King’s College London
Leeds Met
Lincoln
London College of Arts
Manchester Met
Westminster

“This is another step forward for the PRCA," said chief executive Francis Ingham. "This initiative provides PR agencies and in-house teams with the opportunity to network with the practitioners of the future. We are looking to nurture the very best talent the UK has to offer –maintaining the UK’s reputation as the global hub for PR expertise."

Jane Crofts, PR lecturer and course leader, at the School of Journalism at the University of Lincoln added: "Links to employers really add value to programmes of study and the skills inputs the PRCA will provide can only enhance the academic content of our offering."