Leeds Beckett students’ triumph in FuturePR 2024 international competition

Organised by the European Public Relations Education and Research Association (EUPRERA) in collaboration with the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), the competition focused on creating PR strategies to combat misinformation and polarisation while fostering media literacy. Leeds Beckett students played a pivotal role in the competition's success, with three of our students securing top honours.

• First Place: Team ASAP, featuring Leeds Beckett's Thi Kim Ngoc Pham (MA Public Relations and Strategic Communications) alongside peers from Thailand and Romania, claimed victory under the mentorship of Saad AlRubaian from CYLKA (UAE)
• Second Place: Team Mado, led by Leeds Beckett's Rudi Doughty (BA Marketing and Public Relations) and St. Joseph's University's Riya Mathew (India), secured second place with guidance from Michaj Sodolski (SEC Newgate CEE, Poland)
• Third Place: Team Disinfo Disruptors included Leeds Beckett's Sue Jean Chen (MA Public Relations and Strategic Communications), who collaborated with students from the USA and Hungary under the mentorship of Celia Díaz-Pardo (LF Channel, Spain)

Teela Clayton, Lecturer in Public Relations and Journalism at Leeds Beckett University said: "We are incredibly proud of our students' achievements in the FuturePR competition. Their success showcases the creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking we foster at Leeds Beckett, and it's wonderful to see their talent recognised on an international stage. They are true ambassadors of our university and the future of public relations."

The month-long competition, held from November 4-28, 2024, featured activities designed to challenge and prepare students for real-world PR scenarios. Key highlights included:

• Masterclasses by industry experts: Sessions covered ethics, combating fake news, and international PR campaigns, providing students with a solid foundation.
• Intercultural teamwork: Finalists worked in mixed international teams with industry mentors to develop creative solutions for promoting media literacy and the Media Information and Education Pledge
• Grand finale: Teams pitched their strategies to an esteemed panel of judges representing global PR leaders and academics

Winning students will receive internships in their home countries with ICCO-associated companies and agencies in 2025. Additionally, the first-place team members will attend the ICCO European Forum or Global Summit, with admission and accommodation provided by ICCO. The success of Leeds Beckett students in FuturePR 2024 underscores their expertise, creativity, and ability to navigate complex global issues, positioning them as future leaders in public relations.

Learn more about studying PR at Leeds Beckett.