PR research stretches 5000 kilometres
by David Brittan
Who would travel 5619 kilometres from the Philippines to Adelaide to
do Public Relations research? Well, Kate Mirandilla, the recipient of
the prestigious Donald Dyer Scholarship in Public Relations, has landed
at UniSA’s School of Communication, to complete a three-year PhD in
Public Relations research.
Kate recalls that in her busy schedule as a full-time lecturer at the University of the Philippines, she almost forgot to fill in the application form for the scholarship. But by chance a call from the school became a dream come true, and with a little apprehension she quit her job at the university and made her way to Adelaide.
Kate’s PR research has important outcomes for how organisations handle crisis management. She is studying the decision-making activities that occur when organisations respond within the first 48 hours of a crisis situation, and how organisations handle the communication processes during that period.
The Donald Dyer Scholarship has been established at the University of South Australia to encourage postgraduate and other advanced research of an original nature, leading to the advancement of knowledge in public relations and communication. The scholarship has been made possible by a generous bequest to the University from the estate of the late Sylvia Dyer. The scholarship recognises the pioneering work of Mrs Dyer's late husband, Donald Dyer, in establishing the Public Relations Institute of Australia in South Australia.
Applications are invited for a postgraduate research degree scholarship from persons with a first class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant undergraduate field of study. The successful applicant for the Scholarship will be required to undertake research in a specific topic in the fields of public relations or communication management.
Kate Mirandilla's PhD research title - Decision makers at work: A
critical interpretive analysis of
decision-making in organizational crises.