Communication: The Discipline Expands in the New Millennium

Welcome to the New Millennium and to Wide World of Communication. Worldwide, the discipline of Communication has experienced rapid growth with the approach to the new millennium. With advancements in communication technologies and the ubiquitous nature of the media, there has been greater interest in the study of Communication.

Scholars have raised more questions and generated more observations regarding everyday and policy concerns in Communication – resulting in the flux of theories and researches produced within the discipline. In addition, today's students, whose lives have revolved around the electronic media, have decided to embark in careers in Communication – the opportunities of which being tremendous. As a result, educational institutions and the number of degrees in Communication have been expanding. The International Communication Association (ICA) already has 18 divisions and interest groups including Public Relations, Journalism and Mass Communication.

In Indonesia , the need for a degree in Communication is more pronounced than ever. The fall of the New Order in 1998 has spurred a process of democratization in the country. Economically, the Asian Crisis illustrated the susceptibility of the local market to foreign pressures. The need for new foreign investments and for greater infrastructure development presents the case for globalization. The December 2004 tsunami and other recent natural mishaps illustrate the importance of crisis communication. Truly, the country needs more effective and efficient communication people to cope with the new socio-political landscape.

So, we welcome you to London School of Public Relations – Jakarta . For the next 8 semesters at the Undergraduate Programme for BA in Communication Studies and 3 semesters at the Postgraduate Programme for MA in Communication Management, you will learn what it is to become an excellent Communication practitioner – whether in Marketing, Public Relations, Mass Communication, Journalism or Advertising. And to assist you in your academic training, we offer you this handbook – complete with its policies, procedures and guidelines. We hope that you will have a pleasant stay with us – learning and at the same time having fun.

It is a pleasure to have you, and thank you for your interest with The London School of Public Relations – Jakarta.

Prita Kemal Gani, MBA, MCIPR, APR
Director