A Staffordshire University lecturer has been elected as President of a European foundation for communications education.
John Delacruz, Award Leader for Advertising and Brand Management (ABM) at the University, is now leading Edcom. The foundation aims to develop exchanges between the European commercial communications sector and academic partners.
John said: “I am really honoured to have been elected President of Edcom. Having been a member since its inception, I have seen the organisation develop and grow, not just in terms of membership, but also in terms of ambition and relationship-building.”
The University’s partnership with Edcom has already seen benefits, such as franchising its ABM and Graphics courses in Werbe Akademie in Vienna.
It has also allowed students to get involved in annual pan-European projects and competitions with Higher Education institutions and Edcom members NHTV Breda, Netherlands, Plantijn Hogeschool, Belgium, and Werbe Akademie.
John said: “Edcom benefits Staffordshire University greatly. As part of my presidency I am instigating student chapters which will give our students on ABM a European voice, more networking and franchise opportunities and a European standing for the University.”
John has outlined five key aims for his Presidency, from 2011-2013:
- To maintain and develop existing networks across European learning institutions.
- To encourage a greater degree of co-operation amongst existing partners in practical exercises.
- To develop a European network for students in advertising and commercial communications education.
- To enable student chapters within educational institutions to work alongside academic and industry members.
- To develop a greater degree of pan-European industry and academic co-operation.
He added: “Over the past five years we have seen member institutions across Europe work on projects together; an annual student competition taking place; greater dialogue between creative and theoretical courses; and a genuine desire amongst members to push our agenda forward and get things done.
“Now we want to build on the work of the past five years and create greater opportunities for students through their involvement and our offers to them in terms of projects and networking opportunities.”
