Public Relation and Information

Objectives

• Assisting DU units in their efforts to establish stronger links with the community.
• Contacting the media and providing them with news and Media about the University.
• Handling of University protocol in events and ceremonies.>
• Keeping abreast on all that is published in the media about the University, and maintaining a record of those publications.
• Producing publications such as booklets, bulletins, pamphlets, etc… about various programs of the University.
• Organizing conferences, symposiums, exhibitions, festivals, and ceremonies or participating in such activities.
• Responding to all the issues and queries brought up in the media in order to clarify the position and point of view of the University as a whole or any of its units.
• Designing and publishing University ads in the local and regional media.
• Preparing the programs for national and international visitors to the University, and arranging accommodations for them.
• Receiving DU guests from inside and outside the Sultanate, escorting them on field trips, providing them with needed Media and preparing schedules for their visits.

Sections

DPREC work is carried out by three sections each one is specializing in a related range of activities. The sections are:

• Public Relations Section
• Media Section

Public Relations

The aim of this section is to maintain excellent relations within various members of DU community on one hand and with various members of the local community in the city of Salalah, the Dhofar Region, Oman and abroad. It targets ensuring understanding and cooperation among DU and organizations in educational, cultural, economic and social activities.

Public Relations Functions:

Public Relations’ Role in the Internal and External Societies, referring to the significant role of Public Relations, it could be divided into two categories:

1. Internal Public Relations:

It involves the activities related with the Dhofar University internal society and is based on gaining their trust and understanding whether they were (academic staff, non-academic staff, or DU students). Internal PR works to give them a sense of belonging and encourages them to work as a team. To reach this goal, it has to use genuine media as well as other means such as gathering, meeting, flyers and a variety of activities in events with the help of the Media and Publications Sections.

2. External Public Relations:

It involves the activities related to the exchanged relationships between the University and the external public. The real role for external relations and its effectiveness lies in being able to support the needs of the external public through providing correct Media through the various forms of media to serve the public. Furthermore, it involves not only providing abundant Media , but it also involves getting feedback with every activity through distributing questionnaires or personal interviews.

Public Relations Units:

In order to improve its functions, the Public Relations section divides its work among specialized sub-units which are:

1. Coordination and Follow Up:

This sub-unit follows up the department mails, and prepares replies to all correspondence received from the University faculty and staff. It also supervises the department’s financial and other affairs.

2. Cultural and Social Activities:

This sub-unit supervises and follows up logistic arrangements for conferences, symposiums and exhibitions held in and outside the University. It also coordinates with the government, private institutions and corporations in the organization of their activities and organizes cultural, sport and social activities for its staff and their families in order to develop a healthy atmosphere and friendly relationship among its staff. The section plays a significant role in consolidating the University’s task in providing community services.

3. Protocol:

This sub-unit carries out the responsibilities of reception and housing formalities for the University’s guests. It also sets up programs of visits for guests according to their areas of interest. Furthermore, this section prepares profiles about the guests to be presented to the university’s vice chancellor. It also designs and distributes invitation cards for official events and ceremonies.

4. Housing:

This sub-unit assists staff and faculty in finding accommodation and cargo services for the staff.

5. Exhibitions:

This sub-unit is in charge of arranging and supervising the participation of the University in regional educational exhibitions. This comes under the University’s mission of finding a renowned educational institution not only nationally, but also regionally.

6. Booking:

This sub-unit is responsible for serving the University’s guests as well as the academic and administrative staff. Services take the form of hotel and flight booking. There is now a procedure for booking where a form has to be filled by the DU staff member who wishes to make a booking and sent to the PR Officer who will then contact the agency or hotel and forward the confirmation to the DU staff member.

7. External Public Relations:

This sub-unit aims to inform the local community of the University’s goal and the services and programs offered by the University. This is done through applying promotional strategies and developing them for the good of the University and the community within and outside it so that the University’s goals are clear. Examples of some promotional items are the DU t-shirts, caps, pens and plaques.

8. Visitors’’ Bureau:

This sub-unit aims to make all DU visitors welcome, through creating a well designed schedule for the visits according to the type of visitors, taking visitors on tours and making DU students part of the welcoming committee.

Media Section

The Media section aims at creating a positive image about the role of DU and its goals among within DU and among the public at large. It also seeks to communicate the university’s message, visions and goals across the campus and within the larger community and abroad. The Media sections provides media coverage about what’s happening inside the University like achievements, programs, scientific and cultural activities, and issues that are of concern to the University.

Media Section Units:

In order to improve its functions, the Media section divides its work among specialized sub-units which are:

1. Journalism:

This unit is responsible for the press coverage of the University’s news events and activities. It issues press releases and arranges for publicizing the University’s various activities in local newspapers.

2. Media:

This unit plays an active role in preparing television reports and documentary films about developments at the University; coordinates with Oman Television and Radio to arrange media coverage for the University’s events and activities. It is also in charge of disseminating Media through the DU website on the Internet.

3. Publishing and Press:

This sub-unit edits designs and publishes the University’s news bulletin covering the university’s events, news and developments targeted at a wide range of readers from both within and outside the University. It also edits designs and publishes scientific journals, magazines, brochures, annual reports and a variety of special publications. The procedure for news coverage is as follows: the party who is organizing an event fills a form and sends it to the Media Officer who contacts the media depending on what type of coverage is required.

4. Advertising:

This sub-unit is in charge of promoting the University through publishing advertisements about it in newspapers and magazines or through airing commercials on radio or TV. This helps acquaint the public about the various programs provided by the University in addition to application and registration deadlier and procedures.