Public relations education the implementation of EUPRERA PR course survey in Turkey

The focus of this study is the Public Relations education in Turkey and Europe. The importance of such a study rises from two facts. First, there is a huge migration from east to west and this creates the necessity of similarity in the content of the education, if not in the systems. Second, Turkey is about to be a candidate for full membership to European Union (EU) which brings the need to recognize the similarities and differences in the professional education. To find out the content of PR education, officers from Turkish Universities were contacted and academic programmes were collected. Second the analysis of these programmes was compared with the results of The EUPRERA Survey of PR education among EU member countries. The findings show that there is almost no similarity in the content of public relations education, between Turkey and EU member countries. Besides, there is no harmony among the member countries. The number of the common courses is less then a hand's fingers. For an association that works for a great unity, the education system should be a good point to start. However, it seems that education system is tried to be kept the same and unique to each country, instead of forming a single system. If necessary Turkey has to wait to see the progress in the Union, before making changes in the current system and content. Still, the aim and methodology of this study of PR can give insight to researchers who want to contribute to the EU adaptation process, by means of education. Key Words: Public Relations, Education, Public Relations Education in Turkey, EUPRERA, Public Relations Academic Programmes. vm