Are Public Relation Strategies Useful for Ghanaian Public Universities: An Exploratory Inquiry on the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14738/abr.107.12317Keywords:
Public relation, public universities, exploratory inquiry, communication, Ghana.Abstract
Universities in the twenty-first century must use successful public relations methods to communicate with both external and internal audiences. Ghana's public universities are dedicated to change, which necessitates the creation of public relations techniques to increase student enrolment. The exploratory inquiry was used in this study. The consequences of public relations tactics on public relations strategies at Ghanaian public universities are examined in this paper. Based on the existing literature, it is concluded that public universities use a variety of marketing public relations strategies to increase student enrollment, including television advertising, radio advertising and web page information. However, there is still room for improvement, and practical recommendations are made.
References
Attride-Stirling, J. (2001). Thematic networks: an analytic tool for qualitative research. Qualitative research, 1(3), 385–405.
Arjun, B. (2019). Digitalization in economy and innovation: The effect on social and economic processes. Polish Journal of Management Studies, 19, 22–3. doi:10.17512/pjms.2019.19.2.02
Boening, C. H., & Miller, M. T. (2005). New student orientation programs promoting diversity. Community College Enterprise, 11(2), 41–50.
Bontrager, B. (2004). Strategic enrollment management: Core strategies and best practices. College and University Journal, 79(4), 9–15.
Brooks, S. (2015). Using campus-based financial aid strategically. In D. Hossler & B. Bontrager (Eds.), Handbook of Strategic Enrollment Management (pp. 213–227). John Wiley and Sons.
Brown, G., & Gross, J. (2015). Budgets, aid, and enrollments. In D. Hossler & B. Bontrager (Eds.), Handbook of strategic enrollment management (pp. 228–244). John Wiley and Sons.
Bruning, S. (2002). Relationship building as a retention strategy: Linking relationship attitudes and satisfaction evaluations to behavioral outcomes. Public Relations Review, 28(1), 39– 48. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0363-8111(02)00109-1
Carter, S., & Yeo, C. M. A. (2009). My place or yours? Perceptions of, and selection choice criteria for, higher education institutions: The case of UK and Malaysian students. International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 1(2), 165–190. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEBR.2009.024017
Chekmareva, L. (2013). SEM in central asia: A look at professional needs in the region. Strategic Enrollment Management Quarterly, 1(1), 52–54. https://doi.org/10.1002/sem3.20004
Curs, B. (2008). The effects of institutional merit-based aid on the enrollment decisions of needy students. Enrollment Management Journal, 2(1), 10–31.
Cergin, S & Garvey, N. Ahlburg, D., & McCall, B. (2002). Simulating the longitudinal effects of changes in financial aid on student departure from college. The Journal of Human Resources, 37(3), 653–679. https://doi.org/10.2307/3069685
Dolence, M. (2003). Strategic enrollment management: A primer for campus administrators. American Assoication of Collegiate Registrar’s and Admission Officers.
Dhaffee, S. H. (2001). Explication (Vol. 1). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Fornell, C. (2007). A second generation of multivariate analysis: Classification of methods and implications for marketing research. In M. J. Houston (Ed.), Review of marketing (pp. 407– 450). Chicago, IL: American Marketing Association.
Gass, M., Garvey, D., & Sugerman, D. (2003). The long-term effects of a first-year student wilderness orientation program. The Journal of Experimental Education, 26(1), 34–40. https:// doi.org/10.1177/105382590302600106
Gioia, D. A., Corley, K. G., & Hamilton, A. L. (2013). Seeking qualitative rigor in inductive research: Notes on the Gioia methodology. Organizational Research Methods, 16(1), 15– 31. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428112452151
Gottheil, S. (2015). Walking the walk together: Implementing SEM to enhance the student experience. Strategic Enrollment Management Quarterly, 2(4), 250–258. https://doi.org/10. 1002/sem3.20052
Grunig, J. (2015). Foreword. In E.-J. Ki, J.-N. Kim, & J. A. Ledingham (Eds.), Public relations as relationship management: A relational approach to the study and practice of public relations (2nd ed., pp. xxiii–xxvii). New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.
Grunig, J. E., & Huang, Y. (2000). From organizational effectiveness to relationship indicators: Antecedents of relationships, public relations strategies, and relationship outcomes. In J. A. Ledingham, & S. D. Bruning (Eds.), Public relations as relationship management (pp. 23–54). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Hagedorn, L., Maxwell, W., & Fillpot, J. (2000). Peer and student-faculty relations in community colleges. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 24(7), 587–598. https://doi.org/10.1080/10668920050139730
Hallahan, W. (2011). Enhancing Quality in Assessment. London: British Educational Research Association.
Hayes, T. (2015). Admissions and recruitment marketing. In D. Hossler & B. Bontrager (Eds.), Handbook of strategic enrollment management (pp. 103–123). John Wiley and Sons.
Hector, G. (2016). The “new normal” continues to affect institutions. Strategic Enrollment Management Quarterly, 4(3), 105–116. https://doi.org/10.1002/sem3.20089
Helgesen, Ø. (2008). Marketing for higher education: A relationship marketing approach. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 18(1), 50–78. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 08841240802100188
Henderson, S. (2014). SEM leadership: Inspiration and perspiration. Strategic Enrollment Management Quarterly, 2(1), 3–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/sem3.20030
Hirschy, A. (2015). Models of student retention and persistence. In D. Hossler & B. Bontrager (Eds.), Handbook of strategic enrollment management (pp. 268–288). John Wiley and Sons.
Hossler, D. (2014). Trends in Strategic Enrollment Management. In Handbook of Strategic Enrollment Management (pp. 549–564). John Wiley & Sons.
Huang, Y. C., & Zhang, Y. (2015). Revisiting organization-public relations research for the past decade: Theoretical concepts, measures, methodologies, and challenges. In E.-J. Ki, J.-N. Kim, & J. A. Ledingham (Eds.), Public relations as relationship management: A relational approach to the study and practice of public relations (2nd ed., pp. 3–27). New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.
Huang, Y. H. (2001). OPRA: A cross-cultural, multiple-item scale for measuring organization- public relationships. Journal of Public Relations Research, 13, 61–90. doi:10.1207/S1532754XJPRR1301_4
Hung, C. J. F. (2007). Toward the theory of relationship management in public relations: How to cultivate quality relationships. In E. L. Toth (Ed.), The future of excellence in public relations and communication management: Challenges for the next generation (pp. 443– 476). Mahwah, NJ: Routledge.
Jo, S. (2006). Measurement of organization-public relationships: Validation of measurement using a manufacturer retailer relationship. Journal of Public Relations Research, 18, 225–248. doi:10.1207/s1532754xjprr1803_2
Kang, M., & Yang, S.-U. (2010). Mediation effects of organization-public relationship outcomes on public intentions for organizational supports. Journal of Public Relations Research, 22(4), 477–494.
Kelleher, T. (2009). Conversational voice, communicated commitment, and public relations outcomes in interactive online communication. Journal of Communication, 59, 172–188. doi:10.1111/jcom.2009.59. issue-1
Kotler, G & Armstrong, S. (2009). Outcomes of planned organizational change in the public sector: A meta-analytic comparison to the private sector. Public Administration Review, 55, 547–558
Kotler, G. & Keller, J. (2007). Developing marketing strategy for the not-for-profit sector. Library Management, 13(4), 6–22
Ki, E.-J., & Hon, L. C. (2009). A measure of relationship cultivation strategies. Journal of Public Relations Research, 21, 1–24. doi:10.1080/10627260802520488
Kim, Y. (2001). Searching for the organization-public relationship: A valid and reliable instrument. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 78, 799–815.
Ledingham, J. A. (2003). Explicating relationship management as a general theory of public relations. Journal of Public Relations Research, 15, 181–198. doi:10.1207/S1532754XJPRR1502_4
Mathwick, C., & Rigdon, E. (2004). Play, flow, and the online search experience. Journal of Consumer Research, 31, 324–332. doi:10.1086/422111
Ministry of Education (1996). The Development of Education 1994-1996. National Report from Ghana to International Conference on Education. Forty-fifth sessions, Geneva. Ministry of Education, Accra. Ghana.
Ministry of Education (2018). Final Report of the Sub-committee on Assessment at Basic Education level. Accra. Ghana.
Mustafa, D., & Al- Abdallah, D. (2020). Enrollment management and financial aid: Seeking a strategic integration. College and University, 84(1), 2–11
Porter, L. V., & Sallot, L. M. (2003). The Internet and public relations: Investigating practitioners’ roles and World Wide Web use. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 80, 603– 622. doi:10.1177/107769900308000308
Saleh, B. (2017). A longitudinal study of changes in marketing practices at private Christian colleges. Journal of Marketing for High Education, 19(1), 26–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 08841240902904596
Sallot, L. M., Lyon, L. J., Acosta-Alzuru, C., & Jones, K. O. (2003). From aardvark to zebra: A new millennium analysis of theory development in public relations academic journals. Journal of Public Relations Research, 15, 27–90. doi:10.1207/S1532754XJPRR1501_2
Sha, B., & Toth, E. L. (2005). Future professionals’ perceptions of work, life, and gender issues in public relations. Public Relations Review, 31, 93–99. doi:10.1016/j.pubrev.2004.09.004
Stafford, L., & Canary, D. J. (2001). Maintenance strategies and romantic relationship type, gender and relational characteristics. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 8, 217–242. doi:10.1177/0265407591082004
Sweetser, K. D. (2015). Exploring the political organization-public relationship in terms of relationship, personality, loyalty, and outcomes among first-time voters. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 9, 217–234. doi:10.1080/1553118X.2014.979350
University of Education, Winneba [UEW] (2003, May). Corporate strategic plan of the University of Education, Winneba (2003-2008). Winneba: University Press.
University of Education, Winneba [UEW] (2021). Vice-chancellor’s annual report to council: The way forward of the University of Education, Winneba. Winneba: University Press.
World Bank Database. (2018). World bank database, financial access survey. Retrieved on April 24 2020 from https://databank. worldbank.org/reports. aspx? source=2&series =FB. ATM. TOTL.P5
Yang, S. U., Kang, M., & Cha, H. (2015). A study on dialogic communication, trust, and distrust: Testing a scale for measuring organization–public dialogic communication (OPDC). Journal of Public Relations Research, 27, 175–192. doi:10.1080/1062726X.2015.1007998
Yin, E. (1998) Case Study Research: Design and Methods (2nd ed), Saga Publishers.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 George Kankam
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.