Exploring the pedagogical outcomes of service learning in international public relations education

The present study examines an innovation in service learning that amplifies the pedagogical outcomes for international public relations students. Approximately 12 public relations and advertising majors (six seniors and six juniors) participated in the international service learning project involving the development of public relations strategies for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Washington, DC, USA. Student reflections were collected over a period of 18 months. The results parallel the findings of the longitudinal study conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) on the impact of community-based service learning. The implications of introducing international service learning to public relations education are also discussed.