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RiseUp PR + 2023 launched with 5 national comms colleges to empower knowledge: PRmoment, Hill+Knowlton Strategies India

In August 2022, Hill and Knowlton Strategies India and PRmoment India started planning a unique initiative that would enable learning for PR students through a case study competition. The aim was two-fold: to help expose PR students to a process that takes them through the latest thinking about communications and bring talent from beyond the main metros to mainstream attention.

One 2-member team from each of the 5 national participating colleges are taking part in the first edition of RiseUP PR + 2023. 

These colleges are:

IIMC Delhi, Delhi 
IIMC Dhenkanal, Odisha
Jagran Lakecity University Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Indira School of Communications Pune, Maharashtra 
The Prestige University of Management Indore, Madhya
Pradesh 


Abhishek Gulyani, the CEO, of Hill and Knowlton Strategies India, said,
 "At Hill and Knowlton Strategies India, we believe that hands-on learning is the key to success in the PR industry. That's why we're excited to launch the RiseUp PR + 2023 program, which utilizes the case study method to empower students with real-world experience and critical thinking skills. 

This program will be a game-changer for PR students: Abhishek Gulyani

With Rise Up PR, students will have the opportunity to analyze complex PR challenges and develop innovative solutions, giving them a distinct advantage in their careers. We're confident that this program will be a game-changer for PR students, and we can't wait to see the impact this will have on the industry." 

The competition has a unique two-step process. The participants received hands-on guidance about how to construct a campaign plan ( in response to a provided case study) from a stellar list of mentors drawn from inside and outside the communications industry.

The RiseUp PR + 2023 mentors are:

Deeptie Sethi, CEO, PRCAI

Amandeep Arora, head of communications, Enkash

Ridhima Mehra, corporate communication & PR lead, Philips Domestic Appliances

Rimjhim Ray, vice president, marketing, MyOperator

Aashish Washikar, public relations, InMobi

Gunjan Mukherjee, practice lead - corporate & brand, Hill and Knowlton Strategies

Megha Bahal, senior account director, Hill and Knowlton Strategies 

The participants are currently working on their campaign presentation which they will pitch to the following top-flight RiseUp PR + 2023 jury in the last week of February:

Bhavya Sharma, director of communications and ESG, Urban Company

Bhavna Imran, communications leader - South Asia Communications Leader - Corteva Agriscience

Kavita Doshi, head- of corporate and digital communications, NASSCOM 

Rajalakshmi Azariah, head, corporate brand and Communications, Diageo India

Mona Kwatra, advisory board member- TISS Centre of Excellence in Teachers Education 

Iliana Perez, VP, of global strategic development, Hill and Knowlton Strategies 

Abhishek Gulyani, CEO, Hill and Knowlton Strategies India 

Multi-stakeholder PR talent programme 

The jury will pick the top 3 winners, with the top winning team receiving Rs. 75,000/- in prize money. 

This unites India's professional PR circuit: Moushumi Dutt

Moushumi Dutt, RiseUP PR+200 director said, "This initiative is innovative on many fronts and an idea of many firsts. This to my knowledge is the very first time, which unites India's professional PR circuit to give an incredible opportunity to students and future PR talent, it is also unique in that aspect that the program has been equally well supported by the PR fraternity who have come forward to share their experience with these students who are right now studying mass communications."

Dutt added, "This initiative from Hill and Knowlton will, I hope, give all the new and fresh PR professionals a taste of what actually makes this space an exciting function which has good career prospects. This is why the role of our mentors and our jury is very important and all their guidance and tips and a few tricks too will indeed be the biggest takeaway for all our participants who have come on board for the first edition of this contest. It is about time that we raise the participation of our very diverse and hugely talented PR resources, RiseUP PR+ is the very first step taken in the right direction."

The final winners will be announced in early March.

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