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What We Did
Since 2015, small teams of Media and Communication undergraduates have been teaming up with businesses, non-profits in Canterbury to provide them analysis, plans and how-to guides, as well as content, to help them meet their social media goals. Some students have surveyed particular audiences to identify challenges for the partner reaching them and current weak or non-existent connections. Others have conducted social media audits to analyse the success or shortcomings of existing communication strategies and practices. Others have developed communication plans and draft content for particular projects. The work is supervised by a UC academic and builds on classroom-based learning on social media theory and practice.
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Who Was Involved
About 25 partners are involved each year. They include the largest employers in region, including corporates, iwi, local authorities and health and education providers, as well as community groups, small businesses and entrepreneurs.
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Why It Matters
Many organisations do not have the time, expertise or confidence to develop a social media presence. Or they may be at risk of being misheard or ignored because of their current approach. Or they may not know where to start in adapting. Through these microprojects the university supports its community, at the same time as students engage in rich, experiential learning in which their conceptual knowledge of communication meets the practicalities of meeting the needs of a client. Ultimately, these small projects work because mutual learning takes place as students learn about work and organisations learn more about social media.
