Laying the foundation for a global body of knowledge in public relations and communications management

- High degree of matching in knowledge (K), skills (S), abilities (A), and behaviours (B) found across international credentialing, education frameworks, and scholarly articles is evidence that a global body of knowledge in public relations is possible and necessary.
- This document establishes a foundational benchmark of knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviours which entry and mid/senior-level practitioners across geographies and cultures should possess.
- This GBOK has potential for use as a framework or checklist for credentialing schemes and academic curriculums in public relations across the world.

An internationally recognised body of knowledge is both possible and necessary for the future success and professionalisation of public relations. Through extensive content analysis of 31 credential schemes, education frameworks, and scholarly articles produced across six continents, the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communications Management has developed a foundational list of knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviours (KSABs), which entry and mid/senior-level practitioners across the world should possess. This study and list of KSABs is laying the foundation for development of an internationally accepted framework which professional associations and academic institutions across the world will be able to use to benchmark professional credentials and curriculum outcomes.