Introductory Course (MOOC) to Church Communications (2nd edition)

The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross offers a free online course (MOOC), entitled: "Institutional Communication of the Church: Management, Media Relations and Digital Strategy.” The activity is open to all and will be offered in Italian, Spanish and English. The first module of the course will open on May 30, 2022, and the remaining three modules in the following three weeks (June 6, 13 and 20). To enroll, you must open an account in the online learning platform, from which you can access the course. The course will be available until July 25.

The aim of the course is to provide a basic knowledge of the Institutional Communication of the Church, from the skills of the Director of Communication to the strategies of the department; from management to interaction with external audiences and media relations; and with a focus on the presence of the Church in social networks.

The recipients of the course are people working in the field of Church Communication who wish to receive further training, collaborators of dioceses or other Church institutions in the field of communication, rectors of seminaries and heads of Church institutions with managerial duties, alumni (former students) of the Faculty who take the course as an ongoing educational activity, pastoral workers in communication and potential students interested in studying Institutional Communication.

Content of the modules

The course is divided into 4 teaching units that will require an approximate commitment of 2-3 hours per week. The activities can be followed at any time of day.

For more information you can contact us by e-mail:
>> mooc.churchcom [at] pusc.it (subject: Corso%20online%20MOOC%20della%20Facolt%C3%A0%20di%20CSI, body: Dear%20Secretariat%2C%0A%0A) (Click here) <<

The first unit has an introductory character and will cover topics such as the competencies of the communication department; the qualities and tasks of the Director of Communication; the difference between internal and external audiences; and some proposals for crisis communication. The speaker will be Prof. Daniel Arasa.

The second module focuses on Communication and Management. The reputation of the organization, leadership, the structure of the communications department and its relationships with other departments will be some of the topics Prof. Marc Carroggio will talk about.

The third module will focus on External Communication and the relationship with the media. Prof. Giovanni Tridente will explain the importance of cultivating the relationship with the media, the evolution of the press office in the digital era and communication through events, among other topics.

The fourth and final module is dedicated to presence in the digital sphere. Prof. Juan Narbona will suggest some strategic elements to communicate through social networks in an effective way that respects the identity of the institution.

The course assistants are José María Díaz Dorronsoro, Gema Bellido, Bernadette O'Brien and Daniele Sebastianelli.

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What are MOOCS?

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are educational activities promoted by the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross that take place entirely online.

- Massive: open indiscriminately to thousands of participants;
- Open: anyone can be admitted and course materials can be shared freely as they are copyright-free;
- Online: held entirely online without the need for physical presence;
- Courses: the course syllabus is structured in multiple sessions; there can be more than one course in the same curriculum  with an official certificate.

To whom are they addressed

The MOOCs of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross are open to all and are useful in particular for:

-students who want to gain basic knowledge in order to better approach their university studies in their respective faculties;
-alumni of the Holy Cross, as a "formative accompaniment" even in the period following the completion of their studies;
-working students, who might integrate it with training activities offered live;
-anyone wishing to grow in knowledge that can be useful for professional activity or continuing education in the disciplines that characterize the academic offerings of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

How a MOOC is structured

Each MOOC has a calendar of activities, distributed over several weeks. In each week you will have to follow the video lessons (each lasting 3-15 minutes), take a self-assessment test, consult the materials proposed by the teacher and participate on the forum to ask questions or interact with other participants.

The MOOCs of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross do not grant university credits. However, a certificate of attendance will be issued upon completion of the activities.

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