Why Join IPRM?
Established in 1962, the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia (IPRM) was initiated by a group of practitioners from the public and private sectors. The main objective of the Institute is to advance the interests of public relations as a profession in Malaysia and to enhance the quality of deliverables of practitioners in the fraternity.
Today, IPRM stands as a pivotal institution shaping the landscape of public relations in our country. Notably, IPRM achieved a significant milestone in 2005 by producing the first group of 50 Accredited Public Relations practitioners. In this context, IPRM will continue to intensify its commitment to train and develop public relations practitioners to advance their professionalism and best practices.
The Institute has also expanded its membership base through the setting up of chapters, namely in Penang and Johor in Peninsular Malaysia, and in Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, where practitioners organise their own networking programs or activities.
From time to time, IPRM organises various activities such as gatherings to foster understanding and friendship among members, and holding seminars, conferences and tea talks for knowledge sharing. Recently the Institute introduced ChaLK (Chat, Listen and Knowledge Sharing) that has since become a brand name for IPRM. This is an informal talk session held with companies, agencies, or institutions of higher learning, to build relations and foster networking among practitioners.
Another significant public relations program that has now become an annual event is the Kuala Lumpur International Public Relations Conference (KLIP) hosted by World Communications KL and IPRM with participation from public relations practitioners from abroad, including Global Alliance and ASEAN Public Relations Network (APRN), thereby providing opportunities for global networking.
The Global Capability Framework, which was launched on 18 February 2022 was another significant milestone to improve the performance of practitioners within the Malaysian context. This in the long run would stand to benefit practitioners.
The appointment of IPRM’s current President Jaffri Amin Osman, as an executive board member of the Switzerland-based Global Alliance (GA), augurs well for IPRM to gain international exposure and to be accorded global credentials. It also provides a platform for IPRM members, especially young professionals, to participate in several programs involving GA on education, training, and professionalism held annually.
As a professional body, IPRM plays a role in advocating the Code of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct for the public relations profession that sets the standards for ethical and professional practice for its members and as a guideline for the industry. To further commit public relations practitioners to the industry’s best practices, IPRM has started working on Charter status and Accreditation. Both Charter status and Accreditation demonstrate professionalism and accountability on the practitioner’s part, and affirm IPRM’s role in providing guidance, training, and setting a benchmark for the public relations industry in Malaysia.
The recent launching of The Museum of Public Relations in New York through Global Alliance that saw IPRM being included as one of the public relations national bodies across the globe, linked officially to the museum, augured well for the Institute.
Benefits
1. Provide Education and Training
As part of its obligation towards the profession, IPRM’s partners and supports higher learning institutions to conduct Public Relations Examinations at the Certificate and Diploma Programme. Individuals can enroll at any of the approved local institutions preparing candidates for these examinations.
2. Promotes Career Development
An important responsibility of IPRM is to ensure that there are adequate opportunities for preparing men and women to enter the Public Relations profession and for helping those already in the profession to enhance their careers and to keep abreast of the developments in the industry. Mentor, men tee programme is another career development benefit by the Institute.
3. Recognition Through Association
Association with IPRM provides opportunity for recognition beyond your own organization. By participating in our trainings, programmes and activities, you increase your marketability not only within your own organization but also in the government and corporate sector.
4. Offers Opportunity For Networking
An opportunity to network among practitioners and share knowledge and experiences for overall development of the profession. IPRM not only offers opportunities to network amongst its members but also globally through seminars and conferences conducted by the Institute through its association with Global partners
5. Accredited Public Relations Practitioner
The opportunity to be an Accredited Member and recognized as a professional Public Relations Practitioners in the industry.
6. Training Courses
An opportunity to participate in various continuous development programmes and trainings throughout the year conducted by the Institute.
7. Other Benefits
- Receive and contribute to “IPRM Newsbytes”, the monthly newsletter of the IPRM
- Use the library facilities at the IPRM Secretariat.
- An opportunity to facilitate public relations research via our Institute of Public Relations Student Association at public and private universities and colleges.
- To exposure to an updated who’s who in public relations database for business and career opportunities.
Corporate Membership
Corporate membership shall be open to corporate bodies or associations having headquarters or registered offices in Malaysia whose applications for membership are acceptable to the Council.
Individual Membership
Fellow Member Associate Affiliate Student Member
Honorory Member
In special circumstances, the Council shall be empowered to confer Honorary Membership upon a person(s) from within or outside the Institute, in recognition of outstanding services to the profession.
Requirements
- Open to all corporate bodies or associations having a headquarters or registered office in Malaysia whose application of membership are acceptable to the Council.
Special Privilege:
- Corporate Member shall receive two copies of each of the Institute publications;
- Corporate Member shall be entitled to be represented at conferences, meetings, facility visits and other functions organized by the Institute by two persons who shall be subject to the same conditions governing each event as may be applicable to members;
- Corporate Member shall be entitled to Corporate Membership Certificate and to use the ordinary facilities of the Institute.
i) Fellow:
- The Council may confer Fellowship upon members in recognition of outstanding Public Relations work either within or outside the Institute.
- Nominations for Fellowships may also be considered by the Council when made by at least two Fellows.
- No members shall be elected to Fellowship unless two third of the total membership of the Council vote in favor of such election.
ii) Member:
- Citizens of Malaysia and / persons normally resident in Malaysia who have had at least five years of comprehensive experience in Public Relations practice and satisfy the Council that they posses a sound understanding of the principles of Public Relations and that they are prepared to undertake its practice as defined by the Code of Professional Conduct of IPRM; and
- Citizens of Malaysia and / persons normally resident in Malaysia who have passed the Diploma Examination as decided by the Council or which, in the opinion of the Council; would constitute its equivalent examination and have at least one year’s comprehensive experience in the practice of public relations as defined by the Council.
- Members shall be entitled to use the letters ‘MIPR’ with their name and to exercise full voting rights in the affairs of the Institute.
iii) Associate:
- Citizens of Malaysia and/or persons normally resident in Malaysia who, for a minimum period of one year, have been professionally engaged in Public Relations at the time of their application and whose application is acceptable to the Council.
- Associate Member shall be entitled to use the initials ‘AMIPR’ with their name and to exercise full voting rights in the affairs of the Institute.
iv) Affiliate:
- Citizens of Malaysia and / or persons normally resident in Malaysia who is associated with or interested in the practice of public relations and whose application is acceptable to the Council.
- Such persons shall not be entitled to put any letters or description after their name or to vote in the affairs of the Institute.
v) Student Member:
- Citizen of Malaysia and/ or persons normally resident in Malaysia who is above the age of 18 and pursuing a course of study in an Institute of higher learning in the country who is interested in the practice of Public Relations as a future career.
- This category of member shall not be entitled to put any letters or description after their name or vote in the affairs of the Institute.
vi) Honorary Member:
- In special circumstances, the Council shall be empowered to confer Honorary Membership upon a person(s) from within or outside the Institute, in recognition of outstanding services to the profession.
- Nominations for Honorary Membership shall be considered, provided they are made by at least two Fellows or Members, one of whom shall be a member of the Council.
- No person shall be elected to Honorary Membership unless at least two third of the full Council vote in favour of such election.