PRII Certificate in Crisis Communications and Issues Management

This course will bring participants through an applied practical issues and crisis communications framework covering both the theory and practice. The structured modules include the development of stakeholder environment, risk assessment, the elements required to build crisis communication plans, the management of an issue or crisis and introduce reputational repair. The theory will be complemented by case studies and moderated discussions on key topics.

Featuring a live crisis simulation: The course features a live, in-person crisis simulation where participants handle real-time scenarios, are observed, and receive coaching and feedback on applying the course framework.

During the course participants will be building their own bespoke toolkit and crisis communications plan. One of the new elements in this updated course will see course participants undertaking reflective journaling to reinforce the learning objectives and learning outcomes.

Who is this course for?

Professionals charged with specific responsibility for communications planning, crisis planning and dealing with media within organisations, agencies, and the public service. This course will be of particular benefit to those responsible for media planning and interaction in more challenging and testing times.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes

This course will provide participants with a deeper understanding of the risk environment which can give rise to potential issues or crises, how create crisis communications plans, an approach to to test an organisation’s ability to respond to an issue or crisis through a simulated exercise and framework to manage communications at such a time: It will also:

Enhance your understanding & knowledge of dealing with issues, which can play out for organisations in the media, with the related public scrutiny;
Provide practical guidelines to assist in planning for crisis media events & issues management;
Highlight the absolute necessity to communicate with credibility & speed when confronted with unexpected media & public scrutiny;
Demonstrate the vital requirement of planning, teamwork & leadership in dealing with crisis situations & responding to issues which for whatever reason attain a public dimension;
Highlight the critical value of getting ‘your message' out there in either a crisis or issues management scenario;
Afford an opportunity to participate in realistic crisis & issues management exercises; and
The development an issues and crisis toolkit including a bespoke crisis communications plan.

Format

This PRII Certificate course will be delivered using a blended approach incorporating a number of delivery methods (live online lectures; video lectures; live online tutorials, student group work and self-directed learning).

This course will be taught by remote blended delivery incorporating a number of methods - video lectures; live session preparatory work in advance of live online sessions where participants will be encouraged to share their experiences and obtain feedback from the lecturer and guest speakers:

This will consist of:

A series of pre-recorded video lectures which you can watch in your own time;
Exercises to build issues and crisis communications toolkits bespoke to course participants’ needs;
Live online sessions to discuss the material covered in the videos:
Peer and expert review of issues and crisis communications tool development;
Interactive sessions with expert Guest Speakers;
Crisis communications simulation exercise; and
Learning materials available to students will include a dedicated course resource webpage hosting video lessons, notes, readings and references.

Crisis Simulation

A key component of the course will be the practical application of learning in a live in-person crisis simulation exercise. Participants will be given a scenario to deal with in real time. Participants will be observed as the situation unfolds and then receive coaching and feedback on the application of the framework as developed during the course.

Course Schedule

Monday, 08 September – Live online orientation & introduction class (Time TBC); and video lecture available
Saturday, 27 September – Live online class (10am – 12:30pm)
Monday, 29 September – Video lecture available
Saturday, 11 October – Live online class (10am – 12:30pm)
Monday, 13October – Video lecture available
Saturday, 01 November – Live online class (10am – 12:30pm)
Monday, 03 November – Video lecture available
Saturday, 15 November – Live online class (10am – 12:30pm)
Monday, 17 November – Video lecture available
Saturday, 29 November – Live Simulation Exercise (in person, Dublin City Centre, 9am to 2pm)

Assessment & Certification

Assessment is by continuous assessment taking account of attendance and participation in class.

Participants are encouraged to apply learning from the readings, modules and discussions and show how these apply to their own work situation and communications challenges.

Assessment for this course is comprised of three elements:

A reflective journal where the learner can record and reflect upon their observations and responses to each session’s learning, the crisis simulation exercise and the overall learning from the course.
Participants will be set exercises / tasks related with each session/module designed in a way that key elements of a Crisis Communication & Issues Management Resource for their organisation are developed as the course progresses.
On completion of the course participants will submit this overall (c 3,000 word) document for assessment and feedback.

This assignment must be completed and submitted by 5pm on Monday, 22 December 2025.

Accredited by the Public Relations Institute of Ireland – the professional body for communications and PR in Ireland, the PRII Certificate in Crisis Communication and Issues Management will be awarded on successful completion of the course assessments.