By Perez Karisa ,July 3, 2026
The 2026 Africa University Public Relations Challenge (AUPRC) is set to become the largest edition of the competition since its launch, bringing together 11 leading Kenyan universities alongside regional counterparts in a showcase of strategic communication, innovation and public relations excellence.
The competition will take place on August 25, 2026, at the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) in Nairobi and will serve as the official curtain-raiser for the Africa Global Public Relations Week (AGPRW) 2026, one of the continent’s premier communications conferences.
Organisers say the remarkable growth of the challenge—from just four participating institutions during its inaugural edition in 2025 to the current expanded field—reflects the increasing recognition of public relations as a critical profession and the growing demand for practical communication skills among university students.
USIU-Africa, the defending champions, will host this year’s competition while seeking to retain their title against a highly competitive field drawn from some of Kenya’s leading institutions of higher learning.
The participating Kenyan universities are USIU-Africa, the University of Nairobi, Strathmore University, Riara University, Mount Kenya University (MKU), Daystar University, St. Paul’s University, Zetech University, KCA University, Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU), and Kenyatta University. They will also compete against regional institutions, including the University of Johannesburg from South Africa, adding a continental dimension to the event.
This year’s competition revolves around the theme “Redefining Sustainable Growth,” challenging students to develop communication strategies that address contemporary business and sustainability issues facing organisations operating across Africa.
Teams of between three and five students will be tasked with creating a comprehensive public relations campaign for a fictional energy startup seeking to balance corporate accountability with ambitious pan-African expansion plans.
The scenario is designed to mirror real corporate challenges, requiring participants to address stakeholder engagement, corporate reputation, crisis communication, sustainability messaging, media relations, investor confidence, digital communication strategies and cross-border brand positioning.
Following the submission stage, shortlisted teams will pitch their communication campaigns live before a four-member panel of senior public relations and corporate communications professionals. Participants will be expected not only to present their strategies but also to defend their recommendations during question-and-answer sessions with the judges.
The judging panel will evaluate submissions based on strategic thinking, originality, creativity, quality of research, clarity of communication, presentation skills and the practicality of the proposed solutions. Judges will also assess each team’s ability to apply theoretical public relations concepts to realistic business situations.
Organisers believe the competition provides students with an opportunity to experience the pressures and expectations of professional consultancy work before entering the job market.
The challenge is organised in partnership with Glass House PR, one of Africa’s leading communications agencies, as part of broader efforts to bridge the gap between university education and the evolving needs of the communications industry.
Beyond the competition itself, participants stand to gain significant professional opportunities. Winning teams will receive mentorship from some of Africa’s top communications professionals, access to internship placements within leading organisations, industry networking opportunities and continental recognition for their achievements.
The competition has increasingly become a talent pipeline for employers seeking skilled graduates in public relations, corporate affairs, digital communications and strategic reputation management. Previous participants have gone on to secure internships and employment opportunities with multinational companies, public institutions, development organisations and leading communications agencies.
The event also complements the objectives of the Africa Global Public Relations Week, which brings together communication practitioners, academics, policymakers and business leaders to discuss emerging trends shaping the future of strategic communication across the continent.
With more universities participating than ever before, stronger regional representation and increasing industry involvement, the 2026 Africa University Public Relations Challenge is expected to showcase the next generation of African communications professionals while reinforcing the growing importance of strategic public relations in driving sustainable business growth across the continent.
