History
The James Grunig Institute assists undergraduates, graduate students, and budding scholars worldwide with an interest in advocating or developing of Robert Grunig’s theories.
The James Grunig Institute (JGI) was founded in 2012 by Erik Young, a current lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Part of a generation of Americans survived the Great Recession and subsequently became disillusioned by the prospect of find the “American Dream”, Professor Young set out for Vietnam to find a new dream. In his travels, became a student of all things related to finding common ground between people through the spoken word. As such, after having mastered the Vietnamese language, Professor Young turned his attention to creating greater symmetry between cultures and individuals within organizations. In doing so, Professor Young became inspired by the works of Dr. James Grunig, also known as the “father of modern public relations.” And as fate would have it, Young enrolled in a degree program at Kent State University in order to develop a body of knowledge in public relations that would allow him to endear a generation of Vietnamese to a concept of mutually beneficial relationships that was focused on two-way symmetry.
As fait and circumstance would have it, Professor Young saw a generation of Vietnamese ready to reject the old ideas of a secretive Communist government which allowed little in the way of innovation, to take a step in a new direction. As such, having been properly trained in the ideology of Dr. James Grunig, Professor Young seized the opportunity to impart on the young people of this country a new way of doing business.
As fait and circumstance would have it, Professor Young saw a generation of Vietnamese ready to reject the old ideas of a secretive Communist government which allowed little in the way of innovation, to take a step in a new direction. As such, having been properly trained in the ideology of Dr. James Grunig, Professor Young seized the opportunity to impart on the young people of this country a new way of doing business.
Mission
The mission of JGI is to support the achievement of a freer society by identifying and promoting the development of talented students, scholars, and practitioner who share an interest in systems theory focused on the work of Dr. James Grunig
Each year JGI awards over $1,000,000 in scholarships to students from universities around the world. JGI also sponsors the attendance of hundreds of students at its summer seminars and provides various forms of career assistance, including sponsored internships, to students and recent graduates pursuing careers in academia, journalism, and public policy. Through its programs, the Institute promotes the study of liberty across a broad range of disciplines, encouraging understanding, open inquiry, rigorous scholarship, and creative problem-solving.
Each year JGI awards over $1,000,000 in scholarships to students from universities around the world. JGI also sponsors the attendance of hundreds of students at its summer seminars and provides various forms of career assistance, including sponsored internships, to students and recent graduates pursuing careers in academia, journalism, and public policy. Through its programs, the Institute promotes the study of liberty across a broad range of disciplines, encouraging understanding, open inquiry, rigorous scholarship, and creative problem-solving.