Nairobi, 2nd July, 2026 – The stage is set for a thrilling showdown of creativity, strategy and communications excellence as eleven leading universities from across East and Southern Africa prepare to compete in the Africa University Public Relations Challenge (AUPRC) 2026, scheduled for August 25, 2026, in Nairobi.
The competition, which takes place on the eve of the highly anticipated Africa Global Public Relations Week (AGPRW) 2026, has recorded remarkable growth, attracting eleven institutions compared to just four universities that participated in the inaugural edition in 2025.
The participating universities are:
• United States International University – Africa (USIU-Africa)
• Strathmore University
• Riara University
• Mount Kenya University (MKU)
• St. Paul’s University (SPU)
• University of Johannesburg
• Zetech University
• KCA University
• Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU)
• University of Nairobi (UoN)
• Daystar University
The challenge seeks to bridge the gap between academia and industry by providing students with an opportunity to demonstrate their strategic communications, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills in a real-world public relations environment.
Returning as the Academic Partner for the second consecutive year is Aga Khan University, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing the next generation of communication professionals across the continent.
Dr. Caroline Kiarie, Assistant Professor of Strategic Communications at Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media, has welcomed the significant increase in participation, noting that it reflects the growing importance of public relations education in Africa.
“The growth of the Africa University Public Relations Challenge from four institutions to eleven in just one year demonstrates the increasing interest among students and universities in strategic communication as a profession. This platform provides young practitioners with an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to practical industry challenges while engaging with some of the leading minds in the profession. We are proud to continue supporting this initiative as the Academic Partner,” says Dr. Kiarie.
The 2026 challenge will be adjudicated by a distinguished panel of four industry experts, who will evaluate participants on strategic thinking, creativity, presentation skills, research and the overall quality of their proposed communication solutions.
“The calibre and diversity of universities participating this year is a testament to the growing maturity of public relations education in Africa. Beyond identifying winners, this challenge is about nurturing future leaders who will shape how organisations, governments and communities communicate in an increasingly complex world,” notes Alex Owiti, AUPRC 2026 Judge.
Organisers say the competition has rapidly evolved into one of the continent’s most exciting platforms for identifying emerging communications talent while fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
The challenge will serve as a precursor to Africa Global Public Relations Week (AGPRW) 2026, which will bring together communication professionals, policymakers, business leaders, academics and students from across Africa and beyond to discuss the future of strategic communication, reputation management and Africa’s global narrative.
With eleven universities, four judges and some of the continent’s brightest communication students in attendance, the 2026 edition promises to be a true battle of titans and a celebration of Africa’s next generation of public relations professionals.
