Rewrite Climate Change: IABC Philippines and COMCO School of Communications Launch Communications Olympiad

IABC Philippines, the local chapter of the global network for business communicators, and COMCO School of Communications, the education arm of the award-winning COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, have partnered to launch the inaugural Communications Olympiad in the Philippines.

This nationwide program is designed for students pursuing degrees in Mass Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Advertising, Digital Marketing, and other related fields.

What is the Communications Olympiad?

The Communications Olympiad aims to empower the next generation of communicators by providing hands-on experience and valuable knowledge that directly applies to real-world situations. The competition will take students through a transformative learning journey, featuring practical exercises and a competition designed to refine their communication skills.

As part of this initiative, COMCO Mundo, a recognized leader in talent development, is expanding its educational efforts by collaborating with IABC Philippines. This comes off the heels of COMCO Mundo's win of the prestigious 2024 Global IABC Gold Quill Award for Communication Training and Education, which highlights the organization’s commitment to communication education.

The Communications Olympiad will serve as a unique learning experience distinct from other student competitions like the Philippine Student Quill Awards. While the Student Quill Awards focus on performance and competitive recognition, the Olympiad centers on learning, hands-on training, and development through a guided experience.

Theme for the Inaugural Olympiad: ‘Rewrite Climate Change’

This year’s Communications Olympiad will revolve around the theme: "Rewrite Climate Change". The focus is not on scientific solutions but on reshaping the narrative and practices surrounding climate change through effective communication. Students will be tasked with crafting stories that inform, educate, and inspire audiences, emphasizing advocacy and storytelling’s role in driving awareness and changing behaviors.

As the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change, yet contributes minimally to global emissions, it provides a crucial perspective on the issue. The goal of the Olympiad is to create communication strategies that can be applied on a national scale for a sustainable future.

The Learning Journey: Training, Activities, and Competition

The Communications Olympiad will unfold in three phases: the Qualifier Phase, the Elimination Round, and the Grand Championship.

Qualifier Phase: Each academic institution can send one team of five undergraduate students. Teams will include a project leader, writer, designer, head researcher, and lead presenter. Participants will submit a position paper by March 14, 2025. The 30 most outstanding entries will move on to the Elimination Round.

Elimination Round: Participants will undergo training in areas like Best Practices in Communications, Role of Communications in Environmental Conservation, and Innovations in Communications. After the training, they will create a 10-slide communication plan in 24 hours, which will be evaluated to determine the top finalists.

Grand Championship: The final stage will feature the top 15 finalists competing for medals and the title of Communications Olympiad Grand Champion. The top 3 finalists will present their communication plans to a jury of industry experts. Winners will receive exciting prizes and a prestigious trophy for their school.

Call for Sponsors and Partners

IABC Philippines and COMCO School of Communications are seeking sponsorships and partnerships from companies, brands, media outlets, and student organizations. Sponsors can participate as co-presenters or supporters, while media groups and student organizations can join as official partners.

Interested parties are encouraged to contact communicationsolympiad@comcomundo.com for further details.

Messages from IABC Philippines and COMCO Mundo Leadership

Ferdinand L. Bondoy, Corporate Secretary of IABC Philippines and Partner at COMCO Mundo, shared: "The Communications Olympiad drives the power of Meaningful Storytelling to address real-world issues like climate change. Together with COMCO’s expertise in communication training, we aim to make this an enriching learning experience for students, industry professionals, and stakeholders alike."

Belle Tiongco, President of IABC Philippines, also emphasized: "Effective communication has the power to drive real change. This initiative, in partnership with COMCO School of Communications, combines education and advocacy to have a lasting social impact. We believe sustainability is key to development, and this program is just the beginning."

Learn More About the Communications Olympiad

To learn more about the Communications Olympiad, please visit the official website at www.comcomundo.com/the-communications-olympiad. For sponsorship and partnership inquiries, email communicationsolympiad@comcomundo.com.