Evandro Oliveira: new PhD in Communication Sciences

The doctoral exams in Communication Sciences by Evandro Samuel Ribeiro dos Santos Oliveira were held on October 2 (10:00 a.m.), in the ICS (Social Sciences Institute) Sala de Atos of the University of Minho, in Braga. The thesis is supervised by Teresa Ruão, Senior Lecturer at UMinho’s Communication Sciences Department (Institute of Social Sciences), and investigator at CECS, Ansgar Zerfaß, Full Lecturer at Communication Sciens Institute (University of Leipzig), and Helena Sousa, Full Lecturer at UMinho’s Communication Sciences Department (Institute of Social Sciences), and investigator at CECS, and is entitled “The Instigatory Theory of NGO Communication (ITNC)”.

As the rise of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) continues, with around 31,000 operating today in an international setting, they have become central global players on various issues and at different levels. They are seen by public opinion worldwide as highly trustworthy organizations. Although most of the theory of communication management and strategic communication disciplines has been empirically tested and has developed with the focus on for-profit organizations. While trying to consider non-profit organizations NGOs as well, according to Evandro Oliveira, “it cannot be said that research has been done on communications management in NGOs from a holistic perspective”. Even with the professionalization of NGOs and the spread of “modern managerial practices” as a consequence of globalization, especially since the 1980s of the XXth century, communication in NGOs has only been researched at an operational, non-conceptual level. This doctoral thesis, outlines the Instigatory Theory of NGO Communication (ITNC). In this way, Evandro Oliveira proposes a conceptual model applied to communication management and a cybernetic operational model to understand and manage communication in NGOs.

The panel of examiners was chaired by the ICS president, Helena Sousa, representing UMinho’s dean, and the following members:

– Teresa Ruão

– Ana Melo (Lecturer at UMinho’s Communication Sciences Department – Institute of Social Sciences, and investigator at CECS)

– Gisela Gonçalves (Lecturer at Communication and Arts Department – University of Beira Interior)

– Ana Mafalda Eiró-Gomes (Full Lecturer at Social Communication Superior School – Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon)

– Ansgar Zerfaß

– Günter Bentele (Professor Emeritus at Communication Sciens Institute – University of Leipzig)

Text: Vítor de Sousa
Photo: Marta Barbosa