IT Sligo marketing students participated in a challenging market research competition hosted by the Sligo Champion recently. It proved to be a rewarding and engaging endeavour. The students investigated specific marketing activities for the Sligo Champion. Each of the student teams then made a presentation of their research findings to a panel of IT Sligo marketing lecturers and the Sligo Champion. This twin panel scrutinized their findings and gave feedback on their recommendations.
The winning student team was Shane Brannigan, Tomás Lynn, Ruth McGrath, Ciara Mc Donnell, Niamh Ruane and Declan Shanley. There was a fantastic prize for each member of the successful group – a Nokia 5230 or Samsung Tocco-Lite phone from King Communications and the Sligo Champion.
This tripartite approach to learning with the student, IT Sligo and local businesses is part of the flexible approach to teaching and learning in the suite of marketing degrees at IT Sligo, where students can specialise in general marketing, marketing combined with languages and PR and event management. The applied research projects are an integral part of the marketing degrees as IT Sligo prides itself in ensuring student’s gain practical experience, thus enhancing their learning experience.
The marketing students interviewed after this project felt that the research projects and the applied marketing nature of the programmes are both a very valuable marketing experience and an added bonus for their future career opportunities. Ruth Mc Grath, a year three marketing student thought it was an exhilarating and exciting project: “I enjoyed working on the research assignment as I got actual, real life marketing research experience.” Tomás Lynn PR and Event Management year 3 student found the exercise most educational: “I enjoyed working with a well established Sligo brand and it was worthwhile experience for my professional development. The sponsor was also very generous.”
According to Denise Lowe, lecturer and supervisor of the winning team, the emphasis on project work in the course allows the students to apply the theory to practice and hugely differentiates them in terms of real experience. Students become adept at critical thinking, team work, and problem solving skills which better equip them for real world challenges within the workplace.
Suzanne Ryan, programme leader, was also very enthusiastic about the practical experience and is of the opinion that the marketing degrees at IT Sligo produce graduates who are capable of making a positive contribution to the marketing activities of any organisation. “This is achieved by developing their knowledge, skills and competence in contemporary marketing issues. This emphasis on quality is a core theme across the programme. The students leave IT Sligo brimming with confidence and capable of taking on demanding marketing challenges in a professional and highly skilled manner.”
IT Sligo continue to future embed the ethos of practical application of theory in their marketing degrees as evidenced by submitting the first Irish team to participate in the Markstrast marketing challenge recently held in Norway. ‘While IT Sligo aims to increase our international perspective which will be so vital for our graduates to succeed in the future, our focus on regional development is evidenced by our continued co-operation in conducting marketing projects on behalf of local SME’s stated Ms Ann Higgins, Head of Department. ‘We are particularly proud that two strong Sligo brands – Sligo Champion and IT Sligo – could co-operate in such a manner where all parties benefit’.
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Suzanne Ryan
Marketing Students at IT Sligo present market research findings to Sligo Champion.
Suzanne Ryan, Lecturer of Marketing, School of Business & Humanities IT Sligo, Jim Gray, Editor Sligo Champion (centre) and John Feerick Managing Director Sligo Champion assess presentations from IT Sligo Business on marketing strategies for Sligo Champion.