العربية    中文    русский    Français
MY|UOWD Online Payment
University of Wollongong in Dubai University of Wollongong in Dubai
  • About
    • Our Campus
      • About Dubai
      • 360° Virtual Tour
      • Facilities
    • Academic Units
      • School of Business
      • School of Computer Science
      • School of Engineering
      • School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Health
      • College
    • Accreditation
    • Rankings
    • UOW Australia
    • UOW Global Network
    • President’s Message
    • UOWD Board
    • UOWD Advisory Council
    • Organisational Structure
  • Degrees
    • Undergraduate
      • Business & Commerce
        • Bachelor of Business (Accountancy)
        • Bachelor of Business (Business Analytics)
        • Bachelor of Business (Finance)
        • Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management)
        • Bachelor of Business (International Business)
        • Bachelor of Business (Management)
        • Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
        • Bachelor of Business Administration
      • Computer Science
        • Bachelor of Computer Science
        • Bachelor of Computer Science (Big Data)
        • Bachelor of Computer Science (Cyber Security)
        • Bachelor of Computer Science (Game and Mobile Development)
      • Engineering
        • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Civil Engineering
        • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Computer and Autonomous Systems Engineering
        • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Electrical and Electronics Engineering
        • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Mechatronic Engineering
        • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Mechanical Engineering
        • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Telecommunications Engineering and Internet of Things
      • Healthcare
        • Bachelor of Nursing (Conversion)
      • Information Technology
        • Bachelor of Business Information Systems
      • Media & Design
        • Bachelor of Communication and Media (Digital and Social Media)
        • Bachelor of Communication and Media (Marketing Communication and Advertising)
        • Bachelor of Communication and Media (Screen Media Production)
        • Bachelor of Communication and Media (Visual Communication Design)
    • Postgraduate
      • Business & Commerce
        • Global Executive Master of Luxury Management (GEMLux)
        • Master of Applied Finance (Corporate Treasury)
        • Master of Applied Finance (Investing)
        • Master of Business Administration
        • Master of Business Analytics
        • Master of Human Resource Management
        • Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
        • Master of International Business
        • Master of Management
        • Master of Marketing
        • Master of Supply Chain Management
      • Education
        • Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies
        • Master of Educational Studies
      • Engineering
        • Master of Engineering Management
      • Healthcare
        • Master of Nursing
      • Information Technology
        • Master of Information Technology Management
      • Media & Design
        • Master of Media and Communication
      • Political Science
        • Master of International Relations
    • Doctorate
      • Business
        • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
    • Graduate Certificates
      • Graduate Certificate in Business
      • Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management
      • Graduate Certificate in Marketing
    • NCUK - International Foundation Year
    • Short Courses
      • Certificate of Proficiency
  • Study English
    • English Language Training
    • Private Tutoring
    • IELTS
    • OET
  • Join UOWD
    • Why UOWD
    • Academic Calendar
    • Fees
      • Bachelor's Degree
      • Master's Degree
    • Admission Requirements
      • Bachelor’s Degrees
      • Master's Degrees
    • Student Life
      • International Students
      • Visas
      • Health Information
      • Student Accommodation
      • Career Services
      • Transportation
      • Clubs and Sports
    • Scholarships
    • Transfer to Australia
  • Alumni
    • Alumni Benefits
    • Alumni Success Stories
    • Alumni Awards
    • Alumni Career Network
    • UOWD Graduates
  • Teaching
    • Blended Learning
    • Library
    • Trimester System
    • Academic Integrity
  • Research
    • Research Sectors
    • Research Excellence
    • Research Interests
    • Research Projects
    • Research Grants
    • Research Awards
  • Media
    • News
    • Events
    • Podcast
    • Blog
    • Gallery
    • Downloads
      • Annual Report
      • Brochures
      • Logos
  • Contact
    • Application Form
    • Online Payment
    • Feedback
    • Work at UOWD
  • Visit us at our Open Day: Saturday, 17 June 2023 from 3pm to 7pm - Register now
Enquire Apply
  • Home
  • Media
  • News
  • UOWD marketing students pitch to industry experts

UOWD marketing students pitch to industry experts

Wednesday, 15 May, 2013


Six teams of final year Business and Management students from the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) presented a live product marketing pitch to three high profile industry experts.Bringing industry to the classroom, the students were challenged with creating a marketing plan based on consumer insights, as part of their Level 3 ‘Marketing Strategy’ course. The process required each team to deliver a ten minute outline of how they could increase the market share for one of three Unilever brands, by enhancing buyer awareness and improving brand identity.Making the pitch all the more challenging, the teams delivered their strategies in front of Unilever’s regional Vice President of Marketing (Home, Personal Care, Beverages & Foods), Madhusadan Rao, alongside two other industry specialists, Mariam AlAli, Head of Emiritisation, Mashreq Bank, and Himanshu Vashishtha, CEO of the specialist marketing consultancy, Sixth Factor.The six teams were selected following a qualifying round involving 16 groups of students, which was preceded by a series of assessments, leading to the final presentation. The groups were mentored by UOWD Associate Professor, Dr Melodena Stephens Balakrishnan, and Harshit Jain, VP of Mashreq Bank and UOWD adjunct faculty member. Throughout the semester the students dedicated hours to improving their original pitches, working overnight in some cases to prepare for the final competition.Commenting on the standard of the pitches put forward, Himanshu Vashishtha said, “This was exceptional – all the more considering they were just undergraduate students.”Madhusadan Rao added, “They have worked very hard in a short span of time on some tough briefs and we saw very good quality of work. Particularly impressive is the primary and secondary research, the enthusiasm of the teams to connect with shoppers and stores and finally the bright sparks of creativity that one saw.”Taking third place in the final were Mohamed Shahzad Illiyas, Farha Bhadelia, Eccha Khemani, Harshana Badlani and Farah Khan. Under their team name, FSL Marketers, the group pitched their ideas to increase brand awareness and market penetration for Unilever’s Fair & Lovely products amongst men in the MENA region. The team won high praise for their innovative use of product packaging and sizing options, even developing functional prototypes of the new design.Second place in the final were Anirudh Patni, Ruth Thomas, Sumeet Aggarwal, Payal Bulchandani, and Sarvesh Tulsani, known as team Synergy. Their task was to develop a strategy for the Axe Deodorant product that would focus on the female market, without impacting upon men’s perception of the brand. The team were highly commended for their primary research, which resulted in the development of a new slimline product, designed for portability.The overall competition winners were Mariya Zarubina, Alexander Urmanova, Sikander Raza, Talal Mansab and Ebrahim Abdullah. Under the team name Inspiration, the group pitched their ideas to increase the market share of Vaseline products in the UAE and to create a brand identity associated with healthy skin. Their strategy was based on extending the product line to the travel market, and developing a universal marketing strategy that would reach a wider range of consumer groups.Commendations also went to The Expendables team - Naeem Rashul, Hessam Nader Abdeni, Naffay Ahmed, Eoghan Hennessy and Muhammed Hashim Nasser - for their Axe Ambition line pitch; team Honor - Ahmed Kaisarani, Lara Khourdok, Senna Hazem and Sahil Kumar, for their Vaseline Men new product design; and team Salanza - Zakaria El Amine Hassani, Sal Sabila, Endah Padmasari and Saleh Barake – for their brand positioning of the Fair & Lovely product.Paying tribute to all participants for their efforts, Madhusadan named team Inspiration the final winners for their understanding of the market and their product development strategy, which he hailed as a natural extension of the existing brand.Following the main competition, a further six groups of students were given the opportunity to deliver a short pitch to showcase one aspect of their marketing strategy. The winning team of Claire Saad, Rana Al Khonzondar and Leen Rizak took top spot for their innovative Vaseline social media campaign that focused on increasing the use of petroleum jelly by making it more relevant to the younger generation.Following the event, Dr Balakrishnan commented, “This was a challenging task that gave the students a real taste of the industry. The project was about managing people, time and talent and more importantly understanding their common objective. I think they surprised themselves as to how much they could achieve. I wish this group of students the very best in their careers and have no doubt many will be the industry leaders of tomorrow.”Cheering each other on, the participants were unanimous in their reflection that the competition was a learning experience they would never forget. All the evening’s winners were presented with certificates of achievement by the judging panel.

More News

06 Jun 2023
Tackling Food Waste: Strategies for a Sustainable Future

Dr Guéraiche offered a pragmatic perspective on the timeframe needed to tackle environmental issues, stating, "I don’t believe we will sort out the environmental ...

Read More
01 Jun 2023
University of Wollongong in Dubai and European Network for Academic Integrity Establish ENAI WG Centre for Academic Integrity in the UAE

In a historic first, the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the European Network ...

Read More
25 May 2023
UOW launches the University of Wollongong Data Science, Discovery and Innovation Centre

The Centre will act as a beacon of excellence in data science research while promoting the capabilities of the University, New South Wales (NSW) and Australia in education, science and technology ...

Read More
22 May 2023
UOWD Students Shine at the Youth United for Sustainability Competition

The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is immensely proud to announce the stellar performance of its students at the recently concluded Youth United ...

Read More
18 May 2023
UOWD Computer Science Students Shine at the 2023 Innovation Fair

Our students demonstrated remarkable resilience and creativity in designing software solutions to address diverse challenges ...

Read More
10 May 2023
Pioneering Sustainable Solutions: Rediscovering and Refining Existing Technologies for Net Zero Future

Dr Wilkinson spoke on the topic of "Pioneers in Sustainability: How to Learn from the Best" and also participated in the "Sustainability Roundtable. ...

Read More
25 Apr 2023
The Unavoidable Impact of AI on Creative Industries: Insights

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly gaining ground in all sectors, with OpenAI's ChatGPT recording a staggering 100 million users globally within the first two months ...

Read More
19 Apr 2023
UOWD Staff Awards 2022: Celebrating Excellence and Dedication

The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) recently held its annual staff awards ceremony to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication of its employees ...

Read More
13 Apr 2023
UOWD partners with PwC's Academy Middle East to offer professional certification training to students and alumni

The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) has recently announced a collaboration with PwC’s Academy Middle East to provide its students and alumni with an ...

Read More
05 Apr 2023
Bridges of Giving: A Humbling and Inspiring Volunteering Experience with Emirates Red Crescent

The Bridges of Giving campaign by Emirates Red Crescent provided an opportunity for Ameer Ali Khan and Abdullah Mushtaq to volunteer and give back to their ...

Read More
View All

Open Day

Remember to attend our next Open Day on Saturday, 17 June 2023.
Join our experts to learn more about our degrees, and how you can enrol at UOWD in our
Autumn intake which starts on 18 September 2023.


Register Now Upcoming Open Days

Established in 1993, University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is the first international Australian university in the UAE, and is now part of a global brand that has campuses in Australia, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Location

University of Wollongong in Dubai is located in the heart of Dubai's vibrant education and training cluster, Dubai Knowledge Park.

Directions

Forms

Forms footer menu

  • Application Form
  • Visa Application Form
  • IELTS Application Form
  • Referee Report
  • Scholarship Form
Quick Links

Quick links footer menu

  • Our Campus
  • About Dubai
  • Mission & Vision
  • Payment
  • Events
  • News
  • Library
  • IT Services
  • Legal Services
Contact us

University of Wollongong in Dubai
UOWD Building, Dubai Knowledge Park
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
P.O. Box 20183

Toll-free 800-UOWD, or +971 4 278 1800
[email protected]

Stay Connected
  • Copyright © 2023 University of Wollongong in Dubai

  • Privacy
  • Disclaimer
  • Site map

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

Learn More