8 Student exchange programme The Department of Marketing Management, in collaboration with the W&R SETA Chair, Dr Beate Stiehler-Mulder, took a noteworthy step towards enhancing its existing Memorandum of Understanding with the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (TUN) in Germany for 2023. The expansion involved introducing a six-week short-term exchange programme for students at the Nürnberg institution. In early September 2023, Prof. Ilse Struweg, Associate Professor and Internationalisation Coordinator in the Department of Marketing Management, accompanied five students – Lesego Mothwa, Ramaesela Mphalele, Tia Ndou, Zahenda Malindi, and Zinhle Nkosi – from various Retail and Marketing Management programmes for the initial week of this exciting venture. The students’ comprehensive programme included an intensive six-week course in German, attending lectures in the International Business Faculty, and exploring the city of Nürnberg and its surroundings. With its strategic location, Nürnberg is particularly advantageous from a retail and marketing perspective, hosting the headquarters of prominent brands such as Puma, Adidas, Faber-Castell, Staedtler, and more. As part of the students’ studies at UJ, they were tasked with completing and integrating projects that stemmed from their experiences during the TUN adventure. The value of this short-term exchange initiative extends beyond the engagement with the Bavarian culture; it lies in the enriching intercultural interactions with students visiting TUN from various parts of the world. Reflecting on this adventure, one of the participating students, Zinhle Nkosi, said: “My advice to the next group of exchange students is to be open-minded, actively participate in every aspect, and most importantly, savour the experience”. Personal branding session On14, October 2023, a personal branding session was arranged for BCom Honours (Marketing Management) students by Dawn Klatzko, the author of The art of the suit, with the goal of bridging the gap between fresh graduates and future employers. It was a cinematic experience not to be forgotten. The purpose was to assist the soon-to-be graduates in identifying their genuine and unique attributes in order to differentiate themselves from their educational background. Students had the pleasure of attending a personal brand podcast event at Arena Holdings, on a day that was brimming with energy, in a communal search for self-empowerment. The event’s core subject was discovering one’s own potential and accepting the constant transformation that comes with personal development. The stage was graced by esteemed peers from various backgrounds who shared their transformational life experiences, important lessons, and strategic ideas that were geared to personal progress. What stood out was the interactive presentation, which not only inspired students to explore their desires and goals, but also provoked profound reflection on the adventures on which the soon-to-be graduates would embark. To download the podcast, click here: bit.ly/3tCZjUK
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