Having only started her studies earlier this year, Advertising & Marketing Communications student, Oxana Luchian, was named winner of the competition which saw a number of Marketing students present their ideas for a new digital strategy.

As part of a project facilitated by the University’s Research & Innovation Service, the group was able to gain practical experience during preparation for the competition by contributing to the digital marketing plan for Wisetek UK – an established brand operating in the IT sector. Students and members of staff were also invited to visit the company’s headquarters in nearby Milton Keynes to meet with senior members of the Wisetek team to discuss the project.

Dr Ioana Stoica, Lecturer in Marketing with the University of Bedfordshire’s Business School, said: “I would like to thank Wisetek on behalf of the University and the participating students for their involvement in this competition. The experience that our students gained by taking part will be invaluable to them, as it enabled them to work with a real company with specific needs, target audiences, competitors, and a brand that they needed to learn about and take into account in the development of their strategies.”

As well as Oxana being crowned the overall winner, the University’s Business School also awarded all participating students with shopping vouchers in recognition of their contribution to the competition.

Matt Summers, Wisetek UK Business Operations Manager, said: “We were delighted to work with the University of Bedfordshire on this project and have been extremely impressed by the calibre of the students and their lecturers from the University. This exercise was of mutual benefit for both the students and Wisetek, as it enabled the participants to put their learnings to practical use for a real business, and enabled Wisetek to benefit from hearing fresh ideas and outside the box thinking when it comes to our digital marketing strategy.”

Milica Vojnic, Senior Digital Marketing Executive at Wisetek UK, added: “We would like to thank the University of Bedfordshire for helping to facilitate the competition, and all of the students who took part. As a business operating in the region, it is always important to establish a good relationship with local universities and their students, and as a brand, it is extremely beneficial to get new viewpoints and a fresh perspective on our brand and our digital marketing strategy.”

To find out other ways in which the University works with local businesses to enrich the student and graduate experience, visit: www.beds.ac.uk/ris/we-mean-business