Students see better future for Crowleys

This week the winners of MTU’s Annual Student Marketing Challenge were revealed in a ceremony at the university.

The challenge highlights the innovation and creativity of the next generation of marketers and are in memory of a former senior lecturer in marketing, Michael Walsh, who passed away in January 2018.

The award is in association with the Marketing Institute of Ireland (MII) and took place in conjunction with Crowleys Opticians. Acting as marketing consultants, the students were tasked with developing a comprehensive marketing strategy specifically targeting the business-to-business sector that will allow them to market Crowleys Workplace Eye Care service to prospective corporate businesses.

The four teams that presented in the MTU Student Challenge had been shortlisted from 19 groups whom all took part in the project as part of their marketing portfolio module under the guidance of MTU lecturer Paul Wade.

The four teams took to the stage to present their detailed and creative strategies to fellow classmates, Paul McSherry, Head of Business Development & Communications for Crowleys Opticians and Ezara Ahern, Chair of Marketing Institute of Ireland Cork Branch, Gerard O’Donovan, Head of Faculty of Business and Humanities and Dr Breda Kenny, Head, School of Business.

The talented MTU students presented their strategies and although all teams impressed the judges, there can only be one winner.

The judges announced the winning group of Kaleb Lynch Patterson, Ciara Downey, Karen Fitzgerald and Eoin McKennedy. The group delivered in-depth research which led to a combination of creative and practical solutions for Crowleys Opticians, Ireland's fastest growing independent opticians.

MTU lecturer Paul Wade said: “It is an amazing opportunity for the students to put everything they have learned into action. Working with real companies and marketing professionals is something we strive to do in MTU to help prepare our students for the world outside the campus. The continued support from MII and companies like Crowleys Opticians allows our students to experience the marketing profession first hand and develop the skills needed to succeed.”