SL/CEL Course

The Community-Integrated Course "Brand Building and Promotion"

11/01/2024

In today's context, brand building and promotion have become indispensable components of business and communication. To meet the market's growing demands, training experts with a deep understanding of brand building and promotion is crucial. Aiming to provide students with real-world, engaging learning experiences, on January 11th, students from the Brand Building and Promotion course in the Public Relations program at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF) held an impressive and meaningful end-of-term presentation.

The Brand Building and Promotion course is a vital subject at UEF, where students are equipped with a solid foundation in brand promotion and the necessary skills to execute effective promotional strategies. The course also allows students to apply their knowledge in practical settings through the Service-Learning model, a learning approach that combines community service activities, allowing students to gain insights and develop skills through participation in meaningful, real-world projects.

Representing partners, Mr. Le Nguyen Khang, Founder and Director of the social enterprise FLASH VN, attended the event. From UEF, there was Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Van, Deputy Head of the Public Relations and Communication Faculty, Lecturer, and Ms. Tran Thi My Phuong, Director of the Center of Service-Learning (CSL).

From right to left: Mr. Nguyen Nguyen Khang - Founder of Flash VN; Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Van - Deputy Head of the Public Relations and Communication Faculty, Lecturer; Ms. Tran Thi My Phuong - Director of Center of Service-Learning; Ms. Huynh Kim Phung - Coordinator of Center of Service-Learning

A group of four students meticulously prepared the course presentation: Nguyen Quoc Huy, Nguyen Quoc Hung, Nguyen Thu Giang, and Huynh Chau Pha. They presented their research findings, analyzed the partner’s brand, provided well-reasoned arguments, and proposed strategies to bring the partner’s activities closer to the community. Notably, the students gained positive results and valuable lessons from the course execution process.

The student group presented their end-of-term report

This was also an opportunity for self-assessment and personal growth for the students. They recognized their strengths and weaknesses throughout the project, helping them improve and refine their skills for the future. "When I started, I was quite unclear about this course, so there were some challenges and unresolved limitations. But after a meeting and working with Mr. Khang, as well as hearing his insights and shared perspectives, we were able to set a clearer direction for developing our group's report” - shared by Quoc Huy.

Quoc Huy presented the report with a confident demeanor

The students' brand promotion projects were highly applicable and brought real value to their community partners. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the Service-Learning model in helping students apply their knowledge practically and develop teamwork, communication, and project management skills.

Thu Giang presented the group’s report, showcasing their application of the Service-Learning model

Representatives from Flash VN also shared positive feedback and evaluations about the project carried out by the students. Mr. Nguyen Khang emphasized that the students' creativity, sense of responsibility, and teamwork skills significantly contributed to enhancing the company’s brand promotion strategy. “The group analyzed the SWOT thoroughly and researched social information well. I thank you all very much, and I look forward to having a new logo completed”.

Additionally, the community partner Flash VN showed considerable interest and support for the students during the project execution by providing essential resources, technical assistance, and necessary feedback to help them refine their projects. This enabled the students to carry out the project effectively and helped them better understand the reality of the industry they were studying.

The final presentation was an important event, marking the completion of a meaningful learning and practical experience journey. Throughout the course, students could apply theoretical knowledge in practice by participating in brand promotion projects and community activities. This helped students better understand the processes and strategies for brand promotion, from market research and competitor analysis to creating effective advertising and marketing campaigns.

Moreover, students reflected directly during the presentation, another exciting course activity. Quoc Huy shared, “The process of learning while gaining practical experience makes it easier to absorb knowledge and contribute many ideas, allowing us to identify our strengths and weaknesses for improvement. This was also our first time participating in a course connected with the Center for Community Engagement, so I hope there will be more opportunities in the future to learn and experience with the Center, as well as with Flash VN, which will create more chances for our group to continue collaborating with the company”.

“There is so much for us to learn from the business, and many things consumers are still unaware of, so I have more to contribute and hope that after this presentation, many customers will explore and get to know Flash VN”, Chau Pha shared.

“I have learned a lot from the business, effectively improving my teamwork, communication, and time management skills. I now have resources to learn from, with useful tips, and I will participate in more workshops with Flash VN”, Thu Giang shared.

The students engaged in direct reflection during the presentation

The presentation also provided an opportunity to receive feedback from teachers and the business, allowing students to improve and refine their skills. The projects were highly praised for their practicality, feasibility, and creativity. The students demonstrated their knowledge and skills in brand building and promotion.

Students received certificates from Center of Service-Learning

Finally, this will be an opportunity for students to take pride in their achievements and exchange and share experiences with their peers, teachers, and businesses. Indeed, with this important stepping stone, UEFers will continue to develop and apply the knowledge and skills they have gained to their future work.

News: Anh Ngan
Photos: Nhu Quynh
Translator: Yen Chi