Curtin Malaysia public relations students join forces with Miri Entrepreneurship Incubator Club to promote awareness

Miri – 8 June 2023 – Public Relations students of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) taking a unit on Campaign Planning and Evaluation recently teamed up with the Miri Entrepreneurship Incubator Club (MEIC) to elevate awareness of MEIC’s initiatives and foster the growth of young entrepreneurs in the Miri area.

The collaboration involved the students developing marketing and promotional strategies to increase the visibility of MEIC by tapping into various platforms such as social media, print and broadcast media, and connecting with stakeholders in the entrepreneurship industry.

To kickstart the project, a client briefing was conducted with MEIC’s Head of Business Development, Jaron Choo Chin Yii, who briefed the students on the club’s objectives and goals. Choo emphasised the need for innovative strategies to enhance MEIC’s visibility among target audiences in Miri and beyond. With the information, the students were able to start crafting their campaign.

Over the course of the semester, the students meticulously crafted and refined their campaign ideas to align with MEIC’s vision. They explored various channels and tactics to effectively communicate MEIC’s mission and engage with the local community. The result was a comprehensive plan that included running social media campaigns, hosting community events, forging strategic partnerships, and applying engaging storytelling methods to enhance MEIC’s profile.

One of the students, Mary Grace Jun Ngau Wan, said, “Working on the project with MEIC was an incredible experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to apply my public relations knowledge and skills. We were encouraged to think out of the box and develop a really creative campaign for the club.”

Associate Dean of External Engagement at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Business, Yip Ka Yii, who initiated the collaboration, said, “We are excited to have had the opportunity to work with such a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation like MEIC. By working together, we helped raise awareness of the club’s initiatives and build the next generation of innovative entrepreneurs.”

MEIC President Nicholas Toh Kah Shiong reciprocated by saying, “We realise the importance of collaborating with bright young minds and experts in the field to deliver our message to the wider community. Our partnership with the Curtin students was an excellent example of how industry and academia can collaborate to foster creativity and innovation, and combine knowledge and expertise to deliver impactful initiatives.”

Toh said MEIC has been actively nurturing and developing local entrepreneurs through its business incubation programmes, and training and networking events. The collaboration between MEIC and the students was aimed at promoting the club’s work in fostering entrepreneurship and inspiring aspiring entrepreneurs to participate in, and benefit from its programmes and events.

Meanwhile, the unit lecturer, Dr. Adamu Abbas Adamu, said the success of the project could be attributed to the guidance and support of Dr. Samuel Folorunso Adeyinka-Ojo, Head of the Faculty’s Department of Management, Marketing and Digital Business.

“Dr. Samuel’s commitment to experiential learning and nurturing students’ talents was pivotal in ensuring the smooth coordination between the Department of Management, Marketing and Digital Business, the students, and MEIC,” said Dr. Adamu.

He added that the Department of Management, Marketing and Digital Business was immensely proud of its public relations students and their innovative ideas for the project, and their commitment to excellence and ability to think critically and strategically was commendable.

“Their collaboration with MEIC marked a significant milestone in their academic journey. The experience of working closely with a real-life client provided them with invaluable insights into the field of public relations and equipped them with the practical skills needed to thrive in the industry,” he said.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit www.curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

The students with Jaron Choo and Dr Adamu Abbas Adamu (3rd and 2nd right, front row) following the client briefing session.

The students and Jaron Choo and Dr Adamu Abbas Adamu (seated 3rd and 4th right) mark the end of the successful project.