Curtin Sarawak business students receive commendations

Miri – 5 December 2013 – 12 first-year business students from the School of Business of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) received commendations from consumer product company MyBotto and Curtin Business School of Curtin University for their outstanding marketing plans for the MyBotto Project.

The MyBotto Project was part of the Marketing Idol Competition organised at Curtin University and its campuses in Sydney, Singapore and Miri. It required students to propose a real, practical and feasible marketing plan for MyBotto’s fun and stylish inverted bottle holder with the objectives of launching the product in 2014 and building awareness of the product.

The specially-designed bottle holder reduces waste as it uses the natural force of gravity to squeeze out every drop of lotions, gels or potions left in bottles.

The students were Alexander Chin, Chang Yam Kei, Wong Leh Yoong and Yong Soon Lai (Group 1); Latifah Mzee Hamiz Salim Boma, Soo Yann Bin, Jong Fong Yau and Chung Vun Wei (Group 2) and Stephanie Wong Wan Dee, Nur Hadaina Abdul Jalil, Razmi Saharuddin and Maisarah Ahmad (Group 3).

They were recently recognised at a simple certificate presentation ceremony attended by Curtin Sarawak’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Mienczakowski, Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning and senior lecturer of marketing Dr. Shamsul Kamariah, associate lecturer of management Sabarina Sahni Abdullah and tutor Jefferson Sim.

Under the project, the students were required to prepare their marketing plan based on the 4Ps concept (Product, Price, Place and Promotion), indentify their target market, and formulate a budget and implementation plan.

They were acknowledged for their creativity in recommending promotional strategies involving the use of social media marketing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, as well as mobile applications and QR Code.

According to Dr. Shamsul Kamariah, their unit leader, they took on the project under the Marketing 100 unit, a core unit for all business majors where students are assessed through online tests, individual assignments and a major group marketing plan.

The project requirements which enable students to apply different areas of knowledge to new problems and challenges through the Summative and Formative Assessment were set by Dr. Min Teah, Unit Coordinator of Curtin Business School.

The assessment required the students to demonstrate their competencies and critical skills, including planning, setting priorities, organising individual and group efforts, exerting discipline and determining how to communicate effectively with an audience.

The recognition marks yet another achievement for Curtin Sarawak’s School of Business in its commitment to ensuring its students are job-ready when they graduate.

Professor Mienczakowski (6th left) and the students in a photo call after the presentation ceremony.

Professor Mienczakowski presenting a certificate to Wong Leh Yoong.

Alexander Chin receiving a certificate from Professor Mienczakowski.