Marketing students work on real digital marketing strategy for Foodbank WA

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Marketing students work on real digital marketing strategy for Foodbank WA

Tuesday, 20 April 2021

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During Summer School 2020, Dr Violetta Wilk’s students in the Applied Digital Marketing Unit MKT5325 had the opportunity to develop a Digital Marketing Strategy for a real industry organisation.

The partnership with Foodbank WA and ECU began after a conversation between Violetta and Andrew Wilkinson, Partnership and Development Manager at Foodbank WA.

“Andrew identified that it would be fantastic to get the students' perspective on how we could better use out digital channels to increase Foodbank’s brand awareness and community engagement,” says Samantha Pangler, Digital Marketing Officer, Foodbank WA.

This offered the students the opportunity to apply their digital marketing skills and deepen their understanding of how to develop a successful digital marketing strategy for a real industry organisation in Western Australia.

“Three digital strategies were submitted to us for review following the brief we had given the students. All three strategies offered very insightful information and some amazing ideas, not only for social media but other digital avenues we would love to explore in the future,” she continues.

One of the students in the unit, Ismail Parkar, submitted an outstanding strategy and analysis that impressed Foodbank WA, especially with the amount of research he had made to support his recommendations. This would later win Ismail both the ‘Highest Achiever’ and ‘Highest Mark’ in the unit.

Ismail Parkar moved to Perth in 2003 from previously living in Oman and Dubai, and is currently running a health food store together with his father since almost fifteen years. With many fields of study under his belt, such as qualifications in engineering, and computer programming, Ismail has found a strong interest for business and marketing.

“I am quite interested in digital marketing, entrepreneurship and innovation. I would like to learn the steps involved in the process of innovation and brand creation – and the things that go with it, such as finance, marketing, and accounting,” he says.

With future plans and aspirations involving a leadership or managerial role in business, Ismail’s main focus is now on gaining the relevant business qualifications to attain the desired job positions. As a way of doing this, Ismail is currently studying a Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation that he will complete by the end of this year.

“Since the job market has dried up due to Covid-19, I keep myself busy by being up to date on current business and market requirements and trends. This course and its contents will help me with that”.

Dr Mehran Nejati (Director of PRME and Sustainability, School of Business and Law) continues to congratulate Ismail Parkar and the important collaboration between the School and Foodbank WA.

"This is just one example of how our students are involved in experiential learning opportunities to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through our collaboration with Foodbank WA, we act for the SDGs and contribute to SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG17 (Partnerships for the Goals)."

Congratulations to Ismail Parkar for winning ‘Highest Achiever’ and ‘Highest Mark’ in the unit, and a thank you to Foodbank WA for offering our students the opportunity to gain invaluable skills working with a local industry organisation.

Are you looking to upskill, change your career path or perhaps start your own business? Study a Graduate Certificate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Or if you want to specialise in marketing, ECU has also just launched a brand new Graduate Certificate of Applied Digital Marketing.

School of Business and Law