Young marketers face challenges in search for jobs if not guided and equipped with skills at their various stages of development. All these came under spotlight at the launch event of a partnership between Uganda Marketers Society (UMS), an affiliate to the Chartered Institute of Marketing CIM-UK and Makerere Business School (MUBS) organized at its Faculty of Marketing and International Business.
MUBS is expected to introduce students to the practice and knowledge of marketing, however, qualifications such as Chartered Instituted of Marketing (CIM) support students to develop their faculties and prepare them marketing roles in the industry. A student at university of two and half years needs to be exposed to principles of marketing to grow in order to serve as a professional marketers.
Dr. Timothy Esemu, the Dean at the Faculty of Marketing and International Business, said: “Everyone is obliged to contribute towards the development this country as stipulated in National Development Plan III (NDP III), so I implore each and every one of you to explore the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and know where marketing becomes relevant in Uganda”. He commended marketing professionals for their effort to come and interact with students for their intellectual and professional growth.
Joan Nuwaruhanga, the CIM Ambassador in Uganda for Higher Institutions, presented the Uganda Marketers Society’s vision “To be the leading body of marketing practitioners and professionals inspired towards the development, promotion, and application of world-class marketing leadership”.
She noted that students need to market themselves before thinking of any product or service and also emphasized the need for people need to see value in you as marketer. She noted that young marketers need to join Uganda Marketers Society to find opportunities to network and interact with professionals and find mentors in the industry.
Dr. Ben Mugerwa, the Head of Professional Studies at Uganda Management Institute, while delivering his keynote speech on professionalism and professional bodies, emphasized the need to develop professionals to take up marketing roles in the region and grow in leadership. He noted an example for the banking sector in Uganda where KCB and Equity Bank are now full of Ugandans in marketing roles which previous wasn’t the case.
He added that the code of conduct and ethics for marketers is a must so that marketers are not looked at as liars and that marketers should always come up with new ideas and tell us new ways of doing business and they must have qualities that inspire others.
We are seeing the rise of Influencer marketing and use of technology and innovation in the 4th industrial revolution a case in point the recently concluded Dubai Expo 2021 where we say countries exhibit their countries using Virtual Realty (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Marketing students must be agile and nibble, and have the ability to learn, be conscious of what’s going on, and develop interpersonal skills and digital capabilities.
David Balikuddembe, the UMS President, discussed the journey of MUBS becoming a CIM accredited study centre with support from UMS and the aspect of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) such as CIM’s unique CPD programme that helps students achieve the understanding and expertise that are expected of today’s marketing professionals. Taking part in CPD is encouraged. As a student, you can opt in at any point from the time you become a member and continue for as long as your membership remains current.
“As a Member or Fellow you will submit reflective statements detailing the activities and experiences such as attending exhibitions, mentorships attending seminars or presentations that have impacted on your development throughout the year to accumulate a total value of 35 credits during each CPD year in order to complete a submission of your activity to CIM to be assessed and awarded a certificate,” he revealed.
He added: “As we continue to see an increase in the uptake of marketing courses at university in the recent years, the need for professional marketers with good conduct and standards is vital to ensure sustainable use of resources to develop Uganda and East African Community both now and the future.”
The event concluded with students pausing questions to the guests and later cut a cake to celebrate the new collaboration.