Robert Gordon University (RGU) students presented a dragons den style pitch to First Bus as part of their interactive media project.
First Bus Managing Director David Phillips and Marketing Assistant Rachael Gordon came to RGU’s Aberdeen Business School to hear the business pitches from the third year Media students.
The students are working on a live project for the bus company which involves them designing and developing an exciting and engaging interactive media campaign and prototype for First Bus to target young people.
The ‘interactive media’ that students design and develop could be a mobile app, interactive map, interactive film, interactive infographic or a more conceptual idea.
Along with a prototype students are required to produce a supplementary campaign such as how they plan to launch and execute their proposed campaign.
Christina Stewart, lecturer in the Department of Communication, Marketing and Media, said: “The module is particularly focussed on innovation and the appropriateness of the solution for the client. Students worked in teams and delivered a 10 minute pitch to First Bus. They then received really valuable and positive industry feedback on their pitch.”
Fourth year Management with Marketing students and postgraduate International Marketing Management students have also been busy on live projects for First Bus. The students have been tasked with undertaking research amongst young professionals and students to find out what users and non users of First Bus want from the service and how it could be improved.
Carolyn McNicholas, Subject Leader of Marketing at RGU, said: “Designing questionnaires, conducting interviews and analysing the research results offer practical experiences to the students which are really important in education. The students of today will drive the economy forward so it is vital that they get the opportunity to hear from industry practitioners as part of their studies and work alongside them. We would like to thank First Bus for taking the time to be involved in these projects.”
David Phillips, Managing Director First Aberdeen, said: "Our business is very much part of the local community and it was great to visit Aberdeen Business School and hear first hand pitches from students on ways they think our business could be improved. It was clear there was a great deal of thought, research and innovation put in to their respective projects and I was very impressed with the calibrate of ideas put forward. RGU is a highly valued stakeholder and we were delighted to be able to give students vocational experience that be added to their CVs and help them in their post graduation career choices."