Marketing fellowships offered by Bord Bia and UCD Smurfit School

BORD BIA, in partnership with UCD Smurfit School, has announced that 25 of Ireland’s sharpest minds will be offered an exciting opportunity to take part in its marketing fellowship.

Successful candidates will be based full-time in overseas markets, working on commercial assignments on behalf of 100 Irish food and drink companies, while also completing academic modules and assessments at the Smurfit School.

Fellows can avail of a full funded bursary and tuition fees worth over €22,000 and upon completion those successful will be awarded an MSc in marketing practice from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

The inaugural marketing fellowship, which represents a €1 million investment by Bord Bia, was launched in 2009 and has 25 fellows working across 12 overseas markets.

A recent mid-year review of the programme found that of the Irish food and drink companies involved, 80% indicated they are satisfied or very satisfied with the programme and almost 90% are interested in participating this year.

Bord Bia chief executive Aidan Cotter said the fellows will play a fundamental role in helping the industry to further broaden its export reach, while seeking to protect existing export business that last year exceeded €7 billion.

A recent survey found that over 70% of companies involved in the current programme foresee a significant business impact in the next 12 months.

Tom Begley, Dean of UCD Business School, said the Smurfit School’s partnership with Bord Bia represents an exciting contribution to the development of innovative capabilities in Irish food firms.

“Our school is delighted to offer its expertise toward increasing the stock of Irish managers with a world-class capability to grow international markets.

“We look forward to playing our part in developing a new cohort of future leaders for the food industry,” he said.

The programme blends a year-long foreign industry placement with a block- release academic business education programme at UCD Smurfit School.

Applications to the programme are welcome from all graduates with a minimum of two years’ work experience. Many placements will require a second language.

Closing date for applications is Friday, April 23, and interviews take place in May and June, with the programme starting in July. Details on www.smurfitschool.ie/bordbia.