Supporting the 14-19 Business Administration and Finance Diploma
Staff involved
The Widening Participation and Access Manager and Head of Business and Management at Bath Spa University
Subject Leader and teacher of the 14-19 Business Administration and Finance Diploma and Assistant Head Teacher at Writhlington School, a Business and Enterprise Specialist School and Diploma Consortium lead.
The project
The Head of Business and Management and Diploma Subject Leader worked together to set the group of 45 Year 10 Business Administration and Finance Diploma students a marketing project that would form part of the Diploma assessment. The students, who were from Writhlington and St Mark’s Schools, worked on marketing campaigns to promote Bath Spa University's Business and Management degree programme to other students in their age group.
The students visited the University's Newton Park campus in February 2010 for an initial marketing brief from the Head of the Business and Management Department. During the briefing the marketing campaign was introduced, ways to tackle the campaign, including research methodology, were discussed and the time frame was outlined.
The briefing session was followed up in April 2010 with a second campus visit. After a buffet reception for the students, their teachers and university staff, the teams of students presented their campaigns to the assembled audience, which included the Head of Marketing at Bath Spa University. A panel of judges decided on the winning campaign. This proved to be a challenge because the standard of work was high across the cohort. The Head of Business and Management gave detailed feedback to each team about their campaigns and presentation skills and members of the winning team were presented with a prize. Both sessions were supported by student ambassadors, all of which were current undergraduates on Business and Management programmes.
Evaluation
Assistant Head Teacher James Fox said: "Writhlington believes it is very important to build up relationships with local universities and businesses alike, so we are thrilled to be working with Bath Spa University in this way. As part of the Business Administration and Finance Diploma our students have participated in a number of real-life projects such as the marketing project set by Bath Spa. It equips them for the skills they will need for university and the world of work".
Cathy Leng, Head of Business and Management said: "This research activity will heighten knowledge among the students at Writhlington School of what we do in Business and Management at Bath Spa University”
