Overview:
The Online Marketing Challenge (OMC) offers an exciting opportunity for international students and graduates to gain hands-on experience by creating and executing digital marketing campaigns for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in Saxony, central Germany.
How does the OMC work?
International students and graduates collaborate in teams to design and launch online marketing campaigns with a budget of 500 euros, working directly with a company. While the company sets the campaign goals for the team, the focus is on expanding its products or services to international markets. The diversity of the student teams, with their varied backgrounds and perspectives, fosters innovative and creative strategies for these campaigns.
Timeline:
Each year, the OMC starts with an open call for applications from February to March. In April, students and companies come together for the first time at the OMC kick-off event, where they get to know each other and begin shaping creative ideas and strategies.
Over the following three months (April to June), the teams take on the role of online marketing managers, utilizing their 500-euro budget to design and execute impactful campaigns.
In July, the teams gather for the grand finale—an exciting pitch event where they showcase their campaign results and compete for the OMC title. All participants receive a Completion Certificate, while the winning team is awarded a 300-euro prize!
Benefits for students:
The OMC is a game-changer! Participants not only gain hands-on experience working with German companies but also benefit from an intensive Digital Marketing Bootcamp led by industry professionals. Weekly sessions equip them with essential skills, including running campaigns on key platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok, along with in-depth seminars on Google Ads, Eye Tracking in Marketing, and more.
Beyond the technical knowledge, students receive personalized coaching and feedback from digital marketing experts, helping them refine their strategies. The strong industry connections forged through the program have even resulted in job offers from participating companies, making the OMC a launching pad for future career opportunities.
Benefits for companies:
The OMC provides companies with innovative marketing strategies tailored to their international growth goals while offering the chance to collaborate with talented and creative students. Companies benefit from fresh perspectives, international market insights, and the opportunity to build relationships with potential future employees.
Success story:
Since its inception in 2017, the OMC has been organized by the SEPT Competence Center at Leipzig University in collaboration with the Internationalisierungsoffensive Sachsen (IOSAX), merging academic knowledge with business expertise. In 2022, Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz joined as a partner organization, and since 2024, the OMC has been supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) under the Profi plus development programme.
To date, more than 200 international students and 48 Saxonian SMEs and startups have participated in the OMC. Explore our past collaborations:
Are you ready to take on the challenge? Visit our website for the latest information!
https://www.wifa.uni-leipzig.de/en/sept-competence-center/fit4export/omc-2024