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Students from the University of New Brunswick were able to see all of their hard work over the last year pay off, as their export-marketing strategy came to life.
Three students from UNB and their partnering companies brought their newly created export market entry plans to a trade mission in Boston this past May. This year’s trade mission was one of the most successful trade missions since the inception of the Export Partnering Program in the early 1990s, resulting in several multi-million dollar deals for the participating companies. One student even obtained a full-time position with his partnering company.
All of this is thanks to the Export Partnering Program (EPP), an initiative of UNB and the International Business & Entrepreneurship Center (IBEC), which is sponored by the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency (ACOA). The EPP matches students with small- to medium-sized businesses in Atlantic Canada and from there the students work with these companies to develop an export-marketing strategy targeted at the New England States.
The program is offered to both fourth-year BBA students and second-year MBA students.
It is operated over two academic semesters as a year-long project, which begins in the fall with the Export Market Entry course, designed specifically for the program.
This partnership provides companies with valuable marketing knowledge and allows students to obtain the precious hands-on experience that is critical in today’s job market.
Mike Belliveau, the CEO of Cross Shaft Innovation Inc. and one of this year's partnering businesses, said “The program was an excellent experience. All of the students did a fabulous job!”
The trade mission to Boston was a great experience for the students. It helped them further develop their market entry plans and create valuable networking contacts for further research, information, and sales. It also allowed the students to see all their hard work pay off, as companies signed contracts or began negotiations, thanks to their plans.
Michael Sullivan, one of the BBA students who went on the trade mission stated, "The EPP Trade Mission to Boston was an experience I will cherish forever. Being so lucky to have taken part in the face to face meetings and attending a day at the Canadian Consulate, I know I must not take any of that knowledge I have gained for granted. I encourage any students interested in marketing or exporting to take a look at the EPP, as it is a very unique and rewarding program here at UNB." |
