On Wednesday, 5 December 2007, the students will be showcasing their best work and creations to advertising and media experts with the hope of impressing them and finding jobs. The Imagination Lab Showdown will be held at Vega School of Brand Communications in Benmore Gardens in Sandton, Johannesburg.
It is expected that advertising gurus will be attending the event to scout for new talent. “We have invited the media and advertising people, from companies such as Draft FCB, Jupiter Drawing Room, and Primedia Unlimited with the hope that they will be able to recruit some of our students for internships or even permanent employment,” says Yameshree Moodley, the national quality usurer for the Imagination Lab.
The Imagination Lab learnership programme is supported by the Media Advertising Publishing Printing and Packaging SETA (MAPPP SETA) and other agencies such as FCB, Old Shanghai and Net#work BBDO, and the South African Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) has also financially supported the project. The programme enables learners to learn skills in digital, design, creative and work ethics skills that are essential for the brand communications industry.
Primedia Limited, seeing the opportunities for using Imagination Labs as a ‘breeding ground' for new talent with a focus on its particular disciplines, sponsored the course by training students for a period of five months, including over school holidays.
“We have taken in some of the students within our various companies, allowing them to feel what happens on the ground. It has been great to see them progress from having had little understanding of marketing at the beginning of the course to now sharing workable ideas which will make great marketing and advertising strategies,” says Ken Varejes, the CEO of Primedia Unlimited.
“The students were willing to work and learn, they showed passion, the experience gave us an opportunity to identify the expectations of the students and allowed us to experience their passion first hand. We hope to be taking in some of the graduation lab students,” he adds.
To be a part of the next Imagination Lab learnership programme, an applicant must be under the age of 25, be a South African citizen and must have a valid South African ID. The Lab is also calling on people who would like to contribute to new labs or lecturing to email .
