A seminar entitled 'A Social Marketing Agenda for Malta' was held on Monday 13 February with the participation of several Maltese NGOs and Governmental Organisations. This year’s seminar included interventions by the Commission for the Rights of Persons with a Disability (Mr Michael Debattista), the Environment and Resources Authority (Mr Ezekiel Xuereb and Ms Kristen Apap), the Building Regulation Office (Mr Michael Ferry), the Ministry of Education and Employment (Ms Daniela Vella), and Ministry of Health (Dr Tanya Melillo), as well as non-governmental organisations like KOPIN (Mr Dominik Kalweit), MOVE (Ms Cynthia Debono), and NASO (Mr John Fenech).
Honours Marketing students within the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy were exposed to actual policy and NGO causes. This will serve as a basis for the preparation of social marketing plans by students. Seminar organiser Dr Marie Briguglio said, 'the exercise not only raises student awareness to contemporary social issues but also engages them in designing plans based on behavioural insights and evidence'.
The seminar is one of the initiatives that the Department of Marketing is undertaking to enrich students' experiences and make marketing studies more relevant to today's marketing profession. In addressing emerging needs in the Maltese labour market for professional managers in marketing, the Department of Marketing, in collaboration with the Department of Management, is also seeking to launch a new M.Sc. in Strategic Management and Marketing.