Applied Syndicate Project

We consult with you to define a project of strategic importance, real business value, and impact.  Once confirmed, we build a student consultancy team of four to five high-performing students to deliver the project.

  • The Applied Syndicate Project in the Master of Marketing Communications is a capstone subject.
  • Mode of delivery: Semester-long (10 -12weeks).
  • The student team presents findings to a group of key stakeholders and produces a  consulting report of 4,000 words.

Subject guide

Features of a Suitable Project

The project should be of strategic importance to the organisation or have a significant and valued operational impact. Projects are most often based around a single question and must be achievable in the timeframe.

A suitable project:

  • Is capable of being completed within a semester (10 -12 weeks) time frame by a team of four to five student consultants.
  • Addresses an open-ended question for which various approaches can be applied and recommendations made.
  • Is not predominately an interview or survey (i.e. data gathering or research exercise) but also requires synthesis and analysis of data as the basis for recommendations.
  • Must primarily require the application of Marketing or related business disciplines. If knowledge and understanding of non-business disciplines is required, it is anticipated that advisory assistance will be available from within the host organisation.
  • You can find the project proposal form here, please complete and return it to fbe-industryprograms@unimelb.edu.au for it to be considered for this program.  Please note completion of this form does not guarantee admission into the program, it must first go through a short approval process and meet academic requirements.

Engaging with the Student Team and Academic Supervision

Your student team will meet and consult with you on weekly basis.

  • Currently, meetings between our industry partners and student teams are taking place online and in person.
  • Please also be available to answer questions via email or ad hoc meetings as they arise during the course of the project.
  • The team of students will be supported by an Academic Supervisor who will broadly finalise the project expectations and scope with you prior to handing over the project to students. They will also monitor progress and support the students over the semester.

Please Note

  • You will need to allocate a Project Supervisor from within your organisation as a point of contact for students and to consult with them on the project.
  • We require two key contacts from your organisation to the students.
  • Students are covered by the University of Melbourne’s Insurance Policy for the duration of the project.

Timeline: Semester 1, 2024

Phase 1: Getting Ready
August 2023 – February 2024Step 1 (August - November 2023): Submit your project proposal. Places do fill fast, we recommend submitting your proposal as soon as possible
Step 2 (October 2023 - February 2024): Refine project scope with Academic Supervisor and/or Partnerships Team member
Step 3 (February 2024)  Agree times for students to meet with key stakeholders each week
Step 4 (February 2024): Sign and return the Industry project agreement
Phase 2: Student Consulting & Presentations
The  Project
4 March  - 24 May  2024
Step 5 (week 2 & 3 of the semester): Student team reaches out to confirm meeting times, introduce themselves  and start scoping the project via email
Step 6 (week 3 of the semester): Student team and partner organisations first meeting. Please introduce key stakeholders, agree on preferred communication methods and discuss the project in detail
Step 7 (week 3 to week 11 of the semester): Students in consultation with partner organisation each week, conducting research analysis and investigation. In weeks 4, 6, 8 and 10 student teams will prepare project milestone documents (called "progress notes") for submission to their Academic supervisor.  Students will seek your help and support in preparing these.
Step 8 (week 12 of the semester): Students to present findings to key stakeholders  in the last weeks of the semester
Phase 3: Wrap up
Early June 2024Step 9: You will receive the final project report and recommendations
Step 10: Provide feedback via online survey

Timeline: Semester 2, 2024

Phase 1: Getting Ready
March - June 2024Step 1 (March - June 2024): Submit your project proposal. Places do fill fast, we recommend submitting your proposal as soon as possible
Step 2 (Mid June - early July 2024): Refine project scope with Academic Supervisor and/or Partnerships Team member
Step 3 (June 2024):  Agree times for students to meet with key stakeholders each week
Step 4 (June 2024): Sign and return the Industry project agreement
Phase 2: Student Consulting & Presentations
The  Project
22 July -
20 October 2024
Step 5 (week 2 & 3 of the semester): Student team reaches out to confirm meeting times, introduce themselves  and start scoping the project via email
Step 6 (week 3 of the semester): Student team and partner organisations first meeting. Please introduce key stakeholders, agree on preferred communication methods and discuss the project in detail
Step 7 (week 3 to week 11 of the semester): Students in consultation with partner organisation each week, conducting research analysis and investigation. In weeks 4, 6, 8 and 10 student teams will prepare project milestone documents (called "progress notes") for submission to their Academic supervisor.  Students will seek your help and support in preparing these.
Step 8 (week 12 of the semester): Students to present findings to key stakeholders  in the last weeks of the semester
Phase 3: Wrap up
Early November 2024Step 9: You will receive the final project report and recommendations
Step 10: Provide feedback via online survey

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