Established in 2007, with Professor John M.T. Balmer as its first Director, the pioneering has “come of age” as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Over the last 10 years, the course has attracted students from all parts of the globe and former students now hold prominent corporate brand management positions.
MSc Corporate Brand Management Students (2015-2016) at the final group presentations for the Corporate Brand Management Consultancy Elective with Course Director, Dr Sharifah Alwi (front row centre) and the two external assessors from the consultancy industry.
A Trailblazing Degree
Its launch – just 12 years after the formal introduction of the corporate brand concept in 1995 – was trailblazing in that it, arguably, was the first Master’s degree anywhere in the world to have corporate brands as its explicit focus.
An Unsurpassed Pedigree
The foundational work on corporate brand scholarship has taken place in the UK. Therefore, it was fitting that a British University should be the first to offer this degree. In launching this degree, Brunel University, as a prominent London-based University, was able to capitalise on London’s status as the capital of corporate brand management and consulting.
Moreover, the Marketing and Corporate Brand Research group at Brunel Business School then – and now – has an international profile vis-à-vis its research and scholarship in the corporate branding field. Professor John M.T. Balmer is, sometimes, credited with formally introducing the corporate brand notion in 1995 and was the first academic to be appointed to a personal chair in corporate brand management at Bradford University. As such, the course is greatly informed by the research and scholarship undertaken by Marketing and Corporate Brand faculty.
A Special Anniversary
In remaking on the anniversary, the Director of MSc in Applied Corporate Brand Management, Dr Sharifah Alwi, commented: “The 10th anniversary of the degree is a time for real celebration and an opportunity for us to re-engage with our former students who are working across the globe. Thanks are also due to colleagues who have served as Directors of the programme including Professor Balmer, Professor Melewar, Professor Gupta and Dr Heller”
Professor John M.T. Balmer who, as the first director of the course (and who still teaches on the degree) notes: “It has been a huge privilege to be associated with this degree and to have taught so many excellent students, many of whom are now working in the corporate branding sector.”
We would like to hear from past students – about your experiences and where you are now. If you are a graduate, contact the Director of the MSc in Applied Corporate Brand Management, Dr Sharifah Alwi: Sharifah.Alwi@brunel.ac.uk