The Modern Marketing Association MENA (MMA MENA) has announced the expansion of its educational initiative, MMA Academy, into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The association’s first initiative in the region is a semester-long MBA student pitch competition that was launched in collaboration between American University in Dubai (AUD) and entertainment platform OSN.
Through a brief set by OSN, the competition will challenge students to develop a comprehensive 360-degree marketing communications and advertising campaign, incorporating AI and digital marketing technologies.
They will be graded on evaluated on the creatives, strategy, use of media and business impact.
The students will present their 360-degree marketing campaign pitches to OSN and MMA Academy, with prizes and potential opportunities with OSN for the winning teams.
The experience aims to provide students with practical skills and prepare them for real-world marketing challenges.
“We’re excited to collaborate with MMA and AUD on this applied campaign, uniting professionals, academics, and students in a unique initiative,” said, Devrim Melek, SVP of Strategy at OSN.
MMA Academy will also host guest speaker sessions with industry leaders from UM MENAT and MEmob+ to offer AUD undergraduate and MBA students insights into AI-driven marketing and data analytics.
These sessions will include practical exercises that encourage students to apply their knowledge in real-time, further aligning academic learning with industry expectations
Through the initiative, the association aims to offer students hands-on learning opportunities, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and real-world industry demands.
“Our goal is to empower the next generation of marketers with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape,” said, Melis Ertem, MMA MEA CEO.
“We are proud to take a significant step toward realising our vision of contributing qualified human resources to the global modern marketing sector through MMA Academy.”
MMA Academy: what’s coming next
MMA Academy will also be launching the region’s first certificate programme in collaboration with Digital Turbine.
The free masterclass sessions by Digital Turbine’s experts will provide participants access to the latest marketing technologies and strategies.
It will also launch a digital content hub on the MMA MENA website. The platform aims to serve as a go-to resource for marketing professionals seeking to advance their skills and knowledge, offering webinars, certificate programmes and content.
MMA Academy is a platform designed to equip marketing professionals and aspiring talent with skills in AI-driven marketing technologies and strategies. The academy offers training programmes and workshops, through partnerships with local platforms, agencies and universities, that cover the latest advancements in digital marketing, artificial intelligence (AI), and marketing technologies.
Participation at the academy is open to MMA board member company employees, university students, and new graduates.
