Building Brands and Influencing Behaviour
Steven Forbes, founder of Forbes magazine, once stated “Your brand is the single most important investment you can make in your business” as it persuades customers to pay more, purchase more frequently, and retain their loyalty. In short, branding is at the heart of each organisation. In this three-week course you will learn how to build a brand strategy from the ground up, and apply relevant academic theories straightaway to practice, while working with a real client. This programme combines academic insights with experiential know-how to understand the dynamics of branding and how it influences behaviour.
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Programme at a glance
Mode of instruction: On-campus (3 weeks) Academic dates: Sunday 7 July - Thursday 25 July Housing dates: Friday 5 July - Monday 29 July Academic fees: Student fee:
€1750. Read more about what is included in the fees.
Professional fee:
€2000. Read more about what's included in the fees.
Housing fees: €875 for a private room with shared facilities. Housing is optional. Read more about university-organised accomodation.
Credits: 6 European Credits. Read more about credits and credit transfer. Early admission deadline: Thursday 1 February 2024.
Students who require a Schengen Visa to study in the Netherlands are strongly advised to apply before the early deadline to ensure there is enough time to secure a visa appointment before the programme begins.
Final admission deadline: Friday March 15 2024 Who is this programme for? Level: Advanced Bachelors, Masters students and working professionals
Background: Students should have experience in concepts and theories in branding, marketing and business. Working professionals should have experience in the field of marketing, design or public relations. Applicants should want to expand their skillset and gain a competitive edge in business through developing a well-defined brand strategy.
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Programme description
In this three-week summer programme, we examine what factors create a winning brand, analyse the strategies behind it, and learn how to build a winning brand strategy yourself.
The course is set up for students to learn both the theory and practice of branding. All concepts are accompanied by real-life examples and supported by various exercises. Also, we will be joined by a variety of expert guest speakers who will share lessons learned in the field. In the past, these included the brand managers of ING, Philips, and Interbrand, but vary every year. As the programme progresses, participants will dive deeper into the various aspects of brand strategy. From brand definition, consumer research, competitive positioning and differentiation, to brand values, identity design and the brand experience.
Throughout the course, students will work both on individual brand analyses in pace with what they learn in the lectures and guest sessions, and go deeper into applying their newfound knowledge in small workshops. Participants will work on creating deliverables from brand questionnaires to, a (digital) assessment of the brand/company, building a brand strategy and recommending how to bring the brand to ‘life’, culminating in final presentations on the brand of their choice.
The final, individual (take-home) assignment is optional (but mandatory for students seeking academic credit) and consists of a paper in which the participant will analyze and critique a brand of their choosing. This is an opportunity to apply the theory from the course and demonstrate your ability to explore and analyse a sub-topic, such as brand architecture, nudging, or verbal identity.
The aim of this course is to provide students with a new perspective on brands and branding, while challenging them to ‘think on their feet’ as a true brand strategist. -
Academic director
Guido van Garderen (MSc at UvA; MPA at Harvard) is currently pursuing a PhD in marketing at the University of Cape Town and is based in Amsterdam. His research examines how a well-defined brand strategy helps destinations attract talent, trade, tourists and investment, thereby gaining an economic competitive advantage. As a former Strategy Director at the Global brand consultancy Interbrand, he combines best practice examples with the latest academic insights, to develop an understanding of key analytical frameworks and tools, that are essential for a winning brand strategy.
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Explore our community
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- Mode
- Short-term
- Credits
- 6 ECTS, 3 weeks
- Language of instruction
- English
- Conditions for admission
- Open
- Starts in
- July