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Optimization of internet marketing activities, a model of distribution centers ensuring a competitive advantage and a Polish toy factory for the Scandinavian market - these are the best student ideas that will be implemented in enterprises.

The competition involving the preparation of projects that respond to the specific needs of companies from the following industries: marketing, banking, IT, freight forwarding, logistics and accounting, was organized by the Faculty of Management of Lublin University of Technology as part of the Academic Lublin program.

As admitted by Prof. Marcin Gąsior, dean of the Faculty of Management, the students' ideas were very interesting and, importantly, they were very much embedded in the context of the company. – Students tried to meet market expectations and ask consumers what they were missing. They went on study visits, where they talked to company owners and employees. Thanks to this, they managed to adapt the solutions to the real problems they noticed in these companies.

On October 24, 2023, during the ceremonial Final Gala of the Student Business Festival "Entrepreneurial Student", the competition jury selected 3 projects out of 7.

– We were guided by the following criteria: matching the solution to market realities, economic rationality of the project, organizational feasibility, quality of presentation and creativity in solving problems – says the chairman of the jury, Prof. Paweł Droździel, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs of Lublin University of Technology. He adds: - The standard of all the works was very high. Nevertheless, we had to choose a winner, and we did it unanimously. We liked the presentation, but above all, the carefully developed concept and proposed solutions.

1st place and a prize of PLN 5,000 was won by the team developing the project entitled "Optimization of Internet marketing activities at Szkoltex." Its authors are Paula Korszla and Justyna Żuchnik.

– We provide training in the agricultural sector. We have been on the Internet for some time now. We are very committed to this. However, the effects are average - admits Paulina Stopyra, director of Szkoltex: – That's why we decided to cooperate with students. At first we were a bit skeptical because we didn't know what their commitment would be, but we were positively surprised. As a result, they encountered real problems, they entered the company, where they could actually work on a living organism, and not on dry statistics.

Paula Korszla talks about what the students' work was like: – We conducted interviews with the company's clients, i.e. farmers. Then we optimized the website for SEO and it turned out that the positioning was practically non-existent. So we proposed a concept on how it could be improved. We focused on advertising and greater contact with course participants.

Second place with a prize of PLN 3,000 was awarded to Jakub Krzysztofik, Sebastian Niedźwiedź and Michał Harbuz for a solution developed for Mastermedia entitled "What model of distribution centers should be implemented in the future to ensure a significant competitive advantage in the area of costs and warehouse/transport operations?".

3rd place and PLN 2,000 went to the team consisting of Angelika Pawlas, Magdalena Ochnio and Patrycja Dadacz. The students proposed a solution titled: “Creativity by nature for every child. Polish toy factory for the Scandinavian market" for the TUKU-TUK company.

As noted by Prof. Zbigniew Pater, rector of Lublin University of Technology, the Student Business Festival is an initiative that not only develops the creativity and skills of students, but also contributes to the increase in the competitiveness of local companies: – The solutions proposed by our students are not just for their own sake, but have real potential for implementation. This is a great example of how students can contribute to the development of local business while gaining practical experience that will be useful in their future careers.

The Academic Lublin project started in 2021 and is cyclical. The call for applications lasts from October 1 to October 31 of the year preceding the implementation of the initiatives. The funds awarded in the competition may amount to PLN 15,000, PLN 10,000, PLN 5,000 or PLN 2,000 gross.