UoB Students Organize Five Social Marketing Campaigns Dr. Bulaila: The Students’ Campaigns Are the Result of a Strategy Linking Theory to Practice

Sakhir – University of Bahrain (Ali Al Sabbaq)

24 May 2023

The Dean of the College of Arts at the University of Bahrain (UoB), Dr. Abdulaziz Mohammed Bulaila, confirmed that effective student exhibitions are the result of applying the University and College’s strategy in linking theory with practice, and transforming ideas into programs and products that can reach and influence the target audience.

This came in a statement he made on the sidleine of the Social Marketing Campaigns Exhibition, which was organized by the Public Relations Division of the Department of Media, Tourism and Arts on Wednesday (May 10, 2023) in the lobby of the College of Arts on the University’s campus in Sakhir.

Dr. Bulaila stated that the exhibition, in its tenth year, was able to attract more than 100 sponsors for the five campaigns organized by the students, within around a month, stressing that this in itself is a significant achievement for the students of the social marketing course.

The Dean also pointed out that the campaigns demonstrated the students’ skills in public relations, and their awareness of the issues they brough to light, such as: the environment, health, sustainable development issues, pointing out that these campaigns can be developed and expanded, and some of their ideas can be transformed into real products that will be put on the market.

Furthermore, Dr. Bulaila gave thanks to the exhibition supervisor, faculty member in the Department of Media, Tourism and Arts, Dr. Laila Hassan Al- Sager, for her remarkable efforts, which contributed to the continuation of the exhibition in its tenth edition, as it is organized twice a year.

About 40 students in five student teams participated in simulating the public relations team in institutions, by organizing campaigns that propose creative solutions that address the concerns of youth and society.

Regarding the positions that the students took, the course instructor, Dr. Al-Sager, said: “The tasks are distributed among the team members, which include research, planning, organization and implementation, and communication with sponsors, community groups, and employers, so that students can realistically apply the practical skills of public relations.”.

The student campaigns introduced realistic and creative solutions to the problems they chose, which were: the (Wahaj) campaign to encourage the use of natural products to protect the skin, the (Hanni) campaign to encourage healthy cooking practices in innovative ways, the (Hayy) campaign to stop wasting water and encourage new practical uses for wasted water, the (Talashi) campaign to encourage the use of alternatives to plastic in an innovative way, and the (Mantouk) campaign to revive the verbal heritage of Bahrain among Bahraini youth, and the principles of “responses” among young people.

Dr. Al-Sager added: “This semester, the campaigns are distinguished by their association with the sustainable development goals, and their presentation of innovative environmental solutions, by suggesting healthy and environmentally friendly practices in daily life. In addition, the campaigns promote young people’s awareness and develop their pride in the Bahraini identity.”.

As students of the social marketing course in the campaigns apply the foundations of research and strategic planning, by setting measurable goals and implementing them through modern communication strategies, and then an evaluation process is conducted on achieving such goals after the end of the exhibition.

Moreover, “Hayy” campaign member Rayan Al-Sulaimi said the campaign sheds light on the phenomenon of wasting water, especially drinking water, as 90% of those who drink water bottles do not finish it, according to the observation tool.

He added the campaign team developed an account to publicize its goals and content on the Instagram network, prepared a series of solutions to prevent wasting water, and hired a person to raise awareness of the importance of preserving water, which is a paramount necessity for life for all beings.

For her part, the team member, student Tahera Khalil, explained that the campaign prepared a questionnaire to measure the cognitive and behavioral aspects of the subjects of the campaign, in order to measure the findings of the campaign, which shall last for about a month.