Digimind partners with De Montfort University

Digimind has announced a partnership with the Faculty of Business & Law at De Montfort University, Leicester, to introduce their MSc Strategic Marketing students to research techniques used by today’s intelligence practitioners.

The aim of the initiative, spearheaded by Dr. Sheila Wright, Reader in Competitive Intelligence & Marketing Strategy at the University, is to equip students with the necessary tools and expertise to prepare them for their future careers using the skills of Strategic & Competitive Analysis, Competitive Intelligence & Insight Management, Digital & Social Marketing, E-marketing and Market Research.

As companies increasingly shift their research and intelligence needs to automated software, the Digimind platform gives students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with current technologies designed to collect and analyze information in real-time and enables them to better respond to the challenges facing businesses today.

Dr. Sheila Wright explains: “By giving students access to the Digimind platform we’re giving them experience of the real world as well as opening their eyes to the range of sources available beyond Google. I want to prepare students for the daily reality of working in an intelligence department by giving them access to the tools needed to build real-time information dashboards, competitor benchmarks and company profiles. The skills the students acquire throughout the course offer them a distinct advantage in today’s competitive job market.”

Dr. Sheila Wright knows how important it is for students to broaden their source range when doing research on companies.  Until this collaboration, Sheila has had to be realistic about her student’s research skill levels and what she could expect from them.  “The students will still receive marks for obtaining information but that will no longer be the key output of the exercise.  Now I can ensure that they have to exercise their analytical and interpretative skills. This highly valuable Digimind collaboration has now allowed me to design the course in such a way that we can equip my students with the necessary skills and competencies required in the marketplace. The course content is aligned closely with industry demands so we can prepare students for successful careers in a wide range of industrial and professional environments.”