The Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, is proud to announce its collaboration with CrowdSnap for the innovative "CrowdSnap Market Minds Challenge 2024" program. This exciting initiative aims to provide our level 2 students with hands-on experience in real-world market research and data analysis.
Program Highlights
The CrowdSnap Market Minds Challenge 2024 stands out as a prime example of industry-academia collaboration. Our students will have the unique opportunity to work on research projects sourced directly from industry specialists in the hotel, environmental, and social research sectors. Using the cutting-edge CrowdSnap platform, they will conduct surveys and analyze data to address actual industry needs, providing them with invaluable real-world application experience.
The Introductory Session
The Introductory program held on the 28th of August was a promising precursor to the Challenge. The session started with an introduction to the Crowdsnap Market Minds Challenge by Mr. Hasitha Ariyarathna, founder of Crowdsnap. Then Mr. Waruna Kathriarachchi, an Industry renowned research consultant, and former Director of Consumer Insight at Nielsen shared with the students his valuable insights on the Art of conducting Market Research. Following this, the session was graced by Mr. Ross Cafferkey Founder of www.researchclever.com, who joined online from the UK to lead a discussion on ways to Optimize Market Research.
Then Mr. Hansa Zain, Co-Founder Zeneth Labs, Mr.Nuwan Gunasekera, Assistant General Manager at JAT Holdings PLC, Mr.Chithranga Edirisooriya -Social Researcher and Mr. Mathi Thayanan a Sustainable Tourism Practitioner gave the students a thorough introduction to their respective research topics which the students will be researching in the challenge. The diversity of research topics is particularly exciting, with projects ranging from tourism demand forecasting to studying the impact of digital nomadism on Sri Lanka's tourism industry, offering a broad spectrum of challenges and learning opportunities.
Objectives and Benefits
This program is designed with multiple objectives that will significantly benefit our students. Firstly, it offers practical skill development, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in designing research questions, collecting data, and analyzing results using cutting-edge tools. The direct interaction with industry specialists provides students with unparalleled insights into current market trends and challenges, bridging the gap between academic theory and industry practice. Moreover, the program creates valuable networking opportunities, facilitating connections between students and potential future employers or mentors. Students will enhance their analytical thinking by tackling complex, real-world problems, and sharpening their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Ultimately, participation in this challenge will boost students' resumes and better prepare them for future careers in market research and data analysis, significantly enhancing their career readiness.
Impact on Students
This program represents a significant step forward in our department's commitment to providing practical, industry-relevant education. For students, it offers a unique opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, enhancing their learning experience and career prospects.
The CrowdSnap Market Minds Challenge 2024 exemplifies our department's dedication to innovation in education and our strong ties with industry partners. We are excited to see the creative solutions our students will develop and the long-term positive impact this experience will have on their academic and professional journeys.
The Department of Industrial Management is utterly grateful to the Crowdsnap team for organizing this admirable initiative. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting program and the groundbreaking research our students will produce!