Universities and Online Degrees Guide

The Independent Institute of Education

Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in Strategic Brand Management

The Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in Strategic Brand Management in Business and Management is offered by The Independent Institute of Education.

Program Length: 1 YEAR.

Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in Strategic Brand Management offered by the Independent Institute of Education at the Faculty of Commerce

The purpose of this programme is to deepen the student's expertise in brand and business strategy and management, whilst developing field specific research capacity underpinned by a strong methodological academic understanding to follow a career in Strategic Brand Management. The proposed degree is structured in accordance with the new HEQSF guidelines and will provide students with the knowledge, skills and applied competencies identified by industry as critical for employees in either the private sector, the government sector or in NGOs. Graduates will also be well-prepared with the insight and skills that are relevant to further specialised study in support of the principles of life-long learning. The specific skillsets incorporated into the design presents a combination that is highly attractive to prospective employers and adds value to the organisation that employs them.

This IIE Honours programme investigates and applies strategic models and tools to the practice of innovative and cost-effective brand management, founded on robust financial and economic principles. Students are exposed to core components such as the financial management of a brand within prevailing economic conditions, brand and market analysis from a commercial perspective, the application of sustainable and ethical business and brand practice, the development of communication strategies in context of the competitive environment and internal realities and the utilisation of metrics and models to assess brand performance and equity.

Modules:

• Brand and Brand Building
• Strategic Brand Management and Leadership
• Financial, Economic and Legal Aspects
• Practice of Brand Building
• Research

BRAND AND BRAND BUILDING

This module develops students’ understanding of the key brand concepts that guide the development of innovative and purposeful solutions to brand building opportunities and challenges. Emphasis is placed on creative, critical and systemic thinking.

STRATEGIC BRAND MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

This module considers brand management from an ‘’inside out” and “outside in”” perspective to guide the management of a sustainable brand by the brand owner. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of both external and internal environmental variables to be considered when developing brand strategies and plans, both locally and internationally. The focus is on commercial and entrepreneurial brand management practice and the associated strategic and operational dimensions. Brands will be analysed in context of the market environment and stakeholder relationships within which they are built.

FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC AND LEGAL ASPECTS

This module develops understanding and applied knowledge of the principles of finance, economics and compliance relative to the development of brand strategies and plans, both locally and internationally.

PRACTICE OF BRAND BUILDING

This module applies the theories of strategic brand management and communication to answer real-life client briefs. The focus is on the development and crafting of an innovative brand building strategy and plan that will address complex business and societal challenges. Students will implement brand research to investigate situational, environmental and commercial scenarios. They will derive consumer insights to drive the execution of original and meaningful solutions to multi-faceted brand challenges. Students work in teams to address real-life working situations; develop their skills in recommending brand solutions; and to collaborate with peers in a process of innovative problem solving.

RESEARCH

Students will develop essential research skills for both professional and academic contexts alongside the ability to present and defend research to an expert audience. Emphasis is placed on independent and critical thinking, analysis, research design and methods, as well as academic discourse. Students complete a self-directed research project of limited scope under supervision in the discipline of the degree.