I wanted to let you know about Google's academic initiative to help students develop their online marketing knowledge. It's called the Google Online Marketing Challenge and has been developed by academics across the world in collaboration with us. It launched for the first time last year and received rave reviews from students and professors alike. Here is some of the feedback we received;

This year we would love to have you and your students participate.

This is how it works - Teams of 3-6 students receive US$200 of online advertising with Google AdWords and then source local candidate businesses to work with to devise effective online marketing campaigns. Teams outline a strategy, run their campaign, assess the results and provide the business with recommendations to further develop their online marketing. Teams submit their reports and are judged by a panel of independent academics from all over the world.

The challenge is a great opportunity for students to gain practical, real world experience. Students also get the excitement of competing on a global level for a chance to visit the Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California. In addition, regional winners and their professor will receive a trip to their local Google office.

This is designed to be a flexible competition and the amount of time and effort you dedicate is up to you. If you choose, this will only require a minimal time commitment. For more information you can review the Academic Guide at http://www.google.com/onlinechallenge/academic_guide.pdf. This includes everything you will need to know to decide if the Challenge is right for you and your students.

Do you think this is something that would be of interest? If so, please register on our website at www.google.com/onlinechallenge.

Dates:

• Registrations are open until January 23rd,
• Competition will run between January 26th until May 22nd 2009.
• Winners will be announced in July.

All the Best!!!!!!