The New Normal is, of course, a very abnormal situation. Target audiences for all marketers, for the first time ever, have been captives in their own homes. Even though the strictest provisions of lockdowns will be relaxed, they will not be completely lifted for many months.

This has meant a dramatic increase in the consumption of all things digital. And digital consumption is habit-forming – the large numbers of people all over the world who have survived on Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media during the lockdown, will continue their patronage – so social media will grow into an even greater giant in the coming months. Marketers who ignore it, do so at their own peril.

Today, everybody has learnt the advantages of doing various kinds of transactions from home; consumers have grown accustomed to buying anything and everything online. They shirked buying potatoes and tomatoes online earlier – now, they do so quite happily, a rather dramatic change in mind-set. So marketing every kind of product online directly to customers, whether you are selling a pin or an expensive automobile is now a permanent and an exciting part of our future.

Similarly, consumers have grown accustomed to large doses of digital entertainment during the lockdown. Even as the lockdown eases off and employees begin to trickle back to offices to work – their appetite for digital entertainment offered online has been thoroughly whetted. So the digital entertainment market is all set for an explosion.

Exciting times are up ahead. Consumers may have been slow to change earlier; but this time they have been thrown into the digital deep–end. Marketers have to follow them there – or be left behind.

With companies spending more of their budgets than ever before on digital marketing, and brands like Google, Amazon, and Facebook continuing to grow their user base, digital and social media marketing are changing the rules of competition, giving customers ways to directly influence modern businesses.  With this MSc Digital and Social Media Marketing, students will learn how to succeed in this new reality of marketing, actively participating in the planning, development, and deployment of real digital and social media marketing campaigns.  It will also allow students to build the skills to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and its practical application in business situations with hands-on experience through practical workshops and real-world projects working alongside industry professionals on genuine digital marketing campaigns.

Mr Ignatius Teo, the Head of School of the MDIS Business School says: “When the use of digital technologies by people, moved from a ‘want’ to a ‘need for survival’ during this period of the worldwide pandemic, all marketing strategies must now embrace digital marketing because the winner in this competitive war is the one who is swiftest and most effective in reaching the customer. But of course, not forgetting the need to study first the data from the consumers.”

Digital marketing skills are highly sought after and with companies putting more of a focus on digital marketing than ever before, graduates can enter a workplace in which opportunities exist within multinationals (for example Google, Amazon, and Facebook), small businesses, the public sector, and not-for-profit organisations/charities. Some of the job opportunities include Content Management Specialist, Digital Marketing Manager, Data Analyst, Search Engine Marketing Specialist, Social Media Marketing Specialist, and Brand Manager, etc.

 

About MDIS

Founded in 1956, the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) is Singapore’s oldest not-for-profit professional institute for lifelong learning. MDIS has two main subsidiaries: Management Development Institute of Singapore Pte Ltd which oversees its Singapore academic operations, and MDIS International Pte Ltd which focuses on the MDIS globalisation strategy.

MDIS offers internationally-accredited courses in Business and Management, Engineering, Fashion and Design, Health and Nursing, Information Technology, Languages and Education, Life Sciences, Media and Communications, Psychology, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and Safety and Environmental Management. These programmes are offered in collaboration with renowned universities in the United Kingdom.

MDIS is EduTrust certified, attesting to its exemplary education and business excellence standards. The institute was first awarded the certification in 2010 – subsequently renewed for four years in 2014 and 2018. MDIS was also one of the first Private Education Institutions (PEIs) to be registered under the Enhanced Registration Framework.

The institute achieved a double win at the Singapore Prestige Brand Award (SPBA); it was one of four winners as well as the overall winner of the SPBA – Heritage Brands 2018. In 2017, MDIS was ranked 4th for the Enterprise 50 Award for its contributions in spurring Singapore’s economy.

Continuing with its long-standing tradition of giving back to society, the MDIS Education Trust Fund (inaugurated in 1999) supports deserving students facing financial difficulties in pursuing their education in Singapore. To date, MDIS has awarded more than 8,000 scholarships and bursaries totaling over S$6 million. The institute also actively supports several charities and provides community assistance, in reaching out to the young, elderly, and disabled.

Equally vested in corporate-level training, MDIS’ corporate training arm, the Management Development, and Consultancy was set up in 1995 to cater to the training needs of the workforce. In 2014, MDIS acquired the Service Quality Centre to diversify its offerings in training solutions – in its endeavour to be a premium provider of training solutions in the region.

Apart from the main Singapore campus, MDIS has international campuses in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as well as in Johor, Malaysia. MDIS also has representative offices in China, India, and Indonesia, as well as agents throughout Southeast Asia.

 

About University of Plymouth

The University of Plymouth (based in the South West of the UK) is renowned for its high quality, internationally-leading education, research, and innovation.

With a mission to Advance Knowledge and Transform Lives, Plymouth is a *top 50 research university with clusters of world-class research across a wide range of disciplines including marine science and engineering, medicine, cybersecurity, and psychology. A three-time winner of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education, the University continues to grow in stature and reputation.

The University has a strong track record for teaching and learning excellence and has one of the highest numbers of National Teaching Fellows of any UK university. With over 19,000 students, and a further 9,500 studying for Plymouth degree at partner institutions in the UK and around the world, and over 135,000 alumni pursuing their chosen careers globally, it has a growing global presence.

*Research Fortnight Research Power League Table 2014

• Top 10 Modern University UK Times Higher Education Young Universities 2019

• Awarded Silver rating in Teaching Excellent Framework (TEF) 2018 in the UK

• Ranked 60th in the Guardian University Ranking 2020, 77th in the Complete University Guide 2019 ranking