The IAA Dentsu InterAd XI global student competition

'This annual program is a vital educational experience for advertising and marketing students worldwide,' said Professor Noriyuki Shutto, Executive Advisor, Dentsu Inc., 'and we are excited to be involved in the program this year.'

InterAd XI will challenge students to address the UN's Millennium Development Goals and how to achieve them by 2015. 'InterAd XI is an outgrowth of the IAA's ongoing commitment and dedication to the training and education of the next generation of marketing communications professionals,' said IAA Chairman Joe Ghossoub. 'Each year we endeavor to create a world class learning experience and this year's program is excellent,' said Ghossoub.

'This international program contributes in realizing the educational goals, which the association aims at achieving as it forms a vital platform for those who are serious in pursuing a career in marketing communications. This program will help these students develop their skills and abilities, giving them the requested knowledge to compete globally,' said Sharif Abukhadra, IAA Jordan Chapter President and IAA Global Vice President for Communications and Public Relations.

Students from IAA-accredited institutes as well as other universities will form teams and develop comprehensive campaign recommendations for furthering the UN's Millennium Development Goals. According to United Nations Millennium Campaign Director Salil Shetty, the following 8 goals are vital if we are ever to see an end to poverty: The 8 goals are eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other disease; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development. 'InterAd XI will challenge advertising and marketing students the world over to create campaigns to ensure that we are the first generation to eradicate poverty,' said Shetty.

Participating teams will conduct situation analyses, determine strategies, and prepare creative executions, media plans, and promotional recommendations. Teams will be judged regionally by IAA professionals. Regional winners will then advance to the InterAd XI world jury composed of senior marketing communications professionals and UN Millennium Campaign leaders for final judging.

All participants will receive InterAd XI certificates. Regional winners and runners up will also receive InterAd XI plaques and the InterAd XI World Champion team will receive a trophy plus travel allowance of up to US$7,500 to present their award-winning proposal at a United Nations event. InterAd XI Projects including the case brief, instructions, guidelines and registration form have been e-mailed to accredited institutes and qualifying schools.

The deadline for registration is December 15, 2006 and all entries must be submitted to IAA's World Service Center by April 2, 2007.