Graduation ceremony for 17 communication professionals - EMScom awards the best consulting project with the Burson-Marsteller Award for Consulting Excellence

Seventeen communications professionals received their diplomas on November 22, 2014, graduating from the Executive Master of Science in Communications Management within the Faculty of Communication Sciences at USI Università della Svizzera italiana.

A global leader in this field, the EMScom program prepares professionals in developing new perspectives in key communication management areas and, beyond that, to contribute to their organizations’ corporate strategy.An essential part of the degree is the real-life consulting projects for companies or institutions. These projects are developed and delivered to the client by a team. This year the beneficiaries were: EOC (Switzerland), pro Senectute (Switzerland), Wanda (China) and WIPO (Switzerland)

After receiving the diplomas by the Dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences of USI, Professor Michael Gibbert and the EMScom Academic Director, Professor Francesco Lurati, the graduates have received one important acknowledgment: the Burson-Marsteller Award for Consulting Excellence.

Burson-Marsteller Award for Consulting Excellence
The team receiving the highest grade is awarded with the Burson-Marsteller Award for Consulting Excellence. Matthias Graf,CEO of Burson-Marsteller Switzerland,presented the award to the members of the “Pro Senectute” consulting project. The team was asked to provide recommendations regarding the strategic foundations for a rebranding of Pro Senectute. At the heart of the project is a thorough qualitative investigation of internal and external perceptions and views, which has revealed the complex and multifaceted identity of Pro Senectute. By also considering the current brand landscape in which the organization operates, the team was able to offer clear recommendations regarding a future strategic corporate branding process. The recommendations provided by Liliana Becerra (Mexico), Kathrin Gasser (Switzerland), Gilda Schertenleib (Switzerland) and Sauty Omar Timtey (Ghana) reflect a deep understanding of what a branding exercise implies, an exercise that, using their own words, is similar to a “tightrope walk”.
 

List of graduates with respective company

Michaela Alt, Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG
Rana Alzoubi, Abt Associates
Liliana Becerra
Oliver Bertschinger, Obeco
Francesca Bordoni, Bibicom
Alessandra Curti, Rhiag Group
Pascal Frei, Energy Schweiz AG
Francesca Fusco, World Intellectual Property
Kathrin Gasser, Pro Senectute Switzerland
Hanspeter Geisseler, UNESCO International Bureau of Education
Stefanie Gerber, Novartis Pharma AG
Ulrike Kelm, Studio Hamburg Distribution & Marketing GmbH
Simon Krappl, Volvo Car Switzerland AG
Awele  Okigbo, Presidential Taskforce on Power
Gilda Schertenleib, USI Università della Svizzera italiana
Sharon Tang, Hershey Company
Andrea Trombin Valente, EOC Ospedale Regionale di Locarno

About USI and EMScom
The USI Università della Svizzera italiana is part of the Swiss public university system. Founded in 1996, it is distinctive in the Swiss university landscape because of the originality of its degree curricula and the high percentage of international students. USI comprises four main faculties: Economics, Communication Sciences, and Informatics in Lugano, and the School of Architecture in Mendrisio. USI offers a range of executive programs, among those the Executive Master of Science in Communications Management (EMScom). As a global leader in its field, the EMScom program prepares professionals in developing new perspectives in key communication management areas. Based in Lugano, the EMScom is an intensive part-time program with 9 residential sessions spread across twenty months. To reinforce degree candidates’ international perspective, USI Università della Svizzera italiana cooperates with two renowned business schools: the UCLA Anderson School of Management (Los Angeles) and Singapore Management University (SMU) giving participants a unique opportunity to study side by side with Asian peers.

For pictures of the graduates or more information on EMScom please refer to: www.emscom.usi.ch

Contact
USI Università della Svizzera italiana
Regina Pinna-Marfurt
Head of Marketing and Business Development
Phone +41 58 666 42 08
[email protected]
www.emscom.usi.ch