MRSS and NTUC look to build the talent pipeline for the research

The Market Research Society of Singapore (MRSS) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NTUC to launch the The MRSS Illuminator 2016 programme.One of the primary goals for the Market Research Society of Singapore is to reach out to, support and inspire our next generation of talents who will shape the future of our industry, said Joan Koh, president of MRSS.“The MRSS Illuminator 2016 served to raise awareness and create interests on market research, connect young bright minds with established practitioners and partners, and build the talent pipeline for the research and insight industry in Singapore,” Koh said.The event was supported by the NTUC’s U Associate programme, as part of its efforts to reach out to and support PMEs in their progression needs. In addition to joint outreach programmes, the collaboration aims to provide market research professionals with professional development, training and networking opportunities.“With the explosion of big data and new technologies, it is critical to build a talent pool of market researchers who can draw meaningful insights so businesses are continually equipped to make the right decisions,” said Vivek Kumar, director of NTUC U Associate and U Future Leaders.The inaugural annual competition themed ‘Changing Tides” was opened to junior researchers and students across Singapore’s market research agencies and higher educational institutions to challenge participants to present research insights on one of the six key topics related to shifts in Singapore society and consumer behaviour. Four prestigious awards - OCBC Student Researcher Award, Ipsos Young Researcher Award, Millward Brown Impact Award, On Device Research Award for Creativity were presented to the winning teams and individuals.“The theme of MRSS Illuminator 2016 was chosen to inspire participating teams to work towards insights that catalyse real change in both the commercial and public domain. By working on those real challenges, we hope that the participants of MRSS Illuminator 2016 can come to appreciate the meaningfulness of a career in market research and thus join our increasingly important industry,” said Phong Huynh, Chairperson of MRSS Illuminator 2016.