WPP looks to groom marketing talent in India

WPP, the world’s largest communications services group, and the Indian School of Design and Innovation (ISDI) has launched the establishment of the ISDI WPP School of Communication.Located on ISDI’s state of the art campus in the heart of India’s business capital, Mumbai, the ISDI WPP School of Communication marks WPP’s first foray into the Indian education sector. The partnership will help create India’s first professional three-year undergraduate diploma program in communication based on a work-study model that will bring together a strong academic and creative curriculum combined with practical application.The ISDI WPP School of Communication is WPP’s second education initiative globally. In 2011, WPP in partnership with the Shanghai Arts and Design Academy established the WPP School of Marketing and Communications in China.WPP companies have worked closely with ISDI to develop the School’s curriculum and hire full-time faculty. Radha Kapoor, founder & director, ISDI, will lead the School’s board of directors. Senior staff from WPP companies will serve as part-time faculty and act as mentors. Internship and training opportunities will also be provided to students. An executive council has also been set up to oversee the smooth functioning of the three-year program.The partnership with WPP is said to help create the right mix of design, innovation and effective communication that will shape the careers of future industry leaders. The School will offer students a three-year undergraduate program, wherein, the first year comprises of basic marketing and communication subjects and the second and third year offers students four major specialisations to choose from- advertising and communications, media, activation and digital marketing and public relations.Throughout the three years, students will be taught and mentored by top professionals from WPP and the industry, will work on live projects, build a portfolio, develop practical work skills, and have the opportunity to intern with WPP companies and get international exposure through student exchange and study abroad programs.WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell said, “Amid strong growth in the wider economy and, more specifically, in our sector, India is facing a pronounced talent shortage, one that is expected to become even more acute in the future.”Speaking on the supply-demand gap for fresh talent in the industry, Ranjan Kapur, country manager – India at WPP, said, “We employ approximately 15,000 people (including associates) and on an average, we need 3,000 new recruits every year, including replacements and first timers and this school is just a small beginning. We hope to expand this to be able to cover a significantly large part of our requirements and turnout 400-500 young men and women every year from our school. Our first batch of 60 students is just the beginning.”