SPIKES: Spikes Academy round-up

Spikes Academy was created with the aim of nurturing young minds and inspiring them to join the advertising business. Sponsored by Cheil WW, the three day learning programme brought together 15 students from over seven countries, and gave them the opportunity to to learn from advertising veterans, through workshops and seminars.

The Academy was steered by Noor Azhar Mohamed, a lecturer at the Singapore Polytechnic School of Design and drew speakers like Frederik Haren, founder of interesting.org, Tim Mellors, vice-chairman and Worldwide creative director, Grey Group and Barbo Ohlson-Smith, creative director, Ohlsonsmith Design.

"We're creating the next generation", said Joe McDonagh, WW creative director and Senior VP, global creative division, Cheil WW, when quizzed about Cheil's sponsorship of the Academy.

"These kids are designing new media and they are the ones who will be working with it", he said. Candidates underwent a rigorous pre-screening process that involved writing an essay on their passion for the business and came with a background from the marketing communications space.

Unlike Young Spikes, the academy was reserved for students still at university. Anuj Pachauri from the NMIMS University of Mumbai believes the learning will not stop here. "This is a seed for thought that will grow with time", he says.

The time for storytelling will not end this year, that's for sure.

Follow all the action of Spikes Asia on Twitter using hashtag #spikes09 - posts featuring that tag will appear on www.media.asia.

Also, Media is opening up its online Spikes photo gallery to readers. Send your Spikes pictures to [email protected]a to include them.

Spikes Asia is organised in conjunction with Haymarket Media. The full programme can be found at www.spikes.asia.