Press Room
July 19, 2007
German Version Global Communication Project winners announced in Lisbon
On June 29, 2007, the awards ceremony for the fourth Global Communications Project – an international competition for public relations and communications students – was held in Lisbon, Portugal. This year the project was sponsored by global specialty chemicals supplier Cognis. Thereby participants from eight different countries were asked to develop a strategy for the further improvement of Cognis’ global communication in local markets. The winning team greatly impressed the jury with its creative ideas and clear and consistent concept.
“In today’s marketplace, the key is finding the right balance between global objectives and local implementation,” says Susanne Marell, Vice President Corporate Communications at Cognis. “By taking part in the competition, students were able to increase their awareness and understanding of the means of international communications, and enhance their appreciation of different cultures.”
More then 100 students from eight different countries – Germany, India, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, the UK and the USA, took part in this year’s competition. The participants were split into six teams, all with at least one representative from each country who used online and telephone communications to work together over a three-month period. Their efforts were evaluated by a jury comprising lecturers from all the universities involved.
“The students succeeded in balancing the company’s global aims with the implementation requirements at a local level,” says Volker Stoltz, founder of the Global Communications Project and lecturer in international PR at the University of Erfurt, Germany. “They put their knowledge of their own countries to excellent use.”
The winners were announced during a three-day symposium in Lisbon, Portugal. The award ceremony was the first time that the team members had met each other face to face. “The varied approaches and cultural differences meant that one of the biggest challenges in the project was building a functional team,” says Sandra Schumann, one of the participating students from the University of Erfurt. “But we learned to make allowances for each other, and turn our different preconceptions and ways of working into a positive result.”
Participants in the international Global Communications Project at the award ceremony in Lisbon
Note:
Printable image available on request.
About Cognis
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients, with a particular focus on the areas of wellness and sustainability. The company employs about 8,000 people, and it operates production sites and service centers in 30 countries. Cognis has dedicated its activities to a high level of sustainability and delivers natural source raw materials and ingredients for food, nutrition and healthcare markets, and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. Another main focus is on products for a number of other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, textiles, as well as agriculture and mining. The company holds a 50-percent stake in the joint venture Cognis Oleochemicals, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of oleochemicals.
Cognis is owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS Capital Partners, and SV Life Sciences. In 2005, Cognis recorded sales of 3.18 billion euros and an Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and exceptional items) of 356 million euros.
Contact
Viola Stahl, Communications Manager
Cognis GmbH
Phone: +49-2173-4995-221
E-mail: viola.stahl@cognis.com
Internet: www.cognis.com