Corporate Opportunities to Partner with the NPD Program
For the New Product Development (NPD) Scholars Program’s full potential to be realized, participation of the business community is required. While participation could assume varied forms [i.e., including (a) provision of "apprentice-ship" opportunities to NPD Scholars, (b) participation in class-based new product related projects, (c) the sponsorship of scholarships, (d) the provision of lectures or presentations to scholars on campus, (e) participation in NPD forums, etc.], one outcome seems constant: organizations that partner with the NPD Scholars Program at any of the Partnership levels options will benefit directly and materially.
Why Become an NPD Scholars Partner?
Given the high costs associated with recruiting generally and recruiting failure specifically, or with executing independent marketing research or new product development processes, a meaningful ROI ensuing from a NPD Scholars Program Partnership can generally be realized in the short-term. Moreover, NPD Scholars Program Partners will secure an opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of multiple NPD scholars. Beyond this fuzzy "social good" type of benefit, NPD Scholars Partners organizations will benefit from tangible opportunities to:
- Test their own innovative new product-related ideas and concepts in terms of their feasibility, or to assign someone to work on the exploration and development of new product-related ideas for their firm. All NPD Scholars Program classes focus on live corporate projects executed by students who are closely administered by NPD Program faculty members.
- Secure on a first-call basis one or more of these NPD Scholar as interns, or, as what the program like to identify its scholars, as “apprentices.”
- Hire from the elite few graduating scholars who have acquired the knowledge and skills necessary for managing new product or services developmental processes. The program anticipates that many of these corporate hires will emanate from partnering firms’ apprentice or apprentices core. The NPD Scholars program called this a “cheap dating” policy from which our partners will be chief beneficiary. Regardless, each NPD Scholar hire will arrive already in possession of significant potential to perform successfully as entrepreneurial-oriented new product managers. Never forget: these scholars and graduates will already have self-selected their way into a demanding new product program and curriculum, and succeeded. Suggesting they arrive at our Partner organizations as highly motivated product development-oriented employees appears reasonable.
- Avail themselves to Ph.D.-qualified marketing faculty members who will function as independent sounding boards or expert advisors to any partnering organization which seeks such consultation. Each faculty member who participates in the NPD Scholars Program regularly teaches, executes research and possesses practical industry-relevant experience in the New Product Development world.
- Interact on an annual invitation only basis with other new product professionals (from non-competing firms) at a breakfast forum that will exclusively feature NPD Scholars partner firms.
- Earn more favorable name and brand-recognition by association. The Partner organization’s name will be prominently listed on our Website and promulgated throughout our classrooms and hallways as a NPD Scholars Program Partner.
What Partnership Options are Available?
Four basic partnership levels (i.e., bronze, silver, gold, and platinum) are available to any organization to partner with the NPD Scholars Program at the University of North Texas.
- Bronze Partner Membership Level -
At the Bronze Partner level, NPD Program Partners commit to hiring at least one intern/apprentice a year. Each intern must be paid by the partner firm. In addition, Bronze Partners receive the opportunity to participate in one class project per year (as described above). The nature of that project can be determined entirely by partner firm. Membership at the Bronze Partner level requirements a $5,000 annual investment in the NPD Scholars Program. Partner firms are also required to cover out-of-pocket costs associated with the class project. Invoices will be provided. All costs associated with project execution will be negotiated prior to invoice. - Silver Partner Membership Level -
At the Silver Partnership level, partners commit to hiring at least one intern/apprentice a year, and receive early access to students for internships. Each intern must be paid. In addition, Silver Partner firms will receive the opportunity to participate in two class projects per year. Membership at the Silver Partner level requires a $10,000 annual investment in the NPD Scholars Program. Partner firms are also required to cover out-of-pocket costs associated with the class project. Invoices will be provided. All costs associated with project execution will be negotiated prior to invoice. - Gold Partner Membership Level -
Gold level partners commit to hiring at least one intern/apprentice a year. Each intern must be paid. In addition, Gold Level Partners can participate in two class projects per year. Gold Level Partners acquire access to the consulting services of one NPD faculty member for up to six eight-hour-days a year. Gold Level Partner firm names would be prominently featured and linked on our Department’s and NPD Scholars Program’s Website, and at all public Departmental events. Membership at the Gold Partner level requires a $15,000 annual investment in the NPD Scholars Program. Partner firms are also required to cover out-of-pocket costs associated with the class project. Invoices will be provided. All costs associated with project execution will be negotiated prior to invoice. - Platinum Partner Membership Level -
Platinum Partner firms commit to hiring at least one intern/apprentice a year. Each intern must be paid. Platinum Partner firms receive the opportunity to participate in two class projects per year. Platinum Partner firms have access to the consultative services of a faculty member for up to 12 eight-hour-days a year. Platinum Partner firms can also secure their NPD faculty partner’s consultative services for a full month for his or her normal full-time summer salary, i.e., 1/6 of the faculty member’s nine-month salary. Your company name would be prominently featured and linked on the Department’s and NPD Scholars Program’s Website, and at all departmental events. Membership at the Platinum Partner level requires a $15,000 annual investment in the NPD Scholars Program. Partner firms are also required to cover out-of-pocket costs associated with the class project. Invoices will be provided. All costs associated with project execution will be negotiated prior to invoice.
