Mumbai, Maharashtra, There was a time when becoming an engineer or a doctor was considered the epitome of education. Then came the globalisation of the Indian economy and the advent of MBA, the most coveted degree for all management enthusiasts. But today whatever you do, the question you have to answer is "What have you specialized in?" The changing demands of the market have pushed students to go that extra mile and give that necessary edge to their education by doing a specialization.

Marketing Research as a sector is set to grow by leaps and bounds. It gives one an understanding of the market and the consumer. Be it the launch of a product or service or merely acquiring information on an existing product line, market research is the most widely used tool in an organisation. Most successful organizations today base their marketing actions, decisions and strategies on robust market research data. Hence, a sound knowledge of market research is essential for brand management and marketing.

It is estimated that the Marketing Research industry in India would employ 25,000 highly trained professionals by 2011. To cater to this growing need of the Market Research industry, The Nielsen Company, the world leader in marketing research, and The Northpoint Centre of Learning have launched this Certificate Course in Marketing Research at the post graduate level.

"This course will fulfill a big need in the Marketing Research industry. While the MBA courses impart a basic knowledge of Marketing Research, this program will bring in the rigor of specialized training in Marketing Research. On completion of this course, the student will be productive from Day 1" said Partha Rakshit, Managing Director, The Nielsen Company, South Asia.

On one hand, the mission of Northpoint is to partner with the industry to bridge the gap between the industry and the need for quality talent, specific to industry needs. On the other, The Nielsen Company aspires to be an academy company and ensure that it attracts, retains and builds the right talent in the Marketing Research space.

This course offers a one of its kind, intensive 11 month fast-track career oriented Certificate Programme with the first batch commencing in June 2010. The course will be a mix of theory sessions, which will be held at the state-of-the-art Northpoint campus at Khandala, and extensive hands-on projects and internships with The Nielsen Company. Veteran industry professionals from Nielsen and other reputed companies will share knowledge through guest lecture sessions. On successful completion of the course, students will have the opportunity for placement with The Nielsen Company across Asia Pacific, India, Middle East, and Africa.

"All training at Northpoint includes substantial involvement from the industry, to add a contemporary practical dimension to existing theory. This stems from Northpoint belief that theory is the documentation of past experience and knowledge starts where theory ends. As in all training at Northpoint, this Marketing Research programme will also focus on all round professional development of the students," said Prem Mehta, Chairman, Northpoint Centre of Learning.

For more information, interested candidates can log on to www.northpointindia.com or www.in.nielsen.com/nielsenacademy.com or call Tel: +91 22 22024289, Mob: +91 9822478846 or Email: admissions@northpointindia.com

Notes to Editor

About The Nielsen Company

The Nielsen Company is a global information and media company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, television and other media measurement, online intelligence, mobile measurement, trade shows and business publications. The privately held company is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in New York, USA. For more information, please visit, www.nielsen.com

About Northpoint Centre of Learning

The Northpoint Centre of Learning is designated to promote business success by empowering managers and young professionals with updated knowledge and decision-making skills to make all learning relevant. It works through a close partnership with industry to deliver customized development of effective talent through sustained engagement.