Student ideas can benefit car dealership

Some of the students that got the opportunity to do their internships with Isuzu dealership

Qhawekazi Memani

Isuzu dealerships are taking the lead in providing work-based internships for third-year Marketing Management students and have recently taken in eight students from the Daveyton campus of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT).

The lucky students are Hanedzani Muofa, Lindiwe Masia, Eugenia Mahada, Ronny Phalane, Elvis Makibela, Lindiwe Nhlapo, Sthabiso Msomi and, Simpiwe Phahlane.

The purpose of the internship was to expose the students to real-life business activities whereby they could apply their theoretical knowledge, and also to allow them to experience the work environment; the challenges and how to overcome them.

The students participated in a two month-programme, which began in April, and had to report to the dealership twice a week to assist with customer retention, source new customers to build the existing Isuzu World’s customer base and perform follow-ups with the customers using historical data to discuss their after-sales and service options.

The students have found the internship very rewarding because they gained exposure to the practical side of the business environment: “We have learned how to handle customers and how to communicate as a team and how to work towards the same goal,” they said.

“Thus far the students have come up with good ideas that could benefit the dealership,” said Isuzu Truck World Customer Relations Officer, Kgomotso Ramakgwakgwa.