Singaporean students are savvy marketers.

A group of National University of Singapore undergraduates showed their mettle when they won first place at an international marketing competition.

Morris Png, Tran Thi Thu Huong, both 25 and Tan Sze Rei, Eliz, 23, took part in the finals of the L'Oréal Brandstorm International Competition 2007 in Paris, and won first place in this prestigious competition.

They pitted their skills against more than 4,000 students from 34 other countries, and impressed the panel of judges with their marketing savvy and slick presentation to snag a trip to any city of their choice worth €10,000.

Second place went to France's ESSEC, and third to the Institute Advertising & Communication Training from Malaysia. Both teams also won trips of their choice worth €5,000 and €2,500 respectively.

CEO of L'Oréal, Jean-Paul Agon, said: "Throughout the competition, we have witnessed great streaks of innovative brilliance. This diverse group of young, talented and energetic people reflects very well the values of a modern L'Oréal, where innovation, passion, diversity and team spirit are the drivers of building a great company to work in."

The finalists were put through two rounds of presentations in Paris and had to impress a judging panel that included high profile CEOs and managers.

The Singapore team won for their new product idea for Redken products for men. This ranged from developing four products in the range to conceptualising the advertising campaign and service provision for the brand and products.

Inspired by tech gadgets that men are attracted to, they created a packaging that can slide open.

But the highlight of their Paris competition came in the evening during the second round of presentations.

Held at the Paris Museum, on a stage that was big enough to accommodate a runway for models and a live band, the night got the Singapore team's adrenaline pumping.

Mr Png said: "Tran and I have been in other international competitions previously, but they were business presentations, and very formal. This is probably one of the most global with 35 competing countries participating.

"We had to think on the spot decide where to stand on stage, how to address the judges and were not given time to rehearse."

It is the second time that students from Singapore have won this competition. It is the second time that students from Singapore have won this competition. A team from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) won in 2003.

Mr Kwan Lai Heng, Human Resource Director of L'Oréal Singapore said: "By clinching the International Champion title again, it shows that Singapore is capable of producing exceptional marketing talents."

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