A creative and professional multimedia ad campaign has launched a group of Charles Sturt University communication students into the international advertising world, as national winners in the International Advertising Association Compaq Competition.

With a brief to design an ad campaign for client Compaq, the group impressed a panel of industry heavyweights and beat 10 other Australian universities, to move onto the next level where they will be judged against six other international winners for the global championship award.

Calling themselves Kajulu (Aboriginal for 'get ahead') the seven-member team produced a campaign that included as a showpiece, an interactive website and a professionally produced video presentation. A 50 page research and strategy document that included concepts for print, radio and television advertisements, billboard ads and a sports sponsorship proposal, were also part of the entry.

With a brief to design a campaign based on any facet of the company, the group focussed their attention on the home PC user and ran with the slogan, CompaQ…it's personal.

Team members Gillian Bockman, Melissa-Jane Bolling, Caroline Ghatt, James Holloman, David O'Hana, Megan Smith and Tessie Teoh completed the project under the supervision of advertising course coordinator Peter McDonald and lecturer Brett Van Heekeren.

Mr McDonald said the student's project has been shown and vigorously discussed with key executives from top Sydney agencies, The Campaign Palace, BAM/SSB, DDB and the Sydney Board of the International Advertising Association.

"All of them have consistently praised the quality of the student's thinking, their obvious passion and commitment for the project and have been excited by the very high standard of production values achieved for all of their creative materials," he said.

A point reiterated by president of IAA's Sydney Chapter Don Brockman.

"It was the best presentation I had seen from a student group by a considerable margin. The research base was sound. The strategic development thorough…the creative concept and production levels of the campaign, excellent."

An announcement on the global winner is expected by the end of June.