The organizers of Cosmoprof North America have announced their partnership with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). As the State University of New York’s most fashion-forward university, FIT is the only college in the U.S. to offer both a bachelors and masters degree dedicated to marketing cosmetics and fragrances. This collaborative effort will not only highlight the school’s forward thinking, but will help to launch the career of four very talented, inspired, and industry-minded students from the undergraduate program.

In its inaugural year, the participants will have the opportunity to attend the show as the first ever Cosmoprof Trend Scouts. While being given unrestricted access to the show floor, the Trend Scouts will tour the show and speak with exhibitors to discover new product launches and show specials. They will then report on their findings via posts on Twitter and Facebook, giving the entire industry access. Those posts will also be shown in real-time at the main entrance to the show floor, helping attendees to identify the “at the moment” trends, as well as new or existing companies that they should meet with. The initiative is designed to give the show a fresh and unique component, while fostering an environment for the budding professionals to meet and network with exhibitors and industry leaders, potentially securing future employment.

FIT and Cosmoprof North America’s organizers have developed the criteria by which students will be awarded the opportunity, and it is expected that the scope of the requirements will broaden in coming years. For this year, the winners will need to be ranked at the top of the 2011 Bachelor degree program upon graduation.

Daniela Ciocan of SoGeCos Americas and Cosmoprof North America’s marketing director talks about the new alliance: “Our team feels that education is the key to keeping the industry fresh and alive. As such, we are proud to unveil this new initiative that supports new talent coming into our industry. And we are all very excited to work with FIT, who natures the beauty’s leaders of tomorrow in a uniquely dedicated program focused on the cosmetic market at its core.”

Virginia Bongfiglio, chair of the B.S. Marketing Cosmetics and Fragrances program also expresses her enthusiasm. She says, “We share in the excitement at having the students attend one of the largest beauty appointments for the industry happening in Las Vegas and the opportunity for the program to be affiliated with one of the most reputable and respected beauty trade shows in the world.”

Cosmoprof North America 2010 will take place July 31 through August 2, 2011 at the Mandalay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit www.cosmoprofnorthamerica.com.