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Unadulterated joy reverberated in Cape Town as WSUs marketing and communication unit walked away with five awards at this year’s Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) Excellence Awards recently.
MACE, a body that represents marketing and communication practitioners in the higher education sector, is charged with evaluating, for the excellence awards, case study entries in various categories that show excellence and rigid academic standards in planning, delivery, measurement and evaluation.
Seasoned professionals in higher education, government and private the private sectors marketing and communication sector evaluate and moderate the entries.
The awards, which were a culmination of a two-day conference hosted by the University of the Western Cape this year, saw the WSU team scooping four bronze medals and the institution's first-ever silver award in the photography; writing for news; video production, as well as media and publications categories.
“This remarkable accomplishment stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment and exceptional talent within our Marketing & Communication Directorate. It's proof of the teams innovative strategies, creativity, and tireless efforts in showcasing our university's distinct identity and achievements, “ said WSU marketing and communication directorate executive director Yonela Tukwayo.
Invigorated following the momentous accomplishment, Tukwayo boldly proclaimed that the unit would double its returns in 2024 owing to invaluable insights gained regarding the entry and evaluation processes of the awards.
The aforementioned sentiments were emboldened by WSU communication head, Sinawo Hermans, who heaped specific praise on the team due to its efficiency and quality of work despite a myriad of challenges.
“The achievement is humbling and reassuring. We don't always have the best resources available compared to our counterparts, but we certainly give them a run for their money through our wits and unwavering commitment to quality. Our work speaks for itself. We were being officially recognized as a force to be reckoned with, “ said Hermans.
The importance and value gained by the university due to its active participation in MACE is also not lost on Hermans, who equated such rigid scrutiny by industry professionals to the old “steel sharpening steel “adage.
Digital communication officer, Yanga Ziwele, was an exquisite picture of glee following his bronze medal award under the “Writing For the Web“ category.
“It is a great honour to have contributed to the Directorate's recognition at MACE; this is a testament to the hard work that we as a team put in day in and day out to put WSU on the map. Personally, I feel humbled, and I am encouraged to continue growing within the space I’m in so that I can add more value to the work that we do at MCD,“ said Ziwele.
His award-winning article, titled “EL Tourism Industries at Dire Risk - Warns WSU Researcher“ was premised on research conducted by WSU researcher Professor Siya Mxunyelwa about the skills challenges that plague Small to Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs) in the broader BCMM.
By Thando Cezula
