The Marketing and Communication Department (MCD) walked away with three prestigious national accolades during the 2024 Marketing, Advancement, and Communication in Education (MACE) Excellence Awards.

The team secured a silver award in Division 1: Campaigns for the "BOK Fridays CPUT" initiative, which ran during the Rugby World Cup. The campaign was the brainchild of Cathy Cloete, who is responsible for events and PR.

In Division 3: Skills, the team earned bronze awards in two categories. The bronze in the category Design for Digital Channels applauded the creativity behind the Shero campaign and was created by Kurt Mitchell.

The second bronze award was in the category Writing for the Web, and recognised an article, Graduate Excels Despite Great Loss, which was written by communication officer, Ilse Fredericks-Kennedij.

Hosted annually, the MACE Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in marketing, advancement, and communication across the higher education sector. These awards acknowledge exceptional campaigns, innovative strategies, and the talents of practitioners who bring their visions to life.

The ceremony marked the end of a successful two-day MACE National Conference, which was hosted by CPUT at the Bellville Campus. Under the theme Maximising Impact: Innovative Strategies for Transformative Higher Education Marketing, Communication, and Advancement, delegates explored cutting-edge practices.

The conference culminated in the glamorous Excellence Awards ceremony and dinner at the scenic Eureka Estate in Durbanville. Themed "Under the African Skies," the event was a celebration of skill, dedication, and excellence in higher education marketing and communication.

Cathy Cloete, who manages Public Relations and Events, said she was “truly honoured to receive this award for the CPUT campaign”. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, creativity, and collaboration that went into bringing a vision to life. Thank you to my colleagues at CPUT —it’s a win we can all celebrate together!"

Dr Garth Van Gensen, Director: MCD, said the MACE annual national conference is an opportunity for colleagues at public universities and TVET colleges to gather and share best practices. “Very often our issues are uniform, and MACE gives us a chance to gather and learn from one another. This year CPUT scooped three awards and hosted the almost 300 delegates at our Bellville campus. Our organising team did an exceptional job and showed their peers that quality, creativity, and hard work are in the DNA of everything we do at CPUT.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

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CPUT has a brand-new website. After four months of hard work by the Web Office and Marketing and Communication Department, the new corporate website launched on 27 May.

Thanks to an improved search engine, layout and navigation structure, the new website is more user-friendly. Visitors to the website can now easily find what they are looking for.The website relies on state-of-the-art technology, allowing users to access it on any type of device, from mobile phones to tablets. The website accessibility has been improved for the visually impaired by having a link to enlarge the text, making it more legible.The new website has been optimised to make its pages as small as possible, thereby allowing it to load very fast.Prospective students can expect a host of information on the website, from how to apply to CPUT to the fees of each course. Current students can look forward to a designated Students section, where information on student life is featured, such as sports and on-campus events.The website design, programming and content was all done by CPUT staffers Marick Hornsveld (Web Editor), Lovemore Nalube (Web Developer), and Ashley Jones (Assistant Web Developer).The CPUT website uses a Content Management System (CMS) called Joomla. It is one of the most popular CMS systems out there. It is Open Source, thereby allowing the Web Office to customise it to suit CPUT’s needs.To read more about the redesign of CPUT website, please visit our blog.The Web Office would love to hear from you about the new website, send us your comments by filling in this short form.

Written by Marick Hornsveld

CPUT showcased its diverse research activities on Research Day, held on 28 November 2008.

The event, the first of its kind, celebrated research excellence in order to promote a culture of research at the University. It is envisaged that it will be a regular feature on the CPUT events calendar.

CPUT is rated second among Universities of Technology on the research league tables in respect of research output (after Tshwane University of Technology). It boasts 11 NRF-rated researchers, and invests considerable funding into research activities within faculties and research centres.

Addressing delegates in the Auditorium on the Bellville Campus, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships Dr Chris Nhlapo emphasised the importance of the commercialisation of research, which to date had not been a focus of South African higher institutions. A new CPUT venture would enable researchers to convert their findings into commercial products or services.

“Research should not just end up on library shelves”, said Dr Nhlapo.

CPUT is currently in the process of appointing a Director of Technology Transfer and Innovation, who will oversee the commercialisation process, as well as a Manager of Commercialisation. CPUT has also set up an Innovation Board to evaluate research conducive to commercialisation. This should ensure CPUT’s leadership in technology and innovation in Africa, according to Dr Nhlapo.

Director of Research at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, Dr Pieter van Breda, applauded CPUT for its research activities, noting that research thrived within a strong research culture and ethos, coupled with an effective research office. He encouraged CPUT academics to focus on relevant research: “(Research) must make the world a better place.” He also emphasised the integration of research with technology and innovation.

Zena Scholtz briefly outlined the importance of women in research at CPUT, focusing on the establishment of the Women in Research Association earlier in 2008. Assoc Prof Liz van Aswegen analysed CPUT subsidy-generating research outputs from 2005 to 2007.

The afternoon programme showcased research within each of CPUT’s six faculties, concluding with a presentation by Mr Mahlubi Mabizela, Director of Higher Education and Development Support at the Department of Education (DoE). In his outline of DoE research funding policy, he noted that many institutions were losing subsidy funding through incorrect or incomplete reporting, especially of conference proceedings.

The day concluded with the presentation of awards to individuals who had demonstrated research excellence, based on work completed between 2005 and 2007.

• The platinum award for industry funding in excess of R1 million went to Assoc Prof Oscar Philander of the Engineering Faculty, who brought in funding in excess of R5 million.
• The platinum award for the most completed Master’s and Doctoral candidates supervised went to Prof André Slabbert of the Business Faculty.
• The platinum award for the highest number of DoE publication subsidy units went to Prof Theo Haupt of the Engineering Faculty.

An exhibition of student and staff research posters was held outside the auditorium. Awards were given to the top three posters in the staff and student categories.

• The prize for best poster in the staff category went to Snyman Ohlhoff of the Department of Tourism Management in the Faculty of Business.
• The prize for best poster in the student category went to Ilse Nadia Frederichs and Maricel Keyser of the Department of Food Technology in the Faculty of Applied Sciences.

Marketing and Communication Department

Photograph: Prof André Slabbert receives the platinum award for the most completed Master’s and Doctoral candidates supervised.

Written by CPUT News
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The Marketing and Communication Department of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology takes pleasure in inviting your Grade 11 and Grade 12 learners to the Open Day, to be held as follows:

Dates: Thursday, 14 May – 16 May 2009
Times: 09:00 – 16:00 (Thursday and Friday)
09:00 – 14:00 (Saturday)
Venue: Major Sports Hall, Bellville Campus
RSVP: See contact details below

This interactive exhibition will afford prospective students with first-hand information on our courses and degree programmes as well as the student support services offered by the University.

We can accommodate 100 - 200 Grade 11 / 12 learners at 10-minute intervals. Please note that it would take approximately an hour for your learners to view the exhibition stalls.

To arrange for your school to visit the Open Day contact:

Grant Barends
021 959 6087
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Patsy Samuels
021 959 6286
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Raa-iqah Isaacs
021959 6609
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For more information contact:
Marilyn Cloete
021 959 6228
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Grant Barends
021 959 6087
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We look forward to hearing from you.

Written by CPUT News
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The CPUT annual Open Day opened its doors on 15 May 2008. Crowds of learners visited the Multipurpose Hall of the Cape Town Campus over the event’s three-day duration.

According to Ms Fazloen Zouity of the Marketing and Communication Department, “Open Day is the biggest institutional marketing drive as all faculties are on board to promote potential career opportunities to Grade 10, 11 and 12 learners in South Africa .”

A variety of courses offered by the University were exhibited by various academic facilities and student support services. Learners and their parents were able to obtain first-hand information regarding the approximately 70 undergraduate courses on offer at the largest University in the Western Cape.

Exhibitors went to creative lengths to give their stalls a unique edge. The Public Relations exhibitors handed out goodie bags that were produced by students out of old newspapers. The Tourism Management exhibitors used a distinctive form of Guerilla Marketing by dressing up one of their representatives in a Gorilla costume. Events Management had a Sophiatown theme with old records hanging suspended from the sides of their stand. The Marketing exhibit was decorated in a snowy winter theme to go with the stand’s slogan, “Marketing is cool.” Photography Technology displayed a striking collection of current student projects that covered almost all of the stall’s wall space.

Many of the stalls had an interactive element. Learners could browse multimedia presentations to gain more information about courses. Applied Sciences and Engineering exhibitions gave learners the chance to experience live scientific experiments and technology demonstrations. Good Hope FM did a live radio broadcast from the Multipurpose Hall which gave learners an opportunity to see exactly how the broadcasting procedure operates. The braver learners were seen shaking hands and introducing themselves to DJ Suga.

Overall, the Open Day kickoff proved be full of fun, learnership and good spirits for the learners, exhibitors and CPUT staff. Open Day continued on Friday 16 May and Saturday 17 May.

By Tyrone van Heerden, Marketing and Communication Department

Photograph: An Electrical Engineering demonstration impresses a group of learners

Written by CPUT News
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Students and staff members travelled to the southernmost tip of Africa to deliver an educational programme promoting life skills to high school learners.

The collaborative project between the Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Unit (SLCEU), the organisation Bossie Projects, and the Cape Agulhas Municipality was held in Bredasdorp and Arnistion and involved learners from Bredasdorp High School and Albert Myburgh Secondary School.

CPUT Student Ubuntu Ambassadors took the lead in designing workshops, in the form of reflection circles, on topics which the school principals had indicated were a challenge at their schools and in the community. Themes covered were substance abuse, bullying (including cyber bullying), gender-based violence and sexuality as well as study skills. The methodology enabled learners to engage in deep reflective and interactive dialogue which was guided by critical questions posed by the CPUT students.

Bossie Projects, which was started by six passionate individuals, partnered with CPUT with the ”purpose to specifically shift our focus on the communities on the outskirts of Cape Town, where resources are minimal, if not scarce”. Together with the SLCE Unit, Bossie Projects conceptualised how resources could be shared to deliver a quality experience to the learners. Bossie Projects provided hygiene products as well as a meal to the learners. “We are hoping that this will be one of many projects to come with the Arniston community, a beginning to a prosperous venture,” says chairperson, Debbie De Mink.

Luzeth Smith, Manager: Human Development at the Cape Agulhas Municipality, thanked CPUT for the programme. “I could see that the learners really enjoyed the sessions and it was indeed a learning for life opportunity. I am impressed with the professional manner in which our pre-engagements were conducted and the implementation of the programme was of high standard. The students who facilitated the sessions were competent and the youth related well with them. The topics were relevant and the youth participated actively during the discussions. The feedback from the youth confirmed that the learning for life programme was effective and the knowledge obtained can be applied in their daily life.”

Student Ubuntu Ambassador and project team leader, Moegamat Gabieb Hendricks, a Management and Project Management final-year student, said: “The impact that the project had on me is to always want to change the negative into a positive and always wanting to make a change in the lives of others”.

Energy Masters student in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Muster Madavha, added that he had been bullied for years and the project had made him realise the importance of sharing what had happened and how he managed “to get to where I am academically”.

“Sharing my life experience made me realise that I am on top of my challenges, not the other way around where my challenges are on top of me.”

Jacqui Scheepers, Manager: SLCE Unit, said they aim to continue exploring future projects with the Cape Agulhas Municipality and Bossie Projects adding that “it is encouraging to see learners openly sharing with our students their daily struggles experienced at school and in their communities”.

“Thanks to the Marketing and Communication Department, we could share the CPUT prospectus and encourage learners to apply to universities. The students were excellent role models and showed learners that further study was possible, no matter what their background.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Grade 11 and 12 learners who are unsure about their future study path can kickstart their future by joining the CPUT courses and admission criteria webinar.

The webinar will take place on Saturday, 14 November and will showcase the institution’s more than 70 career-focused courses.

“The closing date (for 2021 applications) has been extended. Therefore, matriculants still have a chance to apply and this webinar is perfect to help them to gain a better  understanding of the courses and to make informed decisions”, said Thandokazi Mtshekisa, a Student Recruitment Officer in the Marketing and Communication Department.

 “Grade 11 learners will be made aware of the entry requirements of their desired courses and what is expected when they apply in their Grade 12 year,” adds Mtshekisa.

Each faculty will do a 25-minute presentation and each session will be followed by a Q&A session during which prospective students will be able to ask questions.

The first session, which will include the Faculties of Applied Sciences, Engineering and the Built Environment as well as Health and Wellness Sciences, will take place from 9:00 to 11:00.

The second session, which will feature the Faculties of Business and Management Sciences, Education and Informatics and Design, will take place from 12:00 to 14:00.

Prospective students, their parents or guardians and Life Orientation teachers are all welcome and may register for one or both sessions.

Click here to register.    

*To participate, click on the link which will be emailed to you after RSVP’ing.  If you are going to watch the webinar on a mobile device, you will need the MS Teams app but do not require any teams account. If you are watching on a laptop or desktop, click on the link and watch through the web browser.

Enquiries can be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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A highlight of the Installation Ceremony of the first Chancellor of the University will be a performance from the merged CPUT Choir. The Choir, which consists of male and female voices from multiple campuses will be performing two pieces. They will be accompanied by Choir Manager Thobeka September and by Dr Nina du Toit, Co-ordinator of the Disability Unit.

Despite the fact that the University has existed as a merged institution since 2005, the choirs of the Bellville and Cape Town Campuses have, for the past three years, practiced and performed separately. On 12 June 2008 the choirs merged and are now known as the CPUT Choir.

During the June vacation, the merged choir represented CPUT at the South African Tertiary Institution Choral Association (SATICA) competition in Limpopo at the University of Venda . The other universities that participated in the competition included Walter Sisulu University (WSU), Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and Durban University of technology (DUT).

Chorister Unathi Xulubana said it was a good experience and exposure for the choir. She added that this is a choir that will be representing CPUT during future competitions and many other special occasions. “We as the CPUT choir, we will represent and continue to be ambassadors of CPUT in arts and culture” said Xulubana.

Last year, the Bellville and Cape Town Choirs entered separately in the Old Mutual/Telkom National Choir Festival and were both awarded accolades. Cape Town Choir was placed third and Bellville Choir was crowned national champion. The merged choir continues to be of interest to Old Mutual and has been hand-picked by the company for use in Old Mutual’s new marketing initiatives.

Among the other Arts and Culture contributions scheduled for the Installation are Djembe drumming from the CPUT student dance group Distorted Movement and praise singing from Lonwabo Mdunyelwa of the Arts and Culture Leadership Programme. The CPUT Choir will perform the song “Plea for Africa ” and the male voice piece “Soldiers’ Chorus.”

September is proud of what the CPUT Choir has achieved. “They are extremely talented,” she said, “We can expect great things from them in the future.”

By Ruth Chisesa and Ilana Abratt, Marketing and Communication Department

Written by CPUT News
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The midyear holidays saw the Cape Town Campus of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology open its doors to 440 dedicated school learners for the annual Association for Educational Transformation (ASSET) Winter School programme.

ASSET is an NGO which provides educational opportunities to scholars from disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape.

The Winter School, which is aimed at offering extra tuition to Grade 11 and 12 learners from fourteen different development schools in the Western Cape focuses on providing extra tuition and preparing learners for the final Matric examinations. Subjects that are offered include Mathematics, Physical Science, Economics, Accounting and Life Skills. According to George Mvalo, Marketing Liaison Officer at the Research and Development department at CPUT, the course has a strong focus on goal setting and conflict resolution.

“One week of school holidays allows children to be productively engaged in worthwhile activity whilst exposing learners to a tertiary institution, which acts as an incentive for further study,” said Mvalo. He added, “The winter School is a highlight in the lives of many of these children and provides an opportunity for them to dream about their future.”

A comment made by one of the learners who attended the school certainly backed up Mvalo’s statement about the school being a “highlight”. “I liked meeting new people and making friends. The teachers were friendly and the accommodation was incredible. I hated the going home time.”

CPUT has been actively involved with ASSET and the Winter School programme for over a decade providing a service to learners in the developing Western Cape region contributing to their growth and development.

By Tyrone Van Heerden, Marketing and Communication Department

Written by CPUT News
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On 13 June 2008 CPUT will be showing support for the victims of xenophobic attacks by observing a moment of silence at 09:00. Staff and students are encouraged to wear white ribbons as a visible mark of solidarity.

The call for universities to act against xenophobia was made by the Office of the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC). CPUT believes that this is a unique opportunity for the entire CPUT community across all campuses to stand alongside fellow institutions in the Western Cape and to unite in a demonstration of solidarity in support of the victims of xenophobia and the victims of other forms of violence.

Staff from the Marketing and Communication Department and a team of students will provide ribbons and pins to all campuses. The Department thanks the CPUT community for its enthusiasm in participating in this initiative.

Department of Marketing and Communication

Read UCT's call for visible solidarity.

Written by CPUT News
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The Marketing and Communication Department of Cape Peninsula University of Technology takes pleasure in inviting your Grade 11 and Grade 12 learners to Open Day 2010.

Dates:
6 – 8 May 2010

Times:
09:00 –16:00 (Thursday and Friday)
09:00 – 15:00 (Saturday)

Venue: Major Sports Hall, Bellville Campus

RSVP: see contact details below

Learners and prospective students will get first-hand information on the courses and support services offered by the university.

CPUT offers more than 70 different courses in the fields of Business, Engineering, Applied Sciences, Health and Wellness Sciences, Education and Informatics and Design.

We can accommodate 100 to 200 learners at 10-minute intervals. Kindly note that it would take approximately an hour for learners to view the exhibition stalls.

For group bookings please contact:

Thandokazi Mtshekisa
021 959 6149
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Patsy Samuels
021 959 6286
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Cilino Swartz
021 959 6609
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For more information contact:

Marilyn Cloete
021 959 6228
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Grant Barends
021 959 6087
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Written by CPUT News
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We Are CPUT and not Kaput!

With the institution celebrating 10 years of creating futures and innovations, the university is taking to the roads of Cape Town to change the perception of the brand through vehicle advertising.

The project is the first of its kind at CPUT and was spearheaded by the Marketing and Communication Department (MCD) in collaboration with the Transport Department.

The vehicles, which hit the road earlier this year, each boast a different tag line, a photograph of a student, along with the university’s details and the hashtag #WeAreCPUT.

Nastassja Wessels, Senior Publications Officer at MCD who leads the project, says after 10 years many people refer to the institution as Kaput, Pentech or Cape Tech.

“After 10 years of awesome innovations, we can proudly say that we are CPUT and what better way to do that than through vehicle branding” she says.

Wessels says vehicle branding has become an innovative method of advertising to a much wider and unsuspecting market.

“Everyone's welcome to see your advertisement.”

“When I sit in gridlocked traffic on a near-daily basis, I notice the branded vehicles all around me the way I would a billboard or an attention-grabbing sign. The difference is that I don’t have to sprain my neck to see the advert or even miss it during the five seconds of visibility when passing a bilboard or a sign,” says Wessels.

“Our hope is that the newly-wrapped CPUT vehicles will accelerate the exposure of the CPUT brand, at a legally-acceptable pace of course.”

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

The CPUT Marketing and Communication Department (MCD) has accepted a challenge posed by the university’s Executive Management and is now urging all other departments to do the same.

At the start of this term the Executive Management challenged all staff to participate in the CPUT Gives Back blanket drive. Each member donated a blanket and called on staff to do the same.

MCD staff members also each donated a blanket, which along with the rest of the donations will find its way into the hands of someone who really needs it this winter.

The blanket drive is part of the year-long CPUT Gives Back campaign, which forms part of the university’s 10th birthday celebrations.

The campaign aims to make a difference in the lives of those living in our local communities.

Staff has until the end of August to spread the warmth and donate a blanket.

Staff can also make this a team effort and get together with a colleague or two and purchase a blanket.

Contributions can be dropped off at the offices of the following staff members on your campus:

Bellville Campus: Yanga Malusi (Administration Building – Marketing and Communication Office, second floor)

Cape Town Campus:  Samuel Meintjies (Administration Building – main entrance)

Wellington Campus: Loretta Adonis (Business Faculty - ground floor)

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

University management, along with the universities across the Western Cape, made a decision on June 7 to close campuses as a result of the severe weather warnings issued. 

Today (June 8) all university activities, including scheduled exams, continue as usual. Please discuss any concerns or queries directly with your lecturers or Head of Department.

Many Thanks

Marketing and Communication Department

Written by CPUT News
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The Marketing and Communication Department is ending the year on a high note – scooping four prestigious awards in recent weeks.

The awards are: the Marketing, Advancement and Communication (MACE) Award of Excellence - Gold Award for SMART Graduation December 2021; the MACE Award of Excellence Bronze Award for Virtual Open Day; the Silver Quill Award of Excellence for Virtual Open Day and the Silver Quill Award of Excellence for SMART Graduation December 2021.

The International Association of Business Communicators – Africa Region facilitates the annual Silver Quill awards programme, which recognises business communication excellence across the African continent. It salutes work that makes a significant contribution to business outcomes, and that is innovative and unique. Entries are scored independently by two evaluators, who reconcile scores together. They review each entry against the International Association of Business Communicators’ (IABC) standard of excellence, ensuring that communicators can demonstrate the impact their work has had on business goals. The aim is to encourage the pursuit of excellence rather than competition.

The MACE Excellence Awards takes place annually and recognises and celebrates excellence and the achievements of specialists and practitioners in marketing, communication and advancement in the higher education sector. Out of 171 entries from universities across South Africa, only 16 were awarded gold and 37 bronze.

Some of the comments the team received from the Silver Quill evaluators for the Virtual Open Day entry included:

“I commend you on creating an engaging platform that is unique and novel, and very relevant to a dispersed and tech savvy audience.

With reference to the SMART Graduation entry, the evaluators stated: “Congratulations on executing the project in a professional manner. We liked the look and feel of your videos and slides, they exude a feeling of warmth and connectedness. Your key message that CPUT cares, comes through clearly in the work sample.”

A proud Dr Garth Van Gensen, Director of the Marketing and Communication Department, said these industry awards show that the Marketing and Communication team were never happy to be average.

“We consistently provided innovative and creative solutions to satisfy the events and marketing requirements of the Western Cape’s largest university. We reinvented virtual events in a way in which the higher education industry had never seen before, and I am very proud of my team for consistently pushing the envelope and thinking outside the box. That is truly One Smart CPUT thinking.”

In terms of future plans, Virtual Open Day will run in parallel with a physical Open day next year and will feature a new user interface that lets visitors experience CPUT by creating a metaverse-type experience that enables them to explore various parts of our campuses in 360 degrees.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT’s Marketing and Communication Department has acknowledged the efforts of principals, life orientation teachers and community organisations in inspiring hope in young academically gifted youngsters.

A gala dinner event was recently hosted by the institution to commend CPUT’s top 20 feeder schools. These are schools who consistently enrol the most number of learners to CPUT, and Thandokhulu High School in Mowbray took the top honour.

The event also commended the role that community leaders and their organisations do in ensuring youngsters consider a university education.

Student recruitment Officer Thandokazi Mtshekisa commended everyone present for working in tandem with CPUT to inspire the next generation.

“Without you there is no CPUT,” she said.

“Thank you for all the hard work you are doing in the communities to keep hope alive for these learners and encourage them to come to study further.”

One of the community leaders commended was Latifah Jacobs from Kuils River.

She was nominated by CPUT Student Recruitment Officer Grant Barends who commended her ability to call youth to action in her community.

“Apart from the wonderful community work that she does in Kuils River (feeding the community and assisting with relief when required), Latifah also assisted in mobilising learners from all the schools in the area to participate in a higher education expo that CPUT was participating in. This meant the message of studying further reached more young people than just one school,” he says.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr David Phaho told the guests that he was proud to be partnering with them to make a difference.

“To be in this room this evening means that you have done the groundwork to ensure your learners are eligible for acceptance to CPUT.”

“In short, we understand you and you understand us. Thank you for trusting CPUT as a partner in this journey of educating the future leaders of this country.”

Written by Lauren Kansley
Tel: +27 21 953 8646
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

CPUT is celebrating research excellence this week during the Virtual Research Festival and Research Awards.

All CPUT researchers were invited to showcase their research projects and societal uptake initiatives, and about 40 responded to the call.

These projects have been filmed by the Marketing and Communication Department and their presentations will be showcased online from October 27.

To watch the Virtual Research Festival videos, click here

The awards ceremony will also be recorded and streamed live on 27 October.

The Research Directorate’s Lara Smith said it will be a small event, observing strict Covid safety measures and will be held at the Granger Bay Campus.

The Research Directorate awards excellence in research activities under three categories: Research Output, Research Supervision and External Funding.

The Research Output awards are calculated from the total number of Department of Higher Education and Training units produced by each author. This includes all output types acknowledged by the DHET, namely, Journal Articles, Books & Chapters in Books, Conference Proceedings, and, more recently, Creative Outputs and Innovations.

The Research Supervision awards are given for numbers of postgraduate students supervised. They are calculated based on the total number of units earned by a supervisor. Supervisors earn one unit for supervision of a Master’s degree and three units for supervision of a doctorate.

The External Funding category used to be called Industry Funding but has been expanded to include grants given by universities and councils.

There are four awards in each category, namely, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. If there is a tie for any award, more than one award is given.

A Platinum Award earns a researcher R50 000; a Gold Award earns a researcher R40 000; a Silver Award earns a researcher R30 000 and a Bronze Award earns a researcher R20 000.

The event will be live from 10:45 to 12:00 and can be viewed by clicking on the research awards web banner on www.cput.ac.za or going to the CPUT YouTube channel.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The excellent work produced by the Marketing and Communication Department (MCD) was recognised during the recent MACE Excellence Awards, where the department walked away with two prizes.

The MACE (Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education) Excellence Awards takes place annually and celebrates excellence and the achievements of specialists and practitioners in marketing, advancement and communication in the higher education sector.

This year’s awards ceremony and annual MACE conference were hosted by the University of the Western Cape and 255 award entries were received from 17 institutions.

MCD won two bronze awards – the first was in the Campaigns category: stakeholder engagement campaigns for the Shero campaign, which ran on the university’s social media channels during Women’s Month and featured phenomenal female staff members at CPUT.

The second award, which was in the same category, was for the 2023 Vice-Chancellor’s State of the University address.

Cathy Cloete, who manages Public Relations and Events, said winning two excellence awards for these campaigns for CPUT was a significant achievement and a testament to the outstanding efforts and creativity of the individuals or team involved.

“Such recognition typically reflects a high standard of work, commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of marketing, communication, or related areas,” said Cloete, who submitted the entries.

She said receiving an excellence award acknowledges the successful execution of a well-planned strategy and the ability to effectively communicate and connect with the target audience.

Kurt Mitchell, who played an integral role in the Shero campaign and accepted the award on behalf of the department, said: “This was a collaboration between myself and Cathy Cloete, as well as the support from colleagues. I'm grateful for the opportunity and appreciate the recognition received from MACE."

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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