The School of Communication at the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted its third annual Industry Summit across all three campuses, bringing together leading communication professionals, industry partners and students under the theme “The complete communication professional”.

The event, which took place on 13 August, was designed for third-year and postgraduate students. The summit connected aspiring communication practitioners with experts from the fields of digital marketing, media, public relations and entrepreneurship. The event was presented in partnership with Standard Bank, the corporate sponsor of the summit.

Prof. Lida Holtzhausen, director of the School of Communication, says the theme this year focused on preparing students to enter the workplace as confident, well-rounded professionals.

“We want our students to know that when they enter the industry, they can stand tall as professionals,” she says. “The summit is about helping them understand who they are, embrace what they have learned and recognise the opportunities available to them.”

“One of the important aspects of the NWU is the focus the university places on graduate attributes. Through this summit, we aim to help students to develop professionalism, critical thinking and the confidence to position themselves as communication professionals who are ready for the industry.”

Learning from industry leaders

The summit was streamed live across all three campuses and featured keynote presentations from communication professionals working at the highest levels of their industries.

Mercia Marshall, NWU alumnus and digital director at McDonald’s South Africa, addressed students from the Potchefstroom Campus. Dr Lufuno Lefowa, senior manager for scripted content at Canal+ Africa and an International Emmy Awards juror, handled a presentation from the Mahikeng Campus, while Michael Mokoti, public relations and social media manager at the Embassy of Germany in Pretoria, joined the programme from the Vanderbijlpark Campus.

The summit concluded with a practical workshop presented by entrepreneur Teboho Twala. The session challenged students to apply classroom knowledge to a real-world business scenario by developing communication, sales and marketing strategies for a product and target market.

“The workshop is focused on practical application,” says Teboho. “Students are encouraged to apply what they have learned in the classroom to a real-world business challenge.”

He explains that the exercise was designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice while giving students a realistic understanding of what to expect when they enter the workplace.

“The biggest takeaway is the opportunity for students to challenge themselves with practical solutions and use the knowledge they have acquired to solve real business problems.”

A partnership focused on student success

Prof. Holtzhausen says the School of Communication is proud to partner with Standard Bank, whose focus on students, employability and entrepreneurship aligns closely with the objectives of the summit.

“Their vision aligns closely with what we are trying to achieve through the summit, and we look forward to building on this partnership in the future.”
Frikkie van Eeden, relationship manager at Standard Bank, says supporting initiatives that prepare young people for the world of work remains a priority for them.

“Young people are the future of South Africa, and supporting initiatives that contribute to their development is extremely important to us.”

Dr Lufuno Lefowa is the senior manager for scripted content at Canal+ Africa and leads the development of premium local content that drives audience growth.

More than 100 students and staff at the Vanderbijlpark Campus attended the summit. 

Elizma Els from Standard Bank compared two journeys, namely the evolution of Standard Bank and students’ future careers. 

Michael Mokoti, an alumnus of the NWU and public relations and social media manager at the Embassy of Germany in Pretoria, shared his passion for the industry with students. 

Students attend the summit at the Mahikeng Campus. 

Entrepreneur Teboho Twala presented a practical workshop during the summit.

Prof. Lida Holtzhausen, director of the School of Communication, says innovation, entrepreneurship and employability form key pillars of their programme.

Mercia Marshall has grown the digital business of McDonald’s South Africa by 35% and made its app the leader in the quick-service restaurant industry. 

Staff and students during the summit at the Potchefstroom Campus.