UKZN a Top Scorer at MACE 2024

UKZN a Top Scorer at MACE 2024

UKZN proudly secured 10 prestigious awards at the annual MACE Excellence Awards, an event dedicated to recognising outstanding achievements in marketing, advancement and communication within the Higher Education sector.

The awards celebrated submissions from the UKZN Foundation, the Corporate Relations Division, and the College of Humanities, which collectively entered 12 projects, ranging from publications and branding campaigns to news channel articles. Of these, 10 stood out and earned accolades at the gala dinner held in Cape Town last week during the annual MACE Congress.

Reflecting on the achievement, Ms Normah Zondo, Executive Director of Corporate Relations, thanked the teams behind the winning entries and also recognised the invaluable efforts of countless unsung heroes at the University who contribute daily to its success.

‘This recognition demonstrates the exceptional calibre of staff who dedicate themselves, often behind the scenes, to building the UKZN brand and enhancing the reputation of our Institution,’ said Zondo. ‘Their passion and hard work do not go unnoticed and continue to make UKZN a leader in the sector,’ said Zondo.

This resounding success reaffirms UKZN’s commitment to excellence in all facets of communication and engagement, solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the Higher Education landscape.

The awards were part of a two-day congress themed: “Maximising Impact: Innovative Strategies for Transformative Higher Education Marketing, Communication and Advancement.” This year’s conference was hosted by Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Bellville, Cape Town.

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the humanitarian aid organisation The Gift of the Givers and a UKZN alumnus, delivered an impassioned presentation on Day 1 of the conference which focused on spirituality. ‘Our country has gone backwards in terms of ethics, compassion, professionalism, kindness and care,’ said Sooliman. ‘With faith and spirituality, which provide positivity and hope, we can deal with all challenges that just keep coming but through faith and spirituality it is possible to make progress against all that confronts you,’ he said.

Sooliman emphasised the importance of universities producing graduates able to find employment and contribute to society. ‘We want our universities to teach subjects that are relevant, that have a meaningful impact and are not dead-end courses so once youngsters have passed through university, their chances of getting a job are much better.’

The 2024 MACE award-winners were:

Gold

• Title: UKZN Foundation 2023 Annual Report (submitted by UKZN Foundation)

Category: Printed and Digital Annual Reports

Silver

• Title: UKZN Philanthropy Digital Magazine (submitted by UKZN Foundation)

Category: Digital External Magazines and newsletters

• Title: UKZN Inspiring Student Testimonials Campaign (submitted by UKZN Foundation)

Category: Brand Building campaigns

• Title: UKZN is the Obvious Choice (submitted by Corporate Relations)

Category: Student recruitment campaigns

• Title: UKZN’s African Dream (submitted by Corporate Relations)

Category: Audio, visual and audio-visual)

• Title: Where There is a Will, There is a Way (submitted by Corporate Relations)

Category: Writing for news channels

Bronze

• Title: UKZN Foundation Helps to Keep the Wheels Turning (submitted by UKZN Foundation)

Category: Skills, Writing for the Web

• Title: UKZNTouch 2023 (submitted by Corporate Relations)

Category: Printed: External magazines and newsletters

• Title: A UKZN First – Bilingual Humanities Pulse December 2023 Edition (submitted by the College of Humanities)

Category: Digital: External magazines and newsletters

• Title: Social Media Ambassadors (submitted by Corporate Relations)

Category: Social Media

Words: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer

Photograph: Supplied