“There is a need for the Department of Marketing, Branding, and Communication to bring the world to the University of Venda (UNIVEN) by showing off the good stories and achievements that the University accomplish on daily basis,” says UNIVEN Deputy Vice-Chancellor Corporate Services, Dr Robert Martin during the Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication workshop that was held at 2Ten Hotel on Tuesday, 08 June 2021.
In his welcome and opening remarks, Dr Martin stated that the Marketing, Branding and Communication Department should effectively play its role to change the attitudes and perception of staff and students about UNIVEN. He said, stakeholders should be aware that UNIVEN is only a rural based University with impact and relevance to the world. “Let us use our location as our unique selling point and believe in our own brand,” he said. He also emphasised the fact that staff members should start believing that they are working for the best institution with average students. “This will assist both staff and students to always strive for the best in whatever they do.” Dr Martin further, urged staff members to project positive image of the University. “Let us be the future leaders we aspire our students to be and lead by example.”
In his concluding remarks, Dr Martin advised staff members to be self-driven, goal setters and to be more sensitive to students and the institution itself. He highlighted that individual Annual Performance Plan should be aligned to the University’s Strategic Plan.
The workshop was also attended by SABC Business Unit Manager, Mr Madikana Matjila who indicated that the SABC is ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with UNIVEN with the aim of contributing in the mandate to educate, inform and get involved in engaged research projects. Mr Matjila also highlighted that the MoU would also see UNIVEN‘s public interest programmes and the name of the University being massively promoted on the SABC Limpopo Combo platform.
When presenting the Departmental Communication Strategy, the Director Marketing, Branding and Communication, Dr Takalani Dzaga indicated that it takes many years to build a brand whereas it only takes one incident to ruin everything that has been built over many years. He further said that staff members and students should brag about the good stories concerning the University. Dr Dzaga said these stories that we tell out there will assist in building a positive brand of the University. He also mentioned that the Department continues to work closely with other strategic stakeholders in its endeavor to market the reputation of the University. He cited the importance segmentation of stakeholders and packaging of messages relevant to the diverse target audience. The Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication continues to play its role to support the University in the effective implementation of 2021-2025 Strategic Plan and to ensure that the University success stories are widely circulated, using multiple communication tools.
A group photo of Marketing, Banding and Communication staff members posing with Dr Martin and Mr Matjila
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding & Communication
University of Venda
Tel: (015) 962 8525 /8710
Date: 14 June 2021
