The informative tips shared by the head honcho of the prominent visual communication agency aimed to prepare students to enter the ever-changing media and advertising industry.
What was meant to be the standard academic lecture on the University’s South Campus, soon became an eye-opening, interactive session with the advertising guru, who shared insight into the world of industry and what is expected.
“He went into depth about the various career paths one could go into within an agency, as well as their roles in the mechanics of meeting an advertising deadline. He also explained how the brand hands over marketing and media over to other people,” says BA Media, Communication and Culture student, Riley Meyers.
“I particularly liked Paul’s transparency about how stressful the work can be, which I found to build a form of trust. Since the lecture was so informal, it either solidified our desire to go into this field or prompted us to choose an alternative, as we now have a tangible sense of what is expected,” added Riley.
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Tarryn Rennie and Paul Stewart
Coming from an industry-background before transitioning into academia and lecturing, Tarryn Rennie explained that it is always helpful to invite industry experts to the classroom, as it helps to keep the work real for the students and creates networking opportunities between university and industry.
“The transition from university to industry may be a little less daunting for the students after they engage with industry professionals, it also opens doors for possible internships and allows students to see how they could possibly fit into this particular media space,” she said.
Creative Communication Advertising co-lecturer, Nomfundo Zwane reiterated her counterpart’s sentiment of how involving industry professionals enhances student learning and experiences, giving them a first-hand account of industry instead of just reading about it on textbooks.
“These engagements help spark excitement for the upcoming semester, while also helping students clarify their career aspirations. They also highlight key relevant skills needed in industry,” said Zwane.
The academic year ahead promises more initiatives of this nature, with Gqeberha being home to many Mandela Uni alumni creatives eager to assist in bridging the gap between university and industry by offering practical, hands-on experience – whether through work shadow opportunities for students or providing valuable internship programmes.