​​Stellenbosch University (SU) was once again rewarded for excellence at the annual Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) congress awards ceremony held at Nitida Wine Farm in Durbanville on 29 November. SU received a total of 33 awards.

SU's Corporate Communications Division (CCD), which submitted 32 entries, won 23 awards, these consisting of 14 bronze, 8 silver and 1 gold. The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SU International and the Development and Alumni Relations Office won 3 bronze, 1 silver and 6 gold awards.

Research@SU100 won a platinum award (one of three nationally) and the Chairperson's Award of Excellence, a top award for a single entry embodying true excellence in marketing, advancement or communication.

“Congratulations to our colleagues in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Development and Alumni Relations, SU International and Research Development on their awards. Well done to the CCD team – from our 32 entries, we brought 23 awards home," said the Director: Communication and Stakeholder Relations ​of  CCD, Ms Susan van der Merwe.

The MACE Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate excellence and the achievements of specialists and practitioners in the higher education sector.

“Any form of recognition from the higher education sector for excellent work by CCD and other divisions at SU serves as a morale booster and inspiration for our teams but the strategic and operational value of the MACE Excellence Awards extends way beyond only that," Van der Merwe added.

“Each entry requires submissions on the planning and thought processes, the execution of the project, proof of how it is aligned with institutional and divisional strategies and then measuring its success. These steps are all aligned with how one should approach such initiatives, so each entry provides a learning opportunity and provides insights on how to tackle a next project," she said.

“The feedback from the adjudicators is a valuable asset for professional career development. The Excellence Awards also provide us with an opportunity to benchmark our work against that of our fellow institutions," said Van der Merwe.

Picture of staff from FMHS                                                   Picture of staff from CCD

MACE is a membership-based organisation and fulfils a leadership role in the higher education, technical vocational education and training and private education sectors within Southern Africa. It aims to add value to practitioners in marketing, advancement and communication through offering high-quality development programmes, facilitating networking partnerships and transformation and promoting best practice among these professions in its member institutions.

SU's awards:

BRONZE

• Award of Excellence: Division 3 – Skills/Photography: Life@stellenboschuni Photography
• Award of Excellence: Division 3 – Skills/Photography: SU Honorary Doctorates
• Award of Excellence: Division 3 – Skills/Photography: Annual Report Management Portraits
• Award of Excellence: Division 3 – Skills/Photography: Acuns
• Award of Excellence: Division 2 – Media/Digital Magazines and Newsletters: Life@Stellenbosch
• Award of Excellence: Division 2 – Media/Digital Magazines and Newsletters: Vision 2040 and Strategic Framework Newsletter
• Award of Excellence: Division 1 – Campaigns: Thought Leaders – #WomenofSU
• Award of Excellence: Division 1 – Campaigns: #HelloMaties
• Award of Excellence: Division 3 – Skills/Writing for News Media: Smartphones Keep Students from Concentrating during Lectures
• Award of Excellence: Division 1 – Campaigns: Communication Science to the Public
• Award of Excellence: Division 1 – Campaigns: #NolimitSU
• Award of Excellence: Division 1 – Campaign: Create Tomorrow's Innovators Today
• Award of Excellence: Division 3 – Skills/Writing for News Media: SU Boosts Local Economy
• Award of Excellence: Division 3 – Skills/Writing for News Media: Exceptional Honour for SU Botanical Garden
• Award of Excellence: Division 2 – Digital Media: Impromptu Email Newsletter
• Award of Excellence: Division 2 – Media/Digital: Vivus Newsletter
• Award of Excellence: Division 1 – Campaigns: Keep Tygerberg Safe Campaign

​SILVER

• Award of Excellence: Division 2 – Media Websites: Centenary Website
• Award of Excellence: Division 1 – General Campaign: #WOMENOFSU Video Series
• Award of Excellence: Division 1 – General Campaign: Tampon Tax
• Award of Excellence: Division 3 – Skills/Videography: Invitation – Language Day
• Award of Excellence: Division 3 – Skills/Writing: Centenary Narrative
• Award of Excellence: Division 3 – Skills/Writing: Fuel Levy's end could be nigh
• Award of Excellence: Division 2 – Media Printed: Matieland 2018 Centenary Edition
• Award of Excellence: Division 1 – Campaign: #Matievoices
• Award of Excellence: Division 2 – Media Printed: FMHS Annual Publication

GOLD

• Award of Excellence: Division 2 – Media Printed: Matieland 2017
• Award of Excellence: Division 2 – Media: Social Media SU International
• Award of Excellence: Division 3 – Skills/Videography: Welcoming the World at SU
• Chairperson's Award of Excellence: Research@SU100 
• Platinum Award of Excellence: Media Printed: Research@SU100
• Award of Excellence: Division 1 – Campaign community and social-responsibility: Careers Café
• Award of Excellence: Division 2 – Media Events: Maties Homecoming