RPI awards Vega student bursary

The student, Martin Makgopa, is in his second year studying towards a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Brand Communications, with a major in copywriting.
 
"I am very proud to have received this bursary from RPI. In the not so distance future I hope to make them proud and to prove that the South African advertising industry doesn't need to costume dress itself in a European way. I believe that we have all the expertise and resources to dress up in our own African Style," says Makgopa.
 
RPI Director, Elsa Butler, says she and her colleagues are acutely aware of the skills shortages in the advertising and marketing industries: "We are delighted to be able to assist Makgopa in this way. Our industry has struggled with transformation and will continue to do so, unless more and more companies make this kind of investment."
 
"All successful players have a duty in any event to put something back. We want to identify and nurture students on the broader marketing issues including research. I feel that synergy between advertising and research will result in good creative advertising."
 
Vega's MD, Gordon Cook, says that the School is very excited about the RPI Bursary and agrees that initiatives like this will bear fruit in addressing the current skills shortage in South Africa.
 
"There is so much talk of change in the industry, but there is no action - too many talkers and too few do'ers," says Cook.