BlackBerry heads up Student Village Makoya Youth Award

In 2013, the company developed a number of channels in support of its music mentorship programme. This programme culminated in students from various universities countrywide being given the opportunity to be mentored by music sensation, Khuli Chana, with the winning finalists getting the opportunity to go into a studio with Chana to produce their very own singles.

Research across student campuses

The awards are based on research conducted nationwide amongst over 1000 students via campus surveys and focus groups. The award nominations cover a number of areas that include media, marketing activations, social media and graduate recruitment. The brands and activations are chosen by the students based on what campaigns they felt really stood out for them over the year. "While the awards are not limited to campus activations, most of the winners are linked to campus and this is no surprise considering that it is the place where students spend most of their time," adds Aires.

Winners

• Best Graduate Recruitment Campaign went to Unilever for its mix of brand experience and creative platform at career fairs across the country.
  
• Most Aspirational Graduate Employer went to Anglo American for the second year in a row as a result of its BLAST (Building Leaders and Shaping Talent) programme
  
• The OMG! Award went to Mountain Dew for its Dew Tour Bootcamp
  
• The Eye Catcher Award was snatched by Estee Lauder for its Pleasures Eau Fraiche Love Locks campaign
  
• The Out the Box Award went to Red Bull once again this year for an ongoing campaign that looked at funky, intriguing activations varying in nature - such as the Redbull Soundcar and Skateramp
  
• The WTF Award, for the most provocative campaign on campus, was awarded to Axe for its Axe Apollo campaign
  
• The campaign with the biggest social conscience - which is given to the brand whose activation mobilised students to give back to community and not benefit the brand directly - went to 5FM's Young Blood campaign
  
• The Social Media Superstar Award was given to Miller Genuine Draft for its 2 Chainz campaign.

"Today brands are starting to realise the value of the youth market far more, by going above and beyond their creative limits to ensure they are engaging students with hip and relevant content and opportunities."