What you need to know about the new direct marketing guidance note
Nadine Mather and Chloë Loubser
Communications agency partners with UJ to mentor PR students
Building on the partnership success of 2011, integrated communications agency, Waggener Edstrom, will continue to invest in students from the University of Johannesburg's (UJ) School of Communications in 2012, by equipping students with the latest tools and resources to enter the competitive field of public relations and communications.
Its employees will offer practical workshops on campus, mentoring a group of high-performing students on topics ranging from multi-media writing skills to social media trends. The aim is to assist interested and ambitious students develop their academic and professional careers beyond the lecture room and into the working world.
"Practical, business expertise"
"This partnership offers us the support of an industry leader, which provides the students with practical, business expertise, positioning the curriculum within a real world context," said professor Sonja Verwey, head of the Department of Strategic Communication.
"The 2011 workshops were a benefit to our students; challenging them to think beyond the classroom and helping them develop a competitive edge in preparation for their first jobs."
Internship for hands-on experience
In addition to the mentorship programme, career skills workshops and collaboration on research projects, the partnership also offers students an internship at the agency to gain valuable hands-on experience.
"It's rewarding to work closely with the university to improve the skills of the next generation of communications professionals," says Marcus Sorour, GM, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide South Africa. "It is crucial for graduates to enter the workforce with practical skills and insider knowledge of an agency environment."
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