The Marketing Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) held a networking and empowerment workshop at the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Hotel School on Friday, 26 October 2018.
MACE is a non-profit organisation that fulfils a leadership role in higher education, TVET and private education sectors within Southern Africa by adding value to practitioners in Marketing, Communications and Advancement through high-quality development programmes.
In her welcome address, Ms Portia Redmond, the Manager: Design Studio at DUT, appreciated the organising committee for arranging the workshop. “I welcome you all to DUT on behalf of the organising committee. I am aware that some of you travelled some distance to arrive at this workshop. We appreciate that extra effort to get here,” said Redmond.
The workshop’s keynote address was delivered by Professor Kriben Pillay from the Graduate School of Business and Leadership at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Prof Pillay’s focus topic was “Mindful Leadership- Equipping Leaders for Turbulent Times in Higher Education.”
“We are the world divided in ourselves. The research shows us that we have a left brain and a right brain. We have an educational system that to a very large extent emphasises the left brain. The left brain includes logic, numbers, rationality and the right brain is about seeing things systemically. Even in education, we have turbulent times, because we have a system that cannot cope with turbulent times,” said Prof Pillay.
He also added that everyone has the ability to become aware. “Most of us are very unaware of the fact that our thinking minds dominate all the time, especially in literate cultures. All our turbulence that we have, comes from being chained to identity. We have to examine our mental models, our preconceptions, being aware of it and coming to the place of presence,” added Prof Pillay.
Speaking on the importance of such platforms in terms of fostering collaborations and sharing practices, MACE’s newly appointed KZN Regional Chairperson, Ms Hazel Langa, said growing the organisation’s membership was vital if MACE hoped to represent the interests of all higher education institutions in South Africa.
“Some of the key deliverables for MACE’s regional structures include ensuring that members connect at all times through networking events and professional development workshops such as this one. As the organisation is celebrating its 30th anniversary next year, we extend an invitation to our colleagues from TVET and private colleges as well as our stakeholders in the higher education sector to join us in sharing and learning best practices as well showing our executives our role and efforts as communicators,” she said.
Pictured: Professor Kriben Pillay
Sandile Lukhozi
