Aligning its work with the departmental primary objectives, the Public Relations Management (PR) Department held an educative workshop for its first years at the Cane-growers Hall on Thursday, 10 August 2017.

Organised by PR students who are currently doing their Work Integrated Learning (WIL) with the Department, the workshop received positive feedback by the entire PR community. The event was an initiative aimed at preventing students from dropping-out of PR and pursuing other interests instead of completing their diplomas, as well as assuring them that they have the department’s full support where it need be.

Nokuzola Msweli, one of the departmental intern’s who organised the event said they were hoping that this workshop could be turned into an annual event.

“We are hoping that the PR Department will see this initiative as a platform to create proactive first-year students and turn it into an annual event. What we are aiming for is to have students who will remain in the system till they have completed their qualifications and such workshops can be of assistance in that regard,” said Msweli.

Amongst the speakers was Shuranta Muyeni who graduated Cum laude for her National Diploma in May 2017. She recounted her journey as a PR student and commended the Department for this initiative, saying it was a step in the right direction for both the Department and its students.

“I must applaud the organisers for coming up with this idea to help first-year students with getting to know the different channels and platforms to explore within the department. It is always best for students to get first-hand information from their peers who have travelled the same journey,” said Muyeni.
One of the facilities that Muyeni urged students to make use of was the writing centre as she felt this was of great assistance.
Sanele Bhengu, a first year PR student, said he found the workshop beneficial.

“I personally learnt how to control my social media platforms because as a PR student, I am a brand,” he said, adding that there was a need for the workshop to be held annually.

Other speakers who shared their experiences as students within the PR Department and gave motivational talks to first-years were Mfundo Shozi, Founder and Managing Director of Uvolwethu Communications; Nereshnee Govender, Writing Centre Facilitator and Suhana Rambhrasa from Co-Operative Education.

Pictured: Nkululeko Mbatha (Organiser and PR Intern), Sanele Bhengu (PR 1st year student), Shuranta Muyeni (PR Btech Student), Nokuzola Msweli (Organiser and PR intern) and Suhana Rambhrasa (Intern at Co-operative Education).

Mbuso Kunene