The University of Pretoria (UP) was the most decorated institution at the 2025 Marketing, Advancement, and Communication in Education (MACE) Excellence Awards, securing an impressive 34 awards out of 47 entries.
The MACE Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in marketing, advancement, and communication within South Africa’s higher education sector. This year’s awards, themed “The human touch,” saw a total of 309 entries.
🎉 UP’s Award Haul
UP’s 34 awards—comprising 6 Gold, 10 Silver, and 18 Bronze—were earned by the Department of Institutional Advancement (DIA), the Department of Enrolment and Student Administration (DESA), and the Strategic Programme Office. The university successfully demonstrated exceptional innovation, creativity, and impact, competing against strong contenders from other leading institutions.
“Congratulations to the entire UP team for your incredible dedication and creativity which gets to the heart of what we want to convey and achieve at UP,” said Rikus Delport, DIA Director, highlighting the team’s commitment and long hours invested in their work.
UP’s success spanned diverse media, channels, and campaigns, showcasing the university’s commitment to embracing diversity in its audience and methods—from traditional publications to modern platforms like TikTok and the UP Mobile App.
🥇 Top Gold-Winning Projects
UP’s six highest-scoring Gold entries included:
- Mobile Apps: UP Gets h’Appy — An upgraded mobile application designed to boost educational access, student support, and UP’s research and international profile.
- Fundraising Campaign: ’67 VW Beetle Raffle Digital Campaign — This unique initiative successfully raised R1 million for “missing middle” students by raffling a rare 1967 VW Beetle.
- Printed: Other Publication: Alumni in Action — A brochure created to welcome graduating students into the lifelong UP Family.
- Digital: External Magazines and Newsletters: Alma Matters — A digital newsletter that links institutional achievements with alumni success, strengthening global networks.
- Writing Scripts: Shaping You video — A powerful music video with original, aspirational lyrics, serving as the centrepiece for the #Choose-up event for prospective students.
- Alumni Campaigns: #BackLikeWeNeverLeft – Tuks Alumni Fan Zone — A high-energy alumni engagement event rooted in the strategic value of sport-based initiatives.
🌟 Most Awarded Project: Re.Search Magazine
Issues 10 and 11 of UP’s Re.Search magazine were the most awarded single project, each winning Bronze prizes across four categories.
- Issue 11: Digital focused on UP’s drive for digital transformation and featured a refreshed, simplified design.
- Issue 10: Make today matter was a 10th-anniversary edition strategically highlighting the UP brand and values.
