The School of Communication’s second annual Industry Summit, held recently across three NWU campuses, brought together nearly 600 students, marking a significant milestone in Prof Lida Holtzhausen’s vision to connect communication students directly with industry leaders.

Under the theme “Fool proofing Yourself for the World of Work,” the summit linked all NWU campuses in a hybrid format, allowing students from across the faculty to learn from six prominent industry professionals without leaving their home campuses.

Prof Holtzhausen, Director of the School of Communication, conceived the summit to address a critical gap in communication education. Her vision was straightforward: create one major annual event where students from all three campuses could gather with their lecturers to hear directly from industry professionals about what awaits them beyond graduation.

“This is about more than career tips, it’s about empowering students to take ownership of their futures. We want our students to understand industry standards and expectations before they enter the workplace. This summit creates a shared learning experience across our entire school, something that brings us together as one faculty, regardless of campus.” Said Prof Holtzhausen.

The summit featured industry leaders across multiple communication disciplines. At the Potchefstroom campus, Musa Kalenga, CEO of Brave Group and founder of FORGE, delivered the keynote on Artificial General Marketing Intelligence, encouraging students to embrace AI-driven innovation. Thoriso Maseng, Senior Manager for Career Services and Alumni Relations at NWU, explored graduate employability and strategic networking.

Mahikeng students heard from broadcast veteran Portia Kobue, Executive Producer of Interface on SABC 3, who shared insights on newsroom ethics and media leadership. Sydney Seshibedi, an award-winning photojournalist with over 25 years’ experience, discussed his career journey and the evolving role of visual storytelling in modern media.

At Vanderbijlpark, Pat Mahlangu, founder of Pat on Brands, inspired students with perspectives on youth entrepreneurship and digital marketing. Lesedi Jonga, a social media strategy professional, offered practical insights on digital campaign analytics and content creation.

Each campus focused on themes aligned with their programme strengths: corporate and development communication in Potchefstroom, journalism, media studies, and broadcasting in Mahikeng, and digital communication in Vanderbijlpark. This tailored approach ensured students received relevant, actionable guidance for their specific career paths.

Student response was overwhelming. Many credited the summit with clarifying their career trajectories and boosting their confidence as they prepare to enter a rapidly evolving industry.

What began as a vision for the School of Communication has quickly become a signature event, fool-proofing its students’ success in the workplace.