Department bridges the gap between academia and industry, empowering future-ready graduates

The Department of Visual Communication officially launched the third edition of its annual Bridging the Gap series on 25 May at the Faculty of Arts and Design campus, bringing students face-to-face with the realities of contemporary creative practice.

WIL Coordinator for the Commercial Photography programme, Monique du Plessis, opened the Bridging the Gap series with a presentation titled Beyond Individual Practice: Why Collaboration Shapes Contemporary Creative Careers. Designed to bridge the space between academia and industry, the week-long programme immerses students in the fast-moving world of Visual Communication through guest lectures, panel discussions, demonstrations, workshops and industry-led conversations. At its core, the initiative aims to prepare students for professional creative practice while encouraging collaboration, knowledge-sharing and meaningful engagement across disciplines.

This year’s theme, Collaboration, which is also the 2026 theme of the Faculty, reflects a defining truth of today’s creative industries: no creative works alone. Whether in photography, film, design, advertising, or media production, success increasingly depends on the ability to work across disciplines, communicate effectively and contribute within collaborative teams and creative systems.

Hein Grové, Acting Head of Department, said that the series creates opportunities for students across the department’s three programmes to connect with each other beyond the traditional classroom structure, which is a first.

“While each programme has its own disciplinary identity, the series allows students to engage with one another, recognise overlapping ways of thinking and making, and develop a stronger sense of belonging within the department as a whole,” he explained. “By also opening these engagements to students from other higher education institutions, the series broadens perspectives and encourages meaningful exchange beyond immediate classroom environments.”

WIL Coordinator Monique du Plessis opened the week with a presentation titled Beyond Individual Practice: Why Collaboration Shapes Contemporary Creative Careers.

Hein Grové, Acting Head of the Department of Visual Communication. In her presentation, she highlighted that contemporary creative practice is collaborative in nature. “Ideas move through teams. Production moves through systems. Careers move through relationships. And, increasingly, the industry no longer asks only: Are you talented: It asks: Can people build with you?”

She went on to say that students sometimes fear collaboration, thinking that working with others will somehow weaken their individuality. “But collaboration does not erase identity. It expands capability. The industry is no longer based on isolated authorship. It is built around creative ecosystems.”

She added that industry partners consistently value the following five things: reliability, communication, adaptability, initiative and teamwork.

Du Plessis said the initiative is directly informed by feedback received from industry partners during the department’s annual WIL Debriefing Function.

“As the creative industry evolves rapidly, it is our responsibility to expose students to current industry practices, expectations and collaborative ways of working before they enter the professional environment,” she said. “Ultimately, Bridging the Gap is about creating the spaces, conversations and connections that help shape the next generation of creative professionals.”

This year’s programme features an impressive line-up of industry professionals, creatives, filmmakers, photographers, visual storytellers and industry partners from across photography, film, design and media production. Presenters and collaborators include Pretoria-based corporate photographer Basil Koufos, visual storyteller and founder of The Yolke Studio Lethabo Machele, contemporary art and product photographer Lerato Melchior Ntiso, and international cruise ship photographer Nhlanhla Lucky Matshia.

Wedding and lifestyle photographer Che Erasmus Nche inspiring students with his presentation, Building beyond yourself: Growing from individual creative to business owner and employer. Students from across the three programmes in the Department of Visual Communication received valuable advice from industry professionals during the Bridging the Gap series. The programme also welcomes wedding and lifestyle photographer Che Erasmus Nche, creative entrepreneur Tiyani King Baloyi, Zimbabwean-born visual artist Tatenda Chidora, Dubai-based producer Pieter Oosthuizen, award-winning director and producer Philip Nolte, multidisciplinary creative Brent Swart, cinematic visual storyteller and Godox Ambassador Gabriel McCredie, portrait photographer and Godox Ambassador Karl Daniels, and Canon Ambassador Thomas Mokgosi.

Industry partners and collaborators featured throughout the week include Movievision, Godox and Canon, all contributing to hands-on demonstrations, workshops and collaborative industry engagement opportunities throughout the series. 

A major highlight of the week will take place on Friday, 29 May, when postgraduate students and staff from the Tshwane University of Technology, Open Window and the Vaal University of Technology come together for a special cross-institutional engagement session focused on networking, collaborative dialogue and postgraduate research exchange.

By creating spaces for conversation across institutions and disciplines, Bridging the Gap 2026 continues to strengthen connections between academia and industry while equipping students with the insight, adaptability and collaborative mindset needed to thrive in the contemporary creative sector.

The department's third-year students will commence their Work-Integrated Learning in the coming weeks.

PHOTOS: Didintle Morudu