Top Arts achievers celebrated as Dean shares path to even greater heights

In celebration of excellence, the top performers of 2025 from the Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Arts and Design took centre stage at the Faculty Academic Excellence Awards, held on 10 June.

Prof Pfunzo Sidogi, Assistant Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Research and Innovation at the Faculty of Arts and Design, served as programme director of ceremonies and ensured a seamless flow throughout the awards ceremony. A total of 57 exceptional students from the departments of Fashion Design and Technology, Interior Design, Visual Communication, Performing Arts and Fine and Studio Arts were recognised for exceeding expectations and consistently pushing the boundaries of their disciplines.

Awards were made for the best students in each year group as well as for Advanced- and Postgraduate Diploma students.

When congratulating the academic high achievers, Prof Nalini Moodley, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design, said that the awards recognise more than just academic success.

“It recognises discipline, perseverance, creativity, innovation and the courage you had to pursue excellence in a world that is demanding resilience. I have no doubt that behind every achievement represented in this room lies a story of late nights, difficult decisions, much personal sacrifice, moments of uncertainty and a determination to never give up,” she said.

She told the audience that in her thirty plus years in education she can testify that excellence is never accidental. “It is cultivated through consistent effort, through learning from failure and through the willingness to keep moving forward when progress seems slow. Today, we celebrate not only what you have achieved, but also the character you have developed along the way.”

Prof Moodley underlined that as students of the arts, they enter a world that is changing at an unprecedented pace. “New technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, are transforming creative practice and globalisation continues to reshape industries. Social, environmental and economic challenges demand new ways of thinking and new forms of leadership.”

She furthermore encouraged the achievers to never stop learning.

“Your qualification is not the end of your education. Rather, it is the beginning of a lifelong journey of discovery. The most successful people are not necessarily those who know the most today, but those who remain curious enough to continue learning tomorrow. Please continue developing your technical skills, but also develop your capacity to adapt, question, innovate and imagine new possibilities.”

Prof Nalini Moodley, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design, and other faculty members pose with the 2025 top achievers at the Faculty Academic Excellence Awards. In addition, she reminded them that success is never entirely individual. “Each of us stands on the shoulders of others. Families, teachers, mentors, friends and communities contribute to our journeys in ways both visible and invisible.”

Extending this reflection on interdependence, she highlighted the critical role the arts play in shaping public consciousness. “The arts have always played a critical role in shaping public consciousness. Through design, performance, visual culture, music, film, fashion and storytelling, creatives help societies imagine better futures. Your work has the potential not only to reflect the world, but also to transform it. Remember the artivist rigour in your training.”

Lastly, she emphasised the importance of maintaining integrity.

“Talent may open doors, but character determines how far you travel. The creative industries require not only innovation but also ethical leadership. Always be guided by honesty, accountability, humility and compassion.”

“In leadership studies, we often speak of servant leadership: leadership that prioritises service before status. The most influential leaders are often those who ask not, ‘What can I gain?’ but rather, ‘How can I contribute?’ I encourage you to carry this philosophy into your professional and personal lives,” Prof Moodley concluded.

True to the Faculty of Arts and Design's character, the event featured a performance by a group, Soul Harmony, from the Department of Performing Arts.