Once again, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) excelled at the Marketing, Advancement, and Communication in Education (MACE) Excellence Awards, scooping six awards in the Advertising, Marketing and Branding categories this year. The Awards were announced at a prestigious gala dinner during the annual MACE conference hosted by the University of Free State (UFS) on Tuesday 19 November 2013.​​​

The MACE Excellence Awards recognise excellence among South African Higher Education Institutes focusing on sound marketing and communication principles, i.e. originality, purpose, intelligent implementation guided by regular measurable results. The entries are judged by external experts who understand the challenges, opportunities and rewards inherent to the advancement division; value creativity and innovation; appreciate the complex demands of campus environments; and recognise the role of advancement practitioners in enhancing the quality of tertiary brands.​​

UJ emerged with flying colours, receiving a Merit Award for the Be Clear radio advertisements in the Advertising: Broadcast category. The University also took first place in the following categories:

1. Integrated Campaigns and Projects: Marketing (Be Clear campaign),

2. Advertising: New Media (Be Clear armbands) – UJ also received Skills Awards for ‘Design’ and ‘Creativity and Innovation’,

3. Outdoor Advertising and Branding: Outdoor posters and banners (Be Clear Street pole Posters) –the University received Skills Awards for ‘Writing’, ‘Design’ and ‘Creativity and Innovation’, and

4. Advertising: Print – (Be Clear print advert).

Stamping its authority in the categories, UJ was also named the Overall Winner in the Integrated Campaigns and Projects category.

“With the Be Clear campaign, UJ set out to assist young people in making the right decisions at the right time in order to ensure a successful future within the South African higher education system. We are really proud that the campaign made a real difference and that it was recognised internationally with an IABC Gold Quill Award and now among its peer institutions nationally,” says Lesmarie Bentley-Steyn, Senior Manager: UJ Marketing and Branding.

The three day conference was a phenomenal success with industry experts engaging with and capacitating marketing and communication practitioners from across South African universities and a few colleges that participated in this year’s MACE conference.