5 Strategic Initiatives Coordinator INTRODUCTION In 2025, the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) advanced several strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening programme innovation, enhancing external visibility and expanding opportunities for professional and lifelong learning. These efforts contributed to the faculty’s broader objectives of increasing impact, diversifying income streams, and reinforcing its public and academic profile. A key area of development was the expansion of Short Learning Programmes (SLPs). During the year, four departments developed and submitted five new SLPs. These included practice-based offerings such as Fundamental Jewellery Production (Jewellery Design and Manufacture) and Visual Art Master Class (Visual Art), alongside more broadly accessible programmes such as Graphic Design for Non-Designers and Digital Design for High School Teachers (Graphic Design). The Graduate School of Architecture contributed a professional development course, Heritage and Built Environment: Legal Compliance for Practitioners. All five programmes were successfully approved by Senex and Senate between April and November 2025. In preparation for rollout, selected SLPs will be further refined for online delivery in collaboration with UJ Digital, with active marketing planned to support implementation in 2026. Additional programmes are currently in development and will be submitted for approval in the coming year. The faculty also continued to strengthen its national and international profile through recognition in prestigious awards and competitions. Staff and students were named finalists and winners across a range of high-profile platforms. Notable achievements included Mr Katlego Madumo (Industrial Design), who placed third in the national DTIC competition, and Dr Khanya Mthethwa (Jewellery Design and Manufacture), who received the Mail & Guardian Power of Women 2025 award in the Women in Arts, Film and Media category. Mr Neil Badenhorst (Graphic Design) was selected as one of three national winners in the Worldwide Picture Book Illustration Contest and will represent South Africa internationally in 2026. Internal recognition further reflected the faculty’s strong academic performance. Prof Ruth Sacks received the University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for Book of the Year and was also recognised as the faculty’s Top Researcher based on DHETaccredited outputs. Prof Brenda Schmahmann was acknowledged as the Top FADA Supervisor, reflecting her sustained contribution to postgraduate success. Media engagement remained robust throughout the year, with over 120 recorded mentions across print, online, television and radio platforms. These engagements highlighted the work of FADA academics, researchers and projects, contributing to the faculty’s visibility and reinforcing its role in shaping public discourse within the creative and cultural sectors. Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate a sustained focus on innovation, recognition and engagement, supporting the faculty’s strategic positioning within both the higher education sector and the broader creative economy. Ms Amanda Breytenbach Strategic Initiatives Coordinator
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