Mbongiseni Mkhatshwa
Nominee's Province:
Free State
Age:
27
Project Name/Description:
The relationship between staff and students at the University of Free State has improved in leaps and bounds thanks to a publication aimed at student life. The editor, Mbongiseni Mkhatshwa, says traditional university communications usually feature staff and students making big academic news, but his digital platform called, KonnectPulse, is aimed at spotlighting the everyday student experience. “I want the ordinary student to know that they are seen and that their initiatives and experiences matter,” he says. “I saw the gap and started the platform, and now it has so much support both from the university communications department and the students.” The 27-year-old student says he understands the responsibility of only sharing verified information since university campuses are prone to student protests. “We always verify information first, and we understand that we must dispel misinformation.” Mbongiseni has initiated fun activations on campus, including movie nights and content creator days, where students can mingle with each other and share best practices on building audiences and influence.
