Issued by: Vega School


The event was attended by over 150 people comprising of industry guests, Vega alumni, and media. The key note speaker for the event was Mrs Naledi Pandor, Minister of Education, who inspired all the guests when commenting on her vision for education in South Africa.

Mrs Pandor commented, “It is everyone's duty to think about what students are being prepared for. We need more career-focused institutions, perhaps universities which are currently multi-disciplinary need to be more focused in their offerings. We need more vocationally focused institutions. My department would like to use the resources available at the IIE and Vega to provide access to a broader audience. Vega is an excellent example of experiential learning where graduates are immediately employable. We need navigators like Mr Gordon Cook, who have a great passion, vision and focus. But Vega needs to publicize what is being done, more vigorously. As South Africans we are very negative, but we are incredibly innovative. Tell the story of what is being done. Tell it positively!”

Gordon Cook, National School Navigator and Co-founder of Vega commented, “It is fitting to have such a revered guest such as The Minister officiate the opening our Joburg new campus. For ten years we have provided education through Vega and the presence of the Minister at the opening of this campus is a wonderful acknowledgement of what we have achieved.”

Frank Thompson, CEO of AdvTech - the holding company of The Independent Institute of Education commented, “AdvTech invests to ensure growth and the sustainability of its campuses - a prime example being the investment by the IIE's Vega The Brand Communications School now at its new Johannesburg campus. On this site the excellence that has characterised the work we do in the branding and communications industry is given a home that will enable a significant contribution to be made in the future. The essential community engagement work we do through the Imagination Labs is also coordinated from this site. The alignment of these foundation level initiatives with the learning outcomes of our flagship degree programmes will assist immeasurably in our ability to produce graduates whose skills mirror current industry needs as well as supporting national transformation goals.”

The new Johannesburg campus, (previously based in Sandton) is now based in Bordeaux at 444 Jan Smuts. The new building boasts over twenty lecture rooms, digital studios and creative studios. A state of the art auditorium, an art gallery, a privately catered canteen, as well as a new library are all part of the new campus. The National College of Photography, which is also now part of Vega will also be presenting their classes from the new Vega campus.

The Minister concluded, “Congratulations to the IIE on establishing a very successful niche market in advertising and brand communications.”

Gordon Cook, National School Navigator of Vega The Brand Communications School

Mrs Naledi Pandor with student Lucky Du Plessis unveiling the plaque for the School opening

Mrs Naledi Pandor during her key note address

Visit our PRESS OFFICE: "It's a new brand world." - Tom Peters. Vega, The Brand Communications School is a tertiary institution dedicated to graduating a new breed of brand communicators. Vega offers full-time, part-time and corporate training in the A - Z of building brands. The Vega school prides itself on delivering individuals whose expertise is to generate sustainable ideas that build businesses. Successful Vega graduates can move into many different fields, some of which include copywriting, creative direction, multi media, graphic design, product and brand management, strategic planning, account management and corporate communications.- more....

[23 Jul 2008 13:58]

Share this page (Tell me more)

Click on one of the links below to share this page on a social bookmarking website. To read more on social bookmarking click here