About the Department of Communication and Marketing (DCM)

The Department of Communication and Marketing (DCM) is responsible for shaping, managing, and strengthening the University of the Free State’s institutional voice and reputation. The department serves as the University’s official source of news and information, communicating about UFS’s people, programmes, research, and achievements to internal and external audiences.

As a central strategic partner to university leadership, faculties, and support divisions, DCM leads integrated communication, brand management, and marketing initiatives that enhance the visibility, credibility, and reputation of the University locally, nationally, and internationally.

Our Mandate

We advance the University’s reputation and strategic positioning by delivering integrated communication, brand stewardship, and marketing initiatives that promote UFS’s academic excellence, innovation, and societal impact.

Our Mission

To communicate the University of the Free State’s story with clarity, integrity, and creativity by connecting institutional priorities with meaningful engagement across internal and external audiences.

Our Vision

To position the University of the Free State as a trusted and globally recognised institution through impactful communication, a strong institutional brand, and strategic stakeholder engagement.

Our Values

• Integrity and credibility
• Creativity and innovation
• Excellence in communication

Our Culture

We work in a way that is:

• strategic and insight-driven
• collaborative and service-oriented
• creative and forward-thinking
• responsive and accountable

What We Do

DCM supports institutional communication, marketing, and brand management through:

• Content Hub
  The Department of Communication and Marketing is the official source of university news and information. We provide continuous communication about the UFS, its events, people, programmes and research to the university community and our diverse external audiences.
• Media and Stakeholder Relations
  We work closely with the university executive management and supports the corporate mission, policy and goals of our university as well as its marketing activities for maximum impact. We are also responsible for events and protocol. We create awareness among the local, national, and international media about the UFS, and identify and develop information that strategically promotes the university.
• Internal Communication and Publications
  We edit and produce all corporate print and online publications. All integrated communication campaigns are also managed by this unit. Internal Communication focus on staff and students.
• Digital Communication
  he Digital Communication Unit is the custodian of the Institutional Digital Channels. Through content creation and management, exploratory data collection, statistical analysis, monitoring and reporting, the unit spearheads and collaborates on campaigns, projects, events, change communication, and digitalisation.
• Reputation, Brand and Marketing Management
  We build the UFS brand through the development of effective internal, external, and communication programmes.
• UFS Narrative
  The UFS Narrative Toolkit is designed to assist the user with the implementation of the new UFS narrative. The toolkit provides mood boards to assist with the look and feel to support the narrative visually, templates, guidelines and how to use them, an adapted message map, tone of voice and messages linked to the various stakeholder groups. The toolkit is to be used as a guideline, along with the narrative training to implement the narrative.

Where We Work

The Department of Communication and Marketing supports the University of the Free State across all campuses, working in partnership with faculties, leadership, and support divisions to ensure consistent, impactful communication that advances institutional priorities.

Contact Details