Students were introduced to the team from Porsche SA – Mr Toby Venter (CEO of Porsche SA), Mr Christo Kruger (PR Manager) and Ms Karlien van Zyl (Customer Focus Analyst) – who shared their marketing strategy for the different Porsche models with the students.

Because the second-year module focuses on marketing communication, Porsche’s presentation focused on how this grand brand integrates the different marketing communication elements in its marketing strategy. Students were shown several advertisements and examples of direct marketing activities. The brand value as a key factor in marketing communication was highlighted throughout the presentation.

The involvement of Porsche SA in this lecture not only put theory into practice, but in so doing also made students’ studies more relevant. The insight into the marketing activities of Porsche and seeing the theory students study in a practical sense added great value and significance to the day. Following the presentation in the Aula, students were accompanied outside for yet another surprise, where the Porsche SA team unveiled three Porsche brands: the Porsche Cayenne, the Porsche Cayman and the Porsche Panamera. What a spectacular sight it was.

After the unveiling, students wrote an online ClickUP test where they had to answer marketing questions covered in their textbooks. These questions were, however, applied to Porsche SA, as based on the information presented earlier in the day. This allowed students to view the test not only as a means to master a textbook, but also to experience marketing as an actual field of study. With such an aspirational brand as Porsche, many students expressed their new motivation to graduate so that they could one day drive a Porsche.

This was indeed a very successful day and a great ending to an exciting second semester. This is just one of the many examples why marketing remains one of the favourite degree programmes at UP.

Middle left is Mr Fred Scheepers (lecturer) and middle right Mr Toby Venter (CEO: Porsche SA) with two of the second-year marketing students in front of the Porsche Cayman.










Marketing students viewing the three Porsches on display.