by Maropeng Matloba and Mihlali Matiwane
What began in 2014 as a single-campus event has grown into a University-wide initiative that is transforming how students engage with the world of work. The Directorate of Co-operative Education (DCE) at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), once again hosted its highly anticipated Career Expos across all seven TUT campuses in 2025.
Targeted at senior students (3rd and 4th-years), the Expos are designed to give soon-to-be graduates a direct line to employers, well before they leave University, aimed at helping them connect with industry, explore opportunities and even apply for jobs on the spot.
“This initiative is about bringing industry and students together. Too often students wait until after graduation to begin their job search. The Expos are about fostering relationships early, creating pathways for interaction and employment before students exit University,” said Lorika Kruger, Coordinator of Student Employment at TUT’s DCE.
Lorika Kruger, Coordinator of Student Employment and Albert Sekgobela, Employability Practitioner at DCE
Albert Sekgobela, Employability Practitioner at DCE, emphasised the importance of building networks between students and companies. “We conduct company visits to build a strong database of employers. We then send out campus and course guides, allowing companies to select which campuses to visit, based on the qualifications they are interested in. To ensure maximum student participation, invitations are sent via SMS, email and WhatsApp groups, with the help of lecturers and digital flyers,” he explained.
In addition to the Expos, DCE will launch a series of Employability Workshops starting in August this year. These workshops will cover essential career-readiness skills such as CV and cover letter writing, personal branding, LinkedIn optimisation and mastering the interview process.
Getting the show on the road - the DCE team - from the left: Back: Lorika Kruger, Tsabuki Makou and Albert Sekgobela. Front: Gontse Mabuse, Martina Legoabe, Dr Roelien Brink and Prince Marishane.
So far, Expos have already taken place at the Soshanguve South, Arcadia, and Pretoria campuses, with upcoming events scheduled at the eMalahleni, Ga-Rankuwa, Arts and Mbombela campuses. By merging academic preparation with real-world industry engagement, TUT’s Career Expos are helping students take their first confident steps into the job market, even before they graduate.
Top and right: Building networks between students and companies is an important part of these Expo's.
Representatives from the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions also attended the Expo.