OW Academic Staff
ACADEMIC STAFF
Michael Angelopulo
B Arch
Bill Badi
BA (Cinema & Media Arts) & BA (Political Science)
Maaike Bakker
MTech (Fine Arts)
Anette Barnard
PhD (Visual Studies)
William Basson
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Loraine Beaton
MA (Dramatic Art)
Carla Bekker
BTech (Industrial Design)
Talya Bekker
BA Hons (Interaction Design)
Carli Bester
BA Hons (Strategic Brand Communication)
Jorina Botha
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Theunis Botma
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Jared Brandjes
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Lientjie Broodryk
BA (Visual Communication)
Stephan Calitz
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Ilana Cilliers
MA (Drama)
Lala Crafford
MA (Digital Interactive Media)
Jayne Crawshay-Hall Robertson
PhD (Art History)
Christiaan de Jager
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Dawid de Villiers
M.Phil (Music Technology)
Karlien De Villiers
MA (Information Design)
Maggie de Vos
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Roxy Do Rego
PhD (Visual Art)
Suzette du Plooy
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Candice Edwards
MA (Design)
Janine Engelbrecht
PhD (Visual Studies)
Louwrens Ferreira
MA (Audiovisual Communication)
Garreth Fradgley
BA Hons (Motion Picture Medium)
Andrew Gould
BIS (Information Science) & BTech (Film & Television Production)
Stavros Halvatzis
PhD (Narrative Theory & Practice)
Karabo Hlangwane
BBA (Business Management) & Dip (Audio Technology)
Nina Honiball
PhD (Family Medicine)
Neil Human
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Tsungai Katsuro
BSc Hons (Computer Science)
Chiedza Kehle
MA (Visual Arts)
Lexie Knight
MA (Film & Television)
Carmen Koetje
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Allen Laing
MTech (Fine Art)
Anzél Larkins
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Jozua Loots
MMus (Music Technology)
Amy Maphagela
MA (Fundamental Communication)
Gabriel Marchand
MA (Drama Therapy)
Gontse Mathabathe
MA (History of Art)
Dalene Meyer
BA (Fine Arts)
Welmarie Momberg
BA (Fine Arts)
Nhloso Mpontshane
MA (Visual Studies)
Jean Claude Nsabimana
MA (Fine Arts)
Grant Nelson
BA (Dramatic Art)
Christopher Pinto
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Philip Purchase
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Armand Pretorius
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Inus Pretorius
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Jan Pretorius
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Dan Robert
MA (Film & Television)
Laudette Sass
MA (Design)
Emma-Hellen Senwamadi
BA Hons (Design)
Theo Sonnekus
PhD (Visual Arts)
Esteé Steyn
MA (Graphic Design)
Nina Torr
MTech (Fine Arts)
Jaco van der Merwe
MA (Audiovisual Communication)
Marcha van der Merwe
MA in Design (Industrial Design)
Jan van der Walt
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Karl van Heerden
MVA (Master of Visual Arts)
Rikus van Niekerk
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Miranthe van Staden
BTech (Fine Arts)
Morné Venter
MA (Information Design)
Paulo Vilela
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Azél Viljoen
BA Hons (Industrial Design)
Sean Viljoen
BA Hons (Visual Communication)
Hougaard Winterbach
MTech (Fine Arts)
Zinhle Zulu
MA (Design)
Academic Calendar
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Centurion & Stellenbosch Calendar 2025
Important Dates:
Open 2025 | 9 January
Orientation dates for new students | Stellenbosch - 24 January
Orientation dates for new students | Centurion - 27 - 31 January
Classes start for Current Students | 10 February
Classes start for Honours Students | 10 February
Classes start for New Degree Students | 03 February
Classes start for Certificate Students | 03 February
Registration Day Centurion | 25 January
Registration Day Stellenbosch | 25 January
Open Day Centurion | 24 May
Open Day Stellenbosch | 17 May
Graduation Ceremony class of 2024 | 9 May (TBC)
Awards Ceremony Certificate class of 2024 | July(TBC)
Closed for Staff & Students | 23-29 June
Open Day Centurion | 20 September
Open Day Stellenbosch | 27 September
OW Year End Function | 22 November
Closes 2025 | 05 December
Open 2026 | 07 January 26
All Students Registration Dates:
Registration closes for current & PostGrad students | 31 January
Registration closes for new degree students | 07 February
Late registration degree (Penalty fee) | 09 February
Registration closes for new certificate students | 20 February
New Students - Important Dates:
Orientation Week: Degree & Certificate Programme | 23 - 31 January
Orientation Day: Post Graduate Programme | 07 February
Orientation: Evening Certificate Programme | 06 February
New students and parents welcoming online | 05 February
New students and parents welcoming on campus | 27 February
Academic Semesters:
Semester 1 (Term 1 & 2) | 03 February - 13 June
Semester 1 Break (Blue Blocks) | 18 April - 04 May
Semester 2 (Term 3 & 4) | 07 July - 05 December
Semester 2 Break (Blue Blocks) | 01 - 14 September
Student Holidays:
Autumn Break | 21 April - 4 May
Mid-year Break | 16 June - 6 July
Spring Break | 1 - 14 September
End of year Break | 5 Dec - TBC
Public Holidays:
Human Rights Day | 21 March
Good Friday | 18 April
Family Day | 21 April
Freedom Day | 27 & 28 April
Workers' Day | 01 May
Youth Day | 16 June
Women's Day | 09 August
Heritage Day | 24 September
Day of Reconciliation | 16 December
Christmas Day | 25 December
Day of Goodwill | 26 December
Careers
POST OR FIND A JOB
Careers
The Open Window Job Board helps to facilitate placements of third-year students by creating a platform where career opportunities can be listed. The Job Board manager receives numerous requests on a daily basis from industry clients who specifically request Open Window graduates; positions and opportunities are published daily for job seeking and freelance artists.
Library
LIBRARY
The Library at Open Window (OW) facilitates a culture of continuous learning by offering a collection of books, periodicals and DVD’s to meet the study needs of our students. In addition, it offers access to electronic resources for the broadening of knowledge and academic research to students and faculty members alike.
EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS)
EDS brings together the Library’s print holdings and electronic collections in a single interphase, giving you access to thousands of credible books, e-books, articles, peer-reviewed journals and a variety of other useful resources for your research needs. Here you will be able to reserve books from the Southdowns Campus Library as well as access key readings and electronic resources. Your Google account will be required to access this platform. Alternatively, you can access EDS via Canvas or Google Apps when logged into your Gmail account. You can also download the EDS Mobile App using the QR Code below.
For further assistance, contact the OW Librarian, Gontse Mathabathe at library@openwindow.co.za
Journal and Magazine Collection
3D World is the best-selling international magazine for 3D artists, covering the fields of animation, VFX, games, illustration and architecture. Print magazines are available in the Library.
Design Journal is the leading international peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of design and its interdisciplinary practices. Online. Available on Taylor & Francis.
Mousse is a contemporary art magazine that traces the currents of contemporary culture through articles, interviews, and conversations. Print Magazines available in the Library.
Creative Review is a bi-monthly print magazine focused on design, advertising, photography, branding, digital products, film, and gaming. Login required. Print & Online. Print magazines are available in the Library.
Frieze is the resource for contemporary art and culture, offering reviews, essays, interviews, videos and podcasts from around the world. Login required. Print & Online. Print magazines are available in the Library.
Taylor & Francis publishes high-quality academic journals and books spanning multiple disciplines, including humanities and social sciences. Part access/Login required.
The Creativity Research Journal is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal that covers research into all aspects of creativity. Print & Online. Available on Taylor & Francis. Print magazines are available in the Library.
ImagineFX is a digital art magazine that features workshops and interviews with artists from the science fiction, fantasy, manga, anime, game and comic disciplines. Available as print in the Centurion campus and Stellenbosch Campus. Ask the Librarian for more details.
Other Open Access: Journals
Academic Journals accelerates the dissemination of knowledge.
DOAJ is a community-curated online directory that indexes and provides access to high quality, open access, peer-reviewed journals.
The international journal of computer game research.
Sabinet ensures easy access to credible, accurate and updated information.
Part access.
Transformations peer-reviewed journal addressing the transformative processes of new technologies and mediating practices.
The Peer-reviewed Open Access Online Journal for Animation History and Theory.
The Fashion and Race Database provides an accessible, academic treatment to one of fashion’s most critical topics facing us today.
Google Scholar is a freely accessible web search engine.
Subscription and open access journals from SAGE Publishing.
Part access.
A journal collection of various software history and theory journals.
The Fibreculture Journal is a peer-reviewed international journal, exploring issues and ideas within the Fibreculture network.
Rhizomes is an independent online journal (ISSN 1555-9998) published twice yearly.
Senses of Cinema is a quarterly online film magazine founded in 1999 by filmmaker Bill Mousoulis.
Open Access: Books
Library Hours
Mon – Thurs: 08h00 – 18h00
Fri : 08h00 – 15h00
Weekends: Not open
Student Holidays:
Mon – Fri : 08h00 – 15h00
For any library-related enquiries please feel free to contact Gontse Mathabathe at library@openwindow.co.za
Did you know?
The OW Librarian will help with information sources you cannot find or access.
We are part of the Inter-Library Loans (ILL) system in South Africa. Free service for honours students only.
Printing facilities are available in the library. Arrange payment via our Finance office.
All you need to do for assistance is to ASK the Librarian.
Alumni
ALUMNI
Graduates, doing us proud
The golden thread that has always resonated throughout The Open Window’s existence is its ability to attract top calibre individuals – we are proud of our experienced, qualified and passionate lecturers, our unique, ambitious and versatile students and we salute our line of alumni that contribute tremendously to the industry.
About
Vision
It is the vision of Open Window to be a leader and trendsetter in the education sector of South Africa and internationally by achieving product excellence through academic rigour and industry relevance, the use of cutting-edge technology and the continuous upgrading of infrastructure in a customer centric environment.
Mission
Our mission is to deliver creative and critical thinkers who possess the technical, dynamic, professional and multi-skilled capabilities globally required by the creative industries. We provide relevant education opportunities through the application of:
- Superior educational models
- Cutting-edge technology
- International competitive outcomes
- Standards of excellence
- Industry requirements
SAPHE Certificate of Membership
A member of South Africa Private Higher Education (SAPHE).
Working together to promote and enhance private higher education in South Africa
Partners
Open Window is part of the UXi Private Education Group and is affiliated to the following international educational institutions:
WHY OPEN WINDOW?
- Registered Private Higher Education Institution founded in 1993
- Leading school in Creative Arts & Technologies
- Key driver of conceptual thinking
- Curricula inspired by ongoing innovation
- Highest academic standards
- Consistent evolution in line with industry flux and progression
The Gautrain station in Centurion is a mere 5,7 km away on the Gautrain bus route. The bus stop is situated directly in front of our campus and operates every 20 minutes during peak hours and every 40 minutes during off-peak hours Monday to Friday.
Students can enjoy the use of a high-tech auditorium, spacious air-conditioned studios and lecture halls, a film production area with overhead lighting and green screen facilities.
The leisurely and safe environment allows students to relax between classes and gives them a variety of open space to work and explore their creativity.
The Open Window library is stocked with the latest resources specific to the disciplines we offer. It is equipped with ample workstations with Mac desktops, a Wi-Fi hotspot area with high speed Internet.
Students are able to catch up on work after hours in a safe and convenient environment as the campus has 24-hour security and secure parking.
Leaving the campus to grab a coffee and a bite to eat is not always an option between classes. Open Window is home to the Roast and Toast which is known for its irresistible coffee, tasty meals and great social vibe.
ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT HEADS
Specialised and ever-developing disciplines including:
- Game Design
- Animation
- Motion Design
- User Interface Design
- Development
- Industrial Design
- Film
- Screenwriting
- Screen Acting
- Production Design
- Sound
- Photography
- Communication Design
- Illustration
- Academic excellence
- Cutting-edge technology
- Industry relevance
- Extensive/global relationships
- A merging of theory and practice which develops future professionals