University of Venda’s Nesengani Shines at AUDE Summer School with Award-Winning Project

Ms Tshisevhe Nesengani, Head of the Infrastructure Maintenance Unit under the Facilities Management Department at the University of Venda, has been honoured with the 2024 AUDE Summer School Best Project Award.

The University of Venda is an active member of the Higher Education Facilities Management Association of Southern Africa (HEFMA), which annually sponsors one delegate from a member institution to participate in the Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE) Summer School in the United Kingdom. This prestigious six-month programme includes a week-long residency in the UK and offers professional development for future leaders in higher education estates and facilities management.
Ms Nesengani was selected to attend the 2024 Summer School, held at the University of Manchester in June, after submitting a successful response to HEFMA’s Call for Expression of Interest.
As part of the programme, participants were required to develop and present a group project addressing key challenges or opportunities in higher education facilities management. Ms Nesengani’s group project, titled “Enhancing Customer-Centric Practices in Capital Project Delivery within Higher Education Estates,” was named the best project of the 2024 cohort.
The project explores innovative methods for integrating the ‘Voice of the Customer’—students, academic staff, and professional teams into capital project planning. It emphasises actionable strategies based on sector-wide best practices, aiming to boost institutional performance and user satisfaction.
Key focus areas included: Developing project briefs that effectively engage end-users; Leveraging post-occupancy feedback and customer data to inform future design and service delivery; and applying international customer service frameworks such as ISO 9001 and Customer Service Excellence to drive measurable improvements.
The group’s work culminated in strategic recommendations for AUDE and senior leadership across the higher education estate sector.
As recognition for their achievement, the winning group was invited to the 2025 AUDE Conference at Cardiff University, where they were presented with awards and certificates during the Gala Dinner and AUDE Awards Ceremony.

The winning team for the AUDE summer school award-best project: Graeme Race, Tshisevhe Nesengani, James Wright, Sarah Anne Borg, Kate Powell and Helen Shaw.

Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811