My name is Anja Cronje, born and raised in Uitenhage and a Rhodes graduate in anthropology and German. I chose to further my anthropology studies in Heritage Management because, to me, the value of anthropological findings lie in improving cultural competence. Therefore, it is vital for anthropological findings to leave academic circles and become accessible to the public.

If heritage can be effectively managed then not only can cultures be appropriately protected from exploitation, but people can also learn from one another’s cultures respectfully.

During my year of doing the Heritage Management course I engaged in a digital heritage project where I created an Instagram page to share the insights of some of South Africa’s proverbs. It can be found on Instagram @say_the_words.

The greatest value of the Heritage Management program is the access to industry professionals. The insight into the reality of heritage management in South Africa and its various professional avenues gained from the professionals themselves was invaluable.

Although the aim of the program is to provide practical experience, the circumstances of Covid-19 were impossible to predict. While the intended field trips and practical work had to be put on hold, the program adjusted swiftly and continued to provide relevant and invaluable knowledge from industry professionals as well as sound support in adjusting to online learning.

The assignments for the course were also relevant and were designed to develop the skills that would come to use in the real world of heritage management, such as developing social media platform skills, business proposals, presentations and research skills.