Abstract
Gender-based violence (GBV) continues to be a significant social and institutional challenge
within South Africa’s higher education sector. Universities have a crucial responsibility to
create environments that are safe and inclusive for all students. This study explored the role
of institutional communication in promoting Gender-Based Violence (GBV) awareness among
university students in South Africa. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected
from 128 students across various public universities in South Africa through a structured
questionnaire. The researcher distributed the questionnaire both online and offline. Data
analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 30.0. Reliability and validity tests
showed the instrument was strong, with Cronbach’s Alpha values ranging from 0.81 to 0.95,
indicating excellent internal consistency. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) values exceeded the
recommended threshold of 0.6, and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity was significant (p<001),
confirming sampling adequacy and construct validity. Descriptive results suggested that
students generally had positive perceptions of the communication strategies used by their
universities and their effectiveness in raising awareness of GBV. Most students agreed that
the GBV-related messages communicated by their universities are clear and easy to
comprehend.