While the rest of Stellenbosch University (SU) quietly goes into winter hibernation and our students enjoy a well-deserved recess, the team at SU International (SUI) is pulling out all the stops to welcome delegates, students, and candidates from across the globe to attend their international programmes on campus during June and July. This year, more than 160 participants from 19 countries worldwide joined SUI for one of the many programmes on offer during the recess.
"Stellenbosch as a destination for international students does not have seasonal constraints. Our hearts and support are warm and welcoming," said SUI's Director, Robert Kotzé, who once again welcomed the second semester intake of students to SU's campus on Monday, 14 July 2025. The 285 incoming international students who attended SUI's semester programmes underwent a one-week in-person orientation to ensure a smooth academic and social transition. The week focuses on cultural integration, academic preparedness, and community building.
For Kotzé, every welcome is special. "It is an opportunity to extend a warm welcome to our new students and to encourage them to explore the possibilities to grow, develop their understanding of being a global citizen and engage with the people here — local students in and out of class and with the broader community through the SUI community programmes."
He said the highlight for him this year is the big group of students from our German universities' partners. "Our challenge will be to encourage them to move beyond their group and engage with students from the other countries represented and to allow locals into their space and plans."
For one of the German students, Evin Göcer from Esslingen University, he is excited to delve into the community and learn about the people and history of Stellenbosch, as well as the larger South Africa. For him, the entire campus of SU was a 'stand-out'. “In Germany, my campus looks very grey and 'boring' in comparison to SU. The colours and mountainous scenery caught my eye. The library is extremely impressive, being both large and modern.
I look forward to spending my time there for my upcoming study sessions. "
Kotzé explained that the presence of international semester students is vital to Stellenbosch University's Vision 2040. "Each group brings fresh global perspectives to classrooms, enriching learning and creating opportunities for meaningful 'international-at-home' experiences. Their presence not only inspires local students to pursue their mobility journeys, but also strengthens SU's global partnerships, turning a single semester into long-term academic collaboration and shared growth."
Aaron Jones, an American student from Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University, said he was drawn to SU because of its diverse community. “I believe it's incredibly valuable to share different perspectives and connect through culture. SU felt like the ideal place to engage meaningfully with both local and international students. Here, I feel I can grow and learn — both academically and socially." Jones said he arrived with an open mindset to absorb every new experience as best as he can. “I am very impressed with the integration process at SU. Everyone has such a big smile and was so welcoming."
Programmes for 2025
Due to the summer break in the global North at the moment, SUI uses this period to create opportunities for students to participate in various programmes.
SUI kicked off its winter programmes with a powerful and thought-provoking experience titled "Game Change: Race, Rugby and Reconciliation in South Africa" from 8 to 22 June 2025. For two weeks, 22 rugby players from the University of Virginia (UVA) delved into South Africa's complex sporting history, exploring how rugby became a lens for national identity, social transformation, and global politics. The programme combined academic lectures with field visits, training sessions with local teams, and hands-on community engagement, giving students an understanding of sport as a driver of change. This impactful programme forms part of SUI's growing portfolio of tailor-made short courses for international partners, designed to blend learning with cultural immersion and global dialogue.
Altogether 65 participants from 13 countries (Germany, Yemen, Kenya, Palestine, Belgium, Guatemala, Hong Kong, China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, Botswana) attended the SU Summer School, which ran from 20 June 2025 to 17 July 2025. Offering a unique experience, this programme combined academic excellence with cross-cultural experiences. The nine academic courses in the programme covered Politics, History, International Relations, Global Surgery, Photography, Business, Art and Media.
Yung Tung from the Chinese University of Hong Kong said studying in such a culturally diverse environment is a new experience for her. “The cultural activities and excursions to different places in Cape Town with new friends I met here are remarkable." She said programmes like these help students step out of their comfort zone and meet new people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. “All the things we've seen and heard in the programme broaden our horizons and give students a new perspective when approaching different issues in life."
The Polarisation Summer School Programme, which ran from 30 June 2025 to 4 July 2025, offered 18 students from South Africa, Germany, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and Croatia a unique opportunity to collaborate with top researchers from the University of Groningen (in the Netherlands) and Stellenbosch University in an innovative, hybrid programme. Rooted in disciplines such as social psychology, philosophy, political science, and sociology, the course takes a transdisciplinary approach to addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time: polarisation. Students could dive into cutting-edge debates, explore emerging research, and work in diverse teams to design real-world interventions, guided by challenges presented by societal partners. The programme offered a global learning experience designed to shape practical solutions for a divided world.
Altogether fourteen students from Poland, Italy and South Africa attended the Venice International University (VIU) Summer School on Advanced Transportation, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management from 30 June 2025 to 4 July 2025. This programme offered an integrated approach to the evolving landscape of transport, logistics, and supply chain management, emphasising the importance of collaboration between policymakers, planners, and both public and private sector actors. Participants had the opportunity to engage with the latest innovations in technology, business models, and policy design through a mix of non-traditional theoretical and empirical approaches. From strategic foresight and IT tools to modelling labs, real-world case studies, and applied projects, the course explores how these elements can drive environmental sustainability and socio-economic efficiency. A key focus was on the so-called "bits vs bricks" perspective, namely the tension and synergy between digital disruption and physical infrastructure—the "bits vs bricks" perspective.
Nine students and three staff members from the University of North Alabama in the US attended SUI's inaugural Geography Study Tour from July 1 to 14, 2025. This two-week programme focused on the relationship between geography and history, examining how the past shapes contemporary landscapes. Through visits to key sites such as Table Mountain National Park, Cape Point Nature Reserve, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, and a Garden Route tour, participants explored the historical and environmental significance of South African landmarks.
SUI is also currently hosting two study groups from Côte d'Ivoire for an Intensive English Programme (IEP), presented by SU's Language Centre. The group includes 28 students (from 4 July 2025 to 2 August 2025) and a six-member delegation (which visited from 2 to 19 July 2025) from the Côte d'Ivoire Chamber of Commerce — the Chamber's first official training engagement, made possible through a referral from the South African High Commission in Côte d'Ivoire. While SU has previously hosted university delegations, such as the University of Luanda, this marks the first time government officials from Côte d'Ivoire are participating in a formal programme on SU's campus.
Ines Marascia, a student from Strasbourg University in France, said that as a political science student, she was immediately drawn to SU due to its history and social context. “I'm also here to improve my English language skills, as where I am from, learning English is not always a top priority." She was also looking forward to more interactive lectures, as “in France our classes are very one-sided; we are expected to only sit and listen. If the classes are as engaging as the welcoming programme that we have now, I cannot wait to start learning and make new study-buddies."
Currently, over 120 participants are attending SUI's African Doctoral Academy (ADA) Winter School — a high-impact learning experience in research and methodology training designed to sharpen academic excellence and accelerate career advancement. Open to master's students, doctoral candidates, supervisors, and researchers, the ADA offers an intensive programme of cutting-edge workshops led by global experts. With delegates joining from across South Africa, the African continent, and beyond, the Winter School is a catalyst for academic preparedness, cross-border collaboration, and research leadership.
A testament to SU's appeal
Kotzé highlighted the consistent and growing global interest in SUI's winter recess programmes, describing it as a testament to the University's international appeal. "We will now focus on expanding this momentum by deepening mobility within Africa — not just by welcoming more students from across the continent, but by creating stronger pathways for SU students to experience partner universities in Africa as well," he said. "Shorter, high-impact engagements could be the key to unlocking broader participation. I'm both encouraged by the recent uptake and energised by the possibilities ahead as we shape our programme offering for 2026."
