​Prof Hester Klopper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy and Internationalisation at Stellenbosch University (SU), has recently been elected to serve on the Council of the Consortium Universities for Global Health (CUGH) based in Washington DC in the United States of America. Recognised internationally as an academic leader in health care, Klopper is one of six newly elected council members and the first South African to achieve this feat. She will serve a three-year term from 2018-2021.

Established in 2008, the CUGH is a rapidly growing organisation of over 145 academic institutions and other organisations from around the world engaged in addressing global health challenges. SU is a member of the CUGH.

Apart from allowing SU to strengthen its contributions to address global challenges, membership of the CUGH augments the University's presence in the global health community, facilitates linkages with academic institutions, companies, and governments around the world, and provides access to information about employment, research and training opportunities.

“It's indeed a great honour to be the first South African and I think the second person in Africa to be elected to the Council of the CUGH," Klopper said about her achievement.

“This give me the opportunity to represent Stellenbosch University in the international arena, and also to strengthen the Department of Global Health, which was formed at the end of 2016, in the FMGSW. In addition, it offers me the chance to contribute to global health and the linkage with the Sustainable Development Goals."

“In an organisation where most members are medical practitioners, I see it as an opportunity to highlight the role that other health professions play in global health," Klopper added.

She said partnerships are needed to address these challenges and she hopes to collaborate with different stakeholders and to serve the common agenda.​