Since 2001, SU International has been offering an annual school in the months of June and July to coincide with the northern hemisphere's summer. The summer school, which started as a single tailor-made course developed for one specific partner, has since grown into a full-fletched four-week offering with 16 courses, attracting up to 140 students from various countries.
The holistic programme combines theory and practice, while a social component is also incorporated to introduce foreign students to the cultural diversity of Stellenbosch and the Western Cape.
Four streams
The academic programme comprises lectures, group discussions and field trips in four streams, and is taught by SU's own lecturers and other South African experts.
The first stream, a general elective programme, offers 13 courses. Students have the option to enrol for up to three of these. Courses cover fields such as philosophy, engineering, botany, political science, economics, literature, art and media, history, HIV/Aids, international relations and Chinese studies.
The public health stream, in turn, introduces students to the healthcare system in South Africa. Themes under this stream are informed by key health determinants in the Western Cape, namely HIV/Aids and tuberculosis, non-communicable and infectious diseases, substance abuse, domestic violence, mental and psychosocial health, and sexual and reproductive health. Classroom instruction, readings and presentations are integrated with an experiential component to expose students to healthcare facilities in the Western Cape.
The third stream, focusing on doing business in Southern Africa, explores the unique institutional and policy conditions governing business ventures in the region. The aim is to guide future entrepreneurs and managers as to the challenges that might confront their businesses, but also the opportunities our rapidly growing region offers. Topics covered include the development challenges facing Southern Africa, the growth of the region's emerging markets, and future growth potential. Students get to discuss and debate policy issues in a developing-country context and gain deeper insight into the additional social, environmental and ethical considerations at play when doing business in Africa.
Finally, the global service-learning stream aims to enable social impact and transformation through experiential learning. The course is presented in collaboration with local schools and non-profit organisations located in historically disadvantaged communities. Comprising both a theoretical and practical component, the course is reading and writing-intensive as well as transdisciplinary.
Engagement with local 'ambassadors'
The summer school also offers an opportunity for engagement with local students, who join the programme as ambassadors for Stellenbosch and South Africa. A highlight of the programme, this component normally includes a range of cultural and tourist activities. Students learn about life in post-apartheid South Africa and get to experience the rich and diverse culture of the Western Cape.
For more information, watch this video and consult our summer school webpage.
