Stellenbosch University
Welcome to Stellenbosch University
A reflection from Robert Kotze
Author: Robert Kotze, Senior Director: Stellenbosch University International
Published: 14/12/2021

​The year 2021 is drawing to a close. It is time for wrapping up, thinking back, and getting ready for time with family and friends over the festive season.

When looking back, I am proud that we at SU International managed to puzzle it out most of the time, although some of the piecing together took a while amidst the range of opportunities coming our way:

  • Establishing the AUDA-NEPAD Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation, one of five on the continent.
  • Hosting three Emerging Scholars Initiative (ESI) joint schools, with the University of Strathmore, Lagos University, and the University of Rwanda.
  • Establishing the SU Unit for International Credentialing to quality assure the newly established International Secondary Certificate (ISC) of the Independent Examinations Board (https://www.iebiq.com/pages/qualityassurance).
  • Becoming an international partner of the EUTOPIA University Alliance and an associate member of the SGROUP of universities.
  • Developing an SU Japan Centre with the Embassy of Japan.

Within the context of the above and the implementation of our Internationalisation Strategy, SU International underwent a reorganisation that resulted in the merging of the Centre for Partnerships and Internationalisation Support and the Global Education Centre into the new Centre for Global Engagement (CGE), with Sarah van der Westhuizen as the manager. The merger brings partnership development and the resulting mobility programme closer together.


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Internationalisation Support has become a stronger responsibility throughout SU International. Apart from being engaged in internationalisation activities and initiatives, all the centres have an institutional role in supporting comprehensive internationalisation with an internationalisation perspective, and not only engaging from an international angle.

There is a lot of promise for 2022, especially regarding the initiatives highlighted in the graphic above. We all hope that the impact of the global pandemic will be less and that all the promise can come to life, including a revival of physical mobility, along within responsible, sustainable and digital International Higher Education.

We thank all of you for your continued support and your engagement with us during SIAN (http://www.sun.ac.za/english/SUInternational/Pages/SIAN.aspx). All the best for the festive season, for moving into 2022 and for achieving your internationalisation goals for 2022!

Robert Kotzé

To find out more about SU International activities, visit our website: www.sun.ac.za/international.​