Two Psychology students from the University of the Free State (UFS), Zandile Ngwenya and Lulutho Mtimkulu, have been accepted for the first time into the Tufts Initiative for Leadership and International Perspective (TILIP). TILIP is a highly regarded virtual global leadership programme hosted by Tufts University in the United States, running from 17 January to 7 March.

The Tufts Initiative for Leadership and International Perspective forms part of the broader Initiative for Global Leadership at Tufts University’s Jonathan M Tisch College of Civic Life. The programme is designed to cultivate cross-cultural understanding, collaborative enquiry, and global leadership capacity among students from around the world. Each year, TILIP brings together international student delegations to engage in structured intellectual exploration and dialogue, culminating in participation in the Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) symposium – a flagship academic forum centred on a major global theme.

Both Ngwenya and Mtimkulu served as group leaders in the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) initiative, iKudu, in 2025, which focused on collaborative international engagement around student well-being across global contexts. Their selection into TILIP reflects the growing impact of COIL as an innovative approach to learning and teaching, and as a platform for developing globally competent student leaders.

Ngwenya describes her selection into TILIP as both affirming and meaningful. “It recognises not only my academic journey, but also my values, voice, and commitment to growth and leadership,” she says. She hopes the programme will deepen her intercultural knowledge and strengthen her ability to engage in critical dialogue across disciplines and cultural contexts.

According to Dr Pravani Naidoo, COIL Coordinator and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the UFS, the students’ acceptance highlights the strength and value of COIL within the institution. “Their reflective leadership and intercultural skills developed through COIL are being recognised across international learning spaces,” she notes. “Their acceptance showcases the integrity, strength, and value of our academic programmes in cultivating socially responsible global citizens who are capable of contributing meaningfully to global conversations of significance.”

Mtimkulu similarly views the opportunity as an important academic milestone. “TILIP aligns closely with my academic journey and my interest in human functioning across contexts,” she explains. “The programme will enrich my perspective and prepare me to contribute thoughtfully to scholarship and practice, engaging globally while remaining critically aware of context and power.”

Dr Naidoo further emphasises the importance of Global South representation in international leadership initiatives, noting that it “ensures global conversations are more equitable, inclusive, and reflective of diverse social realities”. She adds that such representation helps challenge dominant narratives and expand discussions around global challenges.