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National multiplication training on internationalisation in South Africa

09 March 2022 | Story Dr Cornelius Hagenmeier

The University of Venda (Univen) and the University of the Free State (UFS) have been awarded a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES) National Multiplication Trainings (NMT) programme to implement training on internationalisation for higher education leaders and managers. It is co-funded by the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) and the two coordinating universities. Two emerging internationalisation managers, Mr Matome Mokoena (UFS) and Mrs Nontlanhla Ntakana (Univen), are coordinating the programme, which is supported by DAAD with 25 000 euros.

Dr Segun Obadire (Univen) and Dr Cornelius Hagenmeier (UFS), who serve as directors responsible for the international offices at their universities, are part of the training committee. The theme of the training programme is ‘Enabling Internationalisation in Light of the 2020 Policy Framework for Internationalisation of Higher Education in South Africa 2022’; it comprises two training workshops and several virtual engagements. The first training workshop was held at the UFS from 1 to 3 March 2022.

Trendsetters

Mrs Nontlanhla Ntakana and Mr Matome Mokoena are alumni of the biannual DAAD DIES Training Course on Management of Internationalisation (MOI) at the Leibniz University Hannover in Germany. They seized the opportunity to forge a multiplication training that would impact internationalisation leaders and managers from across South Africa and empower them to leverage the 2020 Policy Framework for Internationalisation of Higher Education in South Africa to advance the internationalisation process at their institutions.

Internationalisation experts

Dr Nico Jooste and Mrs Merle Hodges served as external experts on the training committee. Both are internationally renowned experts in the field and former presidents of the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA). Mr Leolyn Jackson (Central University of Technology, CUT) and Prof Lynette Jacobs (UFS) also contributed to the first training workshop.

Structure

This programme commenced in February, with participants engaging in topical readings and submitting their first assignment. First, a virtual workshop introduced participants to the UNIVEN Moodle e-learning platform used for the course. The face-to-face workshop at the UFS will be followed by a second in-person training at the University of Venda in September 2022. Virtual workshops and support of the participants through a dedicated WhatsApp group and other mentorship programmes will ensure the continuity of the training between the face-to-face workshops. Participants who were unable to attend the UFS and UNIVEN workshops in person could participate via a virtual link, thus ensuring that no participant is left behind.

Participants

Twenty participants from eight public higher education institutions were selected by the training committee to participate in the training programme. Two participants from this year’s NMT cohort were also accepted into the DIES MOI course at the Leibniz University Hannover in Germany. They are Prof Nontokozo Mashiya from the University of Zululand (Unizulu) and Mbali Mkhize from the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). Participants in the first workshop have indicated that they gained a lot from the numerous exercises and activities in the programme. They also mentioned that the programme would change the outlook of internationalisation at their universities in the future.

News Archive

Albert Einstein “visits” Bloemfontein

2005-08-30

Albert Einstein, performed by David Muller, and Dr Matie Hoffman, senior lecturer from the Department of Physics at the UFS and coordinator of educational activities at the UFS Boyden Observatory. They are standing at the 1,5m Boyden telescope.

Visitors to the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Boyden Observatory had a special treat on Saturday 27 August 2005 when they were “Albert Einstein”, alias David Muller (Albert Einstein in Imagining Einstein) paid them a surprise visit.

The Department of Science and Technology is sponsoring a one-man play called Imagining Einstein. The play, written and performed by David Muller, is produced through the MTN Science Centre and forms part of the celebration of the World Year of Physics. The play’s visit to Bloemfontein was kicked off by Saturday evening’s performance at the UFS Boyden Observatory.

It follows the life of Einstein, from his patent office in Switzerland, through his office in Berlin to his position at Princeton where he spent the last 20 years of his life and captures the research, studies and thinking with all its depth and insights of a man who not only changed the thinking about physics but also had much fun doing so.

The play will be presented on Tuesday 30 August 2005 and Wednesday 31 August 2005 at 10:00 and 19:00 in the Albert Wessels Auditorium on the UFS campus. Entrance is free of charge. For bookings, please contact (051) 401 2561.

On Thursday 1 September 2005 the play will be presented at 10:00 and 19:00 at the Sterrewag Theatre on Naval Hill. Tickets are R10 per person for the 10:00 show and R30 per person for the 19:00 show and are available from PACOFS booking offices or by calling (051) 447 7772.

Media release
Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel: (051) 401-2584
   Cell: 083 645 2454
   E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
29 August 2005

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