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Redefining the future of international student policies

07 April 2025 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

International student symposium — Seithati Ramonaheng at the International Students Policy Review Symposium, where she contributed to discussions on policy alignment and student experiences.

Seithati Ramonaheng, who supports International Students Administration, Immigration, and Medical Aid in the University of the Free State (UFS) Office for International Affairs, was recently invited to attend the International Students Policy Review Symposium hosted by the Vaal University of Technology.

A platform for change

According to Ramonaheng, the symposium was more than just a platform for discussion; it was a catalyst for change in how South African universities and policy makers address the challenges and opportunities of international education. “By engaging diverse stakeholders and thoroughly reviewing both the legal and institutional frameworks, the symposium aimed to contribute significantly to the creation of inclusive, accessible, and supportive environments for international students in South Africa,” she said. During the event, she also presented on the inconsistencies between the Immigration Act and the practices.

In her presentation, Ramonaheng shared findings from data collected across various institutions, which closely aligned with the experiences of international students at the symposium. These students highlighted the challenges they face when applying for study visas. Additionally, recommendations were put forward to help ease these difficulties.

She continued, saying that it was inspiring to connect with other professionals and gain new perspectives that she believes will be beneficial to their team in the UFS Office for International Affairs. The symposium brought together key voices in international education, including Advocate Sipho Mantula, a human rights lawyer from the Thabo Mbeki School at UNISA; Rudy Petersen, a strategic manager at UJ; and Segomotso Phetlhu, managing director of the International Students African Union (ISAU). Student leaders from the University of Venda, UJ, and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University also participated in the discussions.

Improving the student experience

International students from Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho shared their experiences and proposed ways for higher education institutions and the Department of Home Affairs to improve the international student experience.

Ramonaheng found the symposium to be a valuable experience that allowed her to get a deeper understanding of international students’ experiences as a whole. She looks forward to applying her insights within the UFS Office for International Affairs to further support international students. She will also contribute to the scholarship of internationalisation by publishing research that documents the immigration experiences of international students.

News Archive

UFS to get transformation plan for African context

2005-02-04

The University of the Free State is to draft a comprehensive Transformation Plan to give impetus to the process of making the UFS an inclusive, non-racial, non-sexist, multi-cultural and multi-lingual university within the African context.

Delivering a keynote speech at the Official Opening of the UFS today, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, said the Transformation Plan would include aspects such as employment equity, institutional culture, academic excellence, and other elements.

He added that another aspect to be considered in the academic element of the Transformation Plan was the issue of the African context, of a university for Africa, in Africa, of the African university.

According to Prof Fourie, the best way of understanding the role of the UFS in Africa and for Africa, is for the university to become a truly engaged university that bridges the gap between the institution and the community. He said the UFS had for more than 10 years been at the forefront of transformation in higher education, and had gone through several phases of transformation. However the UFS needed to embark on a new phase of transformation which would be guided by a comprehensive Transformation Plan.

The Transformation Plan would be the result of an inclusive consultation process involving staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders. It would also be based on a review of current policies and practices.
The process would be led by a Transformation Plan Team, co-ordinated by the Vice-Rector: Academic Operations, Prof Teuns Verschoor, and the Vice-Rector: Student Affairs, Dr Ezekiel Moraka.

“Obviously we should also not underestimate the complexities of transformation and of building a new society, given our complex history and the legacies of poverty, underdevelopment, colonialism and apartheid.

“We must consider support for staff involved in these transformation steps, including appropriate staff development, capacity to support transformation processes, as well as flexible and supportive administrative practices,” Prof Fourie said.

He said the UFS management understood the urgency of transformation in the current democratic South Africa and the changing global environment and appealed to staff and students to participate fully in drafting the Transformation Plan for the UFS.

“Transformation at the UFS has been and will continue to be a process with many facets that seek to enhance excellence in all spheres of university life, and is much more than merely ensuring employment equity,” he said.

Prof Fourie said: “We have reached a historic moment in the life of the UFS where innovative thinking and bold steps yet again are necessary because failure is not an option.”

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

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