Student well-being is not a challenge that can be solved in isolation. It requires diverse perspectives and an understanding of how young people navigate a complex world. At the University of the Free State (UFS), honours students in the Department of Psychology are stepping onto a global stage to tackle this issue directly.
Beyond local borders
For many students, the collaboration is a profound personal journey. Working across diverse cultures, languages, and communication styles requires a high level of adaptability.
Ilzené Douglas, a master’s student and COIL facilitator, witnessed this shift firsthand. “What stood out most was their transformation,” she notes. “The students were initially hesitant and uncertain but grew into confident collaborators who engaged meaningfully across borders. Observing how they managed conflict, adapted to new contexts, and embraced diverse perspectives was particularly extraordinary.”
Through structured support and intentional reflection, students co-created team charters and maintained reflexivity scrapbooks. This approach ensured that their final well-being interventions were academically grounded and culturally responsive.
Global reach, local roots
The initiative is a prime example of the UFS’ commitment to globally networked learning. Dr Pravani Naidoo, who spearheaded the programme, explains that it brings the international classroom directly to Bloemfontein.
“This COIL initiative operationalises internationalisation at home,” says Dr Naidoo. By using facilities such as the Mirror Classroom in the UFS Business School, students gain vital global exposure without leaving the country. “Our COILers practised intercultural communication, critical thinking, and teamwork in real time as they negotiated roles, assumptions, and decisions with their peers.”
Rather than learning in theory, students applied their knowledge to a shared, real-world challenge. Dr Naidoo adds that the initiative enabled students to “enact global citizenship and their professional identities collaboratively”. Following feedback from the 2025 cohort, this year’s students developed dynamic, multi-level interventions that drew on the insights of both MBU Economics students and UFS Psychology scholars.
Cultivating global problem-solvers
The project directly supports the UFS graduate attributes and the broader Vision 130 goal of developing socially responsive citizens. Prof Jacques Jordaan, Academic Head of the Department of Psychology, believes that this kind of academic innovation is essential.
“COIL initiatives are vital because they provide students with meaningful international exposure without the barriers of physical mobility,” Prof Jordaan explains. “Professionally, it equips students with key competencies such as digital collaboration, communication across cultures, adaptability, and problem-solving. These skills are increasingly valued in the workplace.”
The true value of these cross-border collaborations lies in their tangible impact. According to Prof Jordaan, the ideas proposed by the students have strong potential to shape modern university environments.
“These ideas often reflect innovative, contextually relevant approaches to student well-being,” he says. Because the solutions are shaped by shared learning and critical dialogue, they can inform institutional practices and contribute to more inclusive university spaces.
By preparing graduates who can drive change, the Department of Psychology is advancing the UFS North Star of
Responsible Societal Futures. This initiative reflected more than the completion of an academic project. It signalled a growing culture of learning in which student well-being, global engagement, and social responsibility are increasingly understood as part of the same educational mission.