Keshia firmly believes in the transformative power of international education and the long-term impact it has, hence her unwavering commitment to comprehensive internationalization/ global learning especially at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). The daughter of two HBCU educated educators, Keshia grew up steeped in HBCU culture and international intercultural experiences and has worked successfully with all higher education institution types. She has served as a tenured faculty member, department chair, academic dean and program director at several MSIs. A current elected council member at the Forum on Education Abroad, Abraham has collaborated on working groups, globally presented at forums, seminars, and conferences on both international education and African (diaspora) literature. Abraham earned a PhD in comparative literature with an emphasis on Postcolonial literature and culture (specifically African diaspora women’s literature) and popular education, and her bachelor’s degree in English (emphasis on women’s studies) at the esteemed Spelman College. Prior to starting her own agency, she was the inaugural senior director of diversity and inclusion at CIEE.

Her academic background includes a National Diploma in Statistics from Osun State Polytechnic and a Higher National Diploma from Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria. She later obtained a B.Sc. (Honours) in Applied Statistics and an M.Sc. in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from the University of Fort Hare.

Ms. Adeniji has accumulated valuable experience through various academic and administrative roles. These include serving as an academic tutor at UFH, a Student Assistant in the Office of International Affairs and Partnership, and a Mathematics teacher during her National Youth Service in Nigeria. She also completed industrial training at the Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.

She is proficient in statistical software such as SPSS, R, SAS, and Epi Info, and has strong skills in Microsoft Office applications. Her research interests lie in statistical modelling, public health data analysis, and student mentorship.

Kwadwo is a member of the Ghana Bar Association. He completed his LLB at UG and his professional law degree at the Ghana School of Law and obtained his LLM and DCL degrees respectively from Dalhousie University and McGill University, both in Canada. He served as a Bank of Ireland Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, National University of Ireland and as a Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship at the
Centre for Educational Research and Development, Lincoln University, UK where he conducted research on “Building Academic Freedom and Democracy in Africa.” Kwadwo has served as a consultant for various inter-governmental organisations and international civil society organisations. He is a board member of the Africa Network for Clinical Legal Education (ANCLE) and an Ambassador of the Magna Charta Observatory, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. He was also until recently, a board member of the Global Observatory on Academic Freedom, Central European University, Vienna, Austria; and the Academic Freedom Committee of the International Studies Association, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA. His research interests are post-colonial analysis of the historiography of international law, human rights and academic freedom.

Consequently, she has been involved in the drafting of the ACERWC’s General Comments and other research outputs. She is a member of the editorial boards of the African Human Rights Law Journal, Strathmore Law Journal, and the OAU Journal of Public Law, as well as a member of the Expert Group/Advisory Board of the United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty. In 2021, she gained the distinction of recognition as UWC’s ‘Faculty of Law Top Achiever’.

She has extensive experience in facilitating cross-institutional networks, coordinating international funding opportunities, and developing global partnership platforms that strengthen research, education, and capacity building. With a background in international relations and higher education management, she is passionate about fostering inclusive and sustainable global academic cooperations in the higher education sector.

At UWC, a historically disadvantaged institution with a proud anti-apartheid legacy and a strong social justice ethos, Tracy plays a pivotal role in advancing the university’s internationalisation agenda. She leads strategic global engagement by cultivating and managing international partnerships, coordinating institutional MOUs and agreements, and aligning academic collaboration with UWC’s broader vision for equity, transformation, and sustainable development.
Her portfolio spans multilateral and bilateral academic partnerships, capacity-building initiatives, joint research, student and staff mobility programmes, and policy advisory support. She is particularly focused on strengthening South-South and North-South cooperation, working to decolonise internationalisation by amplifying Global South knowledge systems and prioritising reciprocal, context-sensitive engagement. Tracy also facilitates high-level diplomatic and institutional visits, international delegation management, and supports university leadership in forging transnational alliances.
A committed internationalist with a background in communication and global studies, Tracy brings critical thought, heart, and strategy to the practice of international education — positioning UWC as a globally engaged, locally rooted institution.

Her work and research is rooted in people power, systemic oppression, post-colonialism and a feminist, de-colonial approach to human rights. Esra is a researcher, lecturer and social justice activist. She works alongside several community members, institutions, governments and organizations to work on solutions related to peace and security, gender inequality, gender-based violence, systemic racism and terrorism.

Her work fosters a welcoming and supportive environment for learners from diverse cultural backgrounds, reflecting her strong commitment to cross-cultural understanding and global education. With growing expertise in international student affairs, Bombi contributes meaningfully to the development of inclusive policies that promote global student mobility and integration.

Her efforts align with and advance the University of Venda’s mission to enhance internationalization and enrich the student experience for learners worldwide. As a dedicated professional in the field of higher education and international engagement, Bombi brings valuable insights to conversations on global education, student support, and policy development.

Holding a BA and Postgraduate Diploma in Enterprise Management from Rhodes University, Dingaan brings a blend of student advocacy experience and strategic planning expertise. He serves as the inaugural Vice-Chairperson External of the Rhodes SRC Alumni Board, where he champions intergenerational collaboration and supports student leadership development.
Dingaan has presented at national conferences and contributed thought leadership to platforms such as the IEASA newsletter, with notable work including his session, “A Disruptive Approach to Student Mobility,” which explored structural barriers and transformative models in the South African context.

Passionate about decolonial and inclusive internationalisation, Dingaan continues to shape forward-looking mobility strategies and capacity-building frameworks—positioning African institutions as global co-creators and collaborators in the evolving higher education landscape.

Bringing the governments together and facilitate exchanges between governments, institutions and labour market adds value to all the actions undertaken by the individual academics and institutions within the South African and Dutch community for Education and Science.

Her research focuses on multiplicity within the Global Hospitality Industry. Dr. Bradford is frequently sought after for insights and opinions via roundtables, podcasts,
and conference presentations.

Dr. Bradford holds two degrees from Grambling State University, in Hotel Restaurant Management and an MPA with a concentration in Human Resource Management. She has a PhD in Hospitality Management from Kansas State University.

She strives daily to display the SPIRIT of hospitality, which is also her signature phrase.

In her spare time Dr. Bradford enjoys traveling, reading, dining out, and bowling with her nieces and nephews, who affectionately call her Bee Bop.

Dr. Brink is actively engaged in WIL research in South Africa and led the Work-Integrated Learning South Africa (WILSA) environmental scan under the auspice of Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA). She serves as a reviewer for the International Journal for Work-Integrated Learning (IJWIL) and as an examiner for master’s and PhD theses in the WIL field. Additionally, she supervises master’s and PhD students.Dr. Brink chairs the Learning in Practice Community of Practice (LiPCoP) working group under Universities of South Africa (USAf), which explores best practices for WIL in South Africa. She is also a member of the USAf World of Work Strategy group and serves as a committee member on the Executive Council of the World Association for Cooperative Education (WACE).

Dr Chasi holds a PhD in Education from Wits University, a Master of Philosophy in Engineering Management from the University of Johannesburg and a Master of Arts in English, Russian, and Sociology from the University of Rostock. Her research interests lie in Global South perspectives on higher education internationalisation, with a particular focus on decolonial approaches.

A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, Prof. Chikoko has implemented programs aimed at supporting underrepresented students in accessing international opportunities. Her leadership has been pivotal in positioning MSU as a key player in the global academic landscape.

Prof. Chikoko is also actively involved in various professional associations and has presented at numerous international conferences, sharing her insights on the importance of global collaboration in higher education.

In addition, she consults with organisations such as OECD, UNESCO, World Bank and International Baccalaureate Organization, among others. Founding preside​nt of the World Council in Global and Intercultural Competence, she is author/editor of over fourteen books and 60+ book chapters and articles. She holds a masters and doctorate from North Carolina State University and can be reached on LinkedIn. ​

Miss Dlamini has published in accredited peer reviewed journals. Currently, she is busy working on her Doctoral thesis which is looking at economic power dynamics in BRICS through the position of South Africa. She has also collaborated and co-authored four, published journal articles across disciplines within the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Public Administration. Additionally, she is working on a collaborated research project on Climate Change. Before joining the University of Zululand, she was employed at the Mzala Nxumalo Research Centre as a Research Assistant.

The project uses a design-based research approach and systems thinking to co-create training models that are practical, inclusive, and adaptable.

Elizabeth contributes to teaching, thesis supervision, and research on international partnerships. In addition to her work on partnerships, her research explores the global–local dynamics of education development, with a particular focus on the diffusion, reception, and translation of global education policies in local contexts. She has authored numerous publications on these topics, which you can explore through her Research portal

He has worked on post-war peacebuilding and youth leadership development projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1998-2002) and post-war capacity building and leadership development in South Sudan (2009-2013). Survivor of the Bosnian war, he is the author of ‘Not My Turn to Die: Memoirs of a Broken Childhood in Bosnia’ (Amacom Books, 2008). Savo is a research associate with Nelson Mandela University’s Chair for Critical Studies in Higher Education Transformation (CriSHET) in South Africa.

The project is led by Marina-Orsini-Jones, on a British Academy/Leverhulme grant. Lynette was for the latter part of the project, the coordinator for the iKudu project, a CBHE project that focused on curriculum internationalisation and COIL exchange within the broader discourse of curriculum transformation and now co-leads the process of establishing the iKudu Network. She is a NRF rated Comparative and International Education scholar focusing on inclusive internationalisation and inclusive internationalised learning approaches. She contributed to more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and has delivered numerous Masters and PhD students from across the world.

She supports UJ’s partnerships to align with the values of the university and with universal values that underpin higher education internationalisation, namely, a commitment to upholding and protecting human rights (especially those who are historically marginalised), respecting academic freedom, fostering equity & inclusion, respect for diversity, fostering intercultural-communication and understanding through dialogue, exchanges and partnerships and knowledge diplomacy through equitable, just and sustainable collaboration.

In the Academic Services portfolio, Ms Khan supports all faculties, colleges and institutes with advisory support, assistance with formalising partnerships (agreement development), support for establishing joint degrees and other joint programmes, liaison with incoming international delegations, information management on partnerships, coordinates staff mobilities (especially under the Erasmus ICM Key Actions), is the COIL/ IVE lead within the Division and is a “people connecter” by identifying and bringing the best researchers together to build impactful research consortia/ multi-stakeholder projects. Ms Khan also coordinates and leads UJ’s strategic global engagements and partnerships by representing UJ on various international networks such as Universitas 21 (U21 Officer), APUA (African Partnerships Universities Alliance), the Una-Europa Alliance Africa Working Group, the South Africa- Sweden Universities Forum, SANORD (SA-Nordic Network), SACUN (SA-Canada Network) and various other international networks. Ms Khan is also a Council member of the International Education Association of South Africa and a Director of the Board of People Opposing Woman Abuse (POWA is a registered NPO leading GBV prevention and support work in the Gauteng region).

Ms Khan previously held a similar role at the University of Stellenbosch as Manager for Global Partnerships and Internationalisation. Ms. Khan also held various positions across the basic education, higher education and non-profit sectors in programme management, teaching, stakeholder engagement and business development. This includes a long history of work in the NGO sector in environmental education, climate leadership and managing sustainability programmes. Ms Khan also served as the Higher Education and Newton Fund Programme Manager for the British Council in South Africa. In this role, she supported bilateral cooperation between the UK and South Africa. She worked closely with national government departments and funding agencies to support early-career researcher development, research partnerships and innovation capacity building. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Environmental Science from the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), a Higher Diploma in Education (UKZN) and a Masters Degree in Education (with Distinction) from Rhodes University. She has also completed training through Wageningen University in facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships, from Stellenbosch University in Digital Teaching, Wits University in Climate Leadership, from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute in Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, and the University of Cape Town in Facilitating Online programmes and Climate Change Adaptation.

Her career spans roles in internationalization, records management, executive support, and library administration. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Archives and Records Management from the University of Fort Hare and a BA in Human and Social Studies from UNISA. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International Studies with UNICAF.
She is passionate about internationalization within African universities and fostering intra-university cooperation in research, learning, and social development. She is also a skilled communicator, event planner, and financial administrator.
Outside of her professional life, Caroline brings joy and laughter to others through her love of performing comedy for groups, blending wit with cultural insight. She also enjoys reading, writing poetry, and traveling, and aspires to author books that inspire and inform

Meekness has worked across diverse thematic areas, including access to higher education, student support, youth employability, enterprise development, gender equality, and research capacity strengthening. Among her career achievements is the successful design and delivery of flagship higher education and science programmes in South Africa and across Sub-Saharan Africa at the British Council.
She completed her MBA specialising in Leading International Organisations at Stellenbosch University Business School with a Cum Laude. Meekness also holds a Master of Philosophy degree in Programme Evaluation from the University of Cape Town. She is a passionate advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment and is actively involved in mentoring young women and girls through a global network called Girls for Girls.
Meekness is committed to catalysing systemic transformation and innovation in higher education across Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as creating opportunities that unlock the potential of African youth.

Prior to joining the University of Venda, Mr Makhado worked at the National Research Foundation from 2018 as a Liaison Officer responsible for the administration and management of various international research projects and initiatives. Academically, Mr Makhado holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations(UNIVEN,2016), Honours in Political Studies(UNIVEN,2017), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management (UNISA, 2019) . He is currently enrolled with UNISA for a Masters degree in Political Studies.

Her professional journey includes work within the International Relations and Partnerships Directorate, where she contributed to institutional partnership-building and strategic engagement. She currently serves as a Research Assistant on a national, multi-university project under the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP), which focuses on strengthening governance, research, and grants management in South Africa’s historically disadvantaged institutions.

Vusani’s academic and professional interests converge around global cooperation, sustainable development, and the transformative potential of higher education. She is particularly committed to fostering inclusive internationalisation and supporting equitable institutional growth.

As a proud participant in the 27th IEASA Annual Conference 2025, she looks forward to exchanging ideas, learning from diverse perspectives, and contributing meaningfully to the ongoing dialogue on internationalisation in South African higher education.

Jack earned a Masters of Science in Global Affairs from Rutgers University and a Bachelors of Science in French and Applied Linguistics from Penn State University. Jack’s research interests include the analysis of anti-democratic efforts, such as attacks on academic freedom, and their relationship to the risk of political violence.

He also trains staff on data processes and provides ongoing technical support. Mr Metsing coordinated the multi-institutional Eurydice Project and currently oversees CUT’s International Teaching Week. He presented a poster at the 2023 IEASA Conference and chaired a session in 2024. He holds a Diploma in Financial Management and a BTech in Project Management, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Entrepreneurial Management at CUT.

Furthermore, Mmaphuti is responsible for initiating, managing and reporting on international activities. She is responsible for interdepartmental and external stakeholder liaison, including liaising with sponsors. She advises on study permits and medical insurance and is responsible for immigration rules and regulations related to international students at all Tshwane University of Technology campuses. She facilitates the in-bound exchange students programme at TUT and offers support for international students’ organisation activities and programmes, ensuring that students find the academic experience at the university fulfilling and their interaction with other students enriching.

Current position: Senior Specialist: International Fundraising

Education

Masters in Governance (2020), University of the Free State (UFS)

• • Thesis: An analysis of the Department of Higher Education’s Internationalisation Framework with a narrowed focus on the impact of governance on other departments.
• Postgraduate Diploma (Honours) in Gender Studies UFS
• BA in Governance and Political Transformation UFS

Post-Matric Certifications and Affiliations

• Strategies for Internationalisation (Kassel, Germany – International Certificate)
• Crisis Management for International Offices (Gothenburg, Sweden – International Certificate)
• Benchmarking in Internationalisation (Gothenburg, Sweden – International Certificate)
• Project Management for Non-Project Managers (NQF 5)
• Protocol and Diplomacy Short Course (NQF 5)
• Business Communication and Report Writing (NQF 5)
• Institutional Representative on Equity and Transformation Committees:
  • Employment Equity Committee (EEC) – Representing African Females
  • Institutional Forum (IF) – Representing EEC
  • University Transformation Advisory Committee (UTAC)

Conference Presentations

Presented and co-presented at prestigious conferences, including IEASA, SANORD, AIEA, ANIE, and NAFSA, on topics such as:

• • Internationalisation governance frameworks
  • Gender equity in academia
  • Community engagement in internationalisation
  • Operational realities in equitable partnerships

Publications

Moleyane, R., Mngadi, A., and Ahmadzai, S. (2024). Building Back Better? Winter. ‘I am because of you’: Creating mutually beneficial partnerships: emphasising the importance of diverse and multicultural internationalisation.

Scholarships and Awards

• Erasmus Mundus Scholarship (2015): Short-term mobility to Uppsala University, Sweden.
• International Voluntary Leadership Scholarship (2020): Leadership exchange hosted by the U.S. State Education Department.

Employment History

Over 17 years of experience in higher education, encompassing leadership roles in governance, partnership development, and internationalisation. Ms Moleyane is a dynamic professional dedicated to fostering sustainable international collaborations, promoting gender equity, and advancing transformational leadership in academia. Her expertise has positioned her as a key advocate for global partnerships that drive innovation and societal impact.

She currently holds the position of Senior Migration Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria, South Africa. Prior to joining the ISS, she served as a Guest Researcher at the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen Nürnberg (CHREN) at the Friedrich-Alexander-University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany. She has also worked as a Sessional Lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. She holds a PhD in International Relations, and her research interests focus on gender, migration, and security.

She has been instrumental in championing international Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programmes funded by the SETA, creating global exposure opportunities for South African students. Her strengths lie in programme strategy, stakeholder engagement, curriculum innovation, and the integration of technology for future-oriented learning. Under her leadership, SETA-funded initiatives have consistently improved learner access, quality outcomes, and post-training employability. Lebogang serves on multiple advisory and governance boards, including Tshwane University of Technology and Lephalale TVET College, MEA Future Leaders Challenge and the Limpopo Human Resource Development Steering Committee. A champion for lifelong learning, she continues to advocate for multi-sectoral collaboration that bridges education and industry, ensuring South Africa’s workforce is globally competitive and locally impactful.

With 13 years of experience in the field of internationalisation, Nombuso brings extensive expertise in fostering global engagement and institutional support for international students.
She holds an Honours degree in Industrial and Labour Relations and a Bachelor’s degree in Culture and Heritage Tourism, both from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

SAQA’s work is pivotal in upholding standards and credibility across South Africa’s education and training sector. As the mandated body responsible for developing and maintaining the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), SAQA classifies, registers, and publishes quality-assured national qualifications and part-qualifications. A core function of SAQA is the critical process of verifying the authenticity of qualifications and recognizing foreign credentials.

In my capacity as a Verification Manager at SAQA, I directly contribute to these vital standards, ensuring the legitimacy of individual qualifications and bolstering trust in the nation’s skills and knowledge base. By implementing these robust verification processes, my work directly supports SAQA’s core objectives: to facilitate access to, and mobility and progression within, education, training, and career paths; to enhance the quality of education and training; and to accelerate the redress of past unfair discrimination in education, training, and employment opportunities.
I hold a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pretoria and a Bachelor of Public Administration Honours degree from the University of Stellenbosch.

In her role, Rialivhuwa focuses on advancing DIRP’s communication strategy and media presence. She contributes to the planning and development of strategic content, manages digital platforms, and supports the design and dissemination of promotional materials for international programs and events. Her work plays a critical role in enhancing the Directorate’s visibility and stakeholder engagement within both local and global networks.
With a strong academic background and a passion for cross-cultural engagement, Rialivhuwa is committed to using media and language as tools to strengthen global collaboration and promote the internationalization goals of the University of Venda.

Her academic journey includes a Master of Business Administration, and she is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Food Operations Management. Sharon amassed significant experience within the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) landscape, notably with CATHSSETA. In her roles as Regional Manager and Chamber Manager, she was instrumental in implementing WIL initiatives across the hospitality sector, creating partnerships between educational institutions and industry stakeholders. Sharon’s career is marked by a vision focused on enhancing the employability of graduates through practical learning experiences.

Dr. Mutize’s current work explores the alignment between foreign donor funding and African universities’ research priorities, investigating whether external support complements or diverts from local agendas. He has contributed to major UNESCO projects, including Women in Higher Education, The Right to Higher Education: A Social Justice Perspective and Universal Access to Higher Education. His research spans themes of access, funding, gender equity, digital inclusion, and global governance in higher education.
He has collaborated with international scholars on cross-regional studies of mobility, universities contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, and higher education futures, and has presented at global education forums. Dr. Mutize is committed to advancing African scholarship, strengthening research ecosystems, and ensuring that international partnerships are equitable, context-sensitive, and aligned with the continent’s long-term development goals.

She has obtained a Master of Arts in Politics, BA Hons In Politics and International Relations and a BA Humanities through the University of Johannesburg. Mrs Nkabinde’s passion for Academia and Student Support began in 2018, when she initially joined UNISA as a Junior Lecturer at the Department of Development Studies. Mrs Nkabinde was awarded the opportunity to be an exchange student at the Tampere University in Finland in 2024, where she was exposed to an enriching academic and cultural environment that greatly enhanced her understanding and interest in international educational practices. Mrs Nkabinde aims continue to learn and grow both professionally and academically. She also has her sights set on registering for and obtaining a PhD in the near future.

In 2015, Nontlanhla began her role as an international education administrator at the University of Venda. She has played a vital role in facilitating the integration and support of international students, enhancing their academic experiences. Her career includes valuable experience as an International Relations practitioner at Walter Sisulu University, where she developed expertise in internationalization practices.
Nontlanhla has participated in notable programs, including the DAAD DIES Management of Internationalisation (MOI) and National Multiplication Training (NMT), gaining insights into global educational strategies. Her commitment to improving the experiences of international students has marked her as a significant contributor to the field of higher education. Through her work, she continues to promote global collaboration and understanding, inspiring others in the realm of international relations.

Her expertise further extends to website development and intranet management. Her recent work focuses on strategic collaboration with international partner institutions through insightful analyses and visualisation of research data, aiming to enhance global academic partnerships.

Engaging with initiatives like the University of Nairobi International Students Association, I explore how higher education can foster global collaboration. My academic interests center on equitable partnerships, particularly how African institutions can leverage South Africa’s G20 role to amplify our continent’s voice. This passion drove me to propose a session for the 27th IEASA Conference, which was accepted, affirming my commitment to inclusive internationalisation. Growing up in Kenya, I’ve always believed education can transform societies, a belief deepened by my experiences at university. I’m excited to contribute to discussions on making higher education resilient and accessible, especially through policies supporting sustainable development. At the conference, I aim to share insights from my proposal and learn from global thought leaders. Looking ahead, I aspire to shape policies and lead initiatives that promote international cooperation in education. Joining the IEASA Conference is a step toward that goal, and I’m eager to connect with others to build a more inclusive future for higher education.

She is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for both students and staff by actively participating in a research project that explores student feedback, aiming to enhance their experiences and contributions. In addition, she plays a vital role in promoting internationalisation efforts within the department, which helps broaden perspectives and creates a more inclusive learning environment.

Shameema is a member of the HERS CPUT committee, represents the department on the Transformation Committee, is a COMENSA Credentialed Coach, and coordinates the postgraduate diploma program.

Highly qualified with a Doctorate in Public Administration and Development Management – his dissertation on Globalisation & its impact on governance of local authorities has been well received and he has been awarded many recognitions. Dr Prem has developed strong international connections and networks on the internationalization of education through conferences, collaborative arrangements and visits. Click HERE

His inspiration for students and professionalism stems from his expert knowledge on the development of global relationships and education as well as a genuine desire to help others realise their maximum potential focussing on holistic and peer to peer collaboration learning which aligns to his philosophy of “serve the student serve the universe” and has spoken at many national and international platforms around the world.

Has played professional soccer, is a fitness fanatic, a yoga and meditation student who believes that a healthy body equals a healthy mind. Click HERE

Dr. Ratshitanga’s competencies encompass defining organisational goals; developing strategies to achieve these objectives; allocating resources effectively; analysing market conditions and competition; assessing business performance; and making strategic decisions.
Dr. Ratshitanga has an impressive academic and professional background. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Information Systems from the University of Venda in 2021. Additionally, he holds a B.Sc., Higher Education Diploma (H.E.D), and B.Sc. Hons from the University of Limpopo. He also completed a Master of Public Management (MPM).

He has further enhanced his qualifications with several certificates of competence, including Programme for Management Development (Graduate School of Business – UCT), Project and Programme Management (UFS), COBIT 5 Foundation from APMG International, Information Technology Management for Chief Information Officer (CIO) Teams (Wits University), and ITIL 4 Foundation.
Dr. Ratshitanga fathered the VIVHO IT Governance (ITG) Model. The name “VIVHO” was derived from the ICT governance concepts that should guide ICT Governance role players. These concepts are Visioning, Intelligence, Value Delivery, Holistic Approach and Oversight.

She has over 15 years of experience in the field of internationalization. Throughout her career, Preshantha has been deeply involved in facilitating and managing international programs that help students expand their horizons, develop intercultural competencies, and gain valuable global perspectives.
Preshantha holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Her doctoral research, a feminist critique of ubuntu as a philosophy of education, laid the groundwork for her ongoing exploration of education policy, feminist theory, intersectionality, and democratic citizenship education. She is a Mandela scholar (2013/14) at the University of Sussex, a Sol Plaatjie scholar (2018/2020) at Stellenbosch University and an Andrew W. Mellon Ubuntu Dialogues fellow (2020). Her latest publication, Academic Xenophobia: African Scholars in South African Universities, is available here: https://link.springer.com/book/9783031788086.

In addition, Dr Singh serves as the Deputy President for the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) and was part of the IEASA Management Council for several years. Dr Singh is a HERS SA Alumnus, a COMENSA Credentialed Coach, and a member of the Institutional Gender Based Violence Committee. Dr Singh completed her PhD in 2019 using a case study approach examining issues of identity and transformation at one South African University. She is passionate about the issues of transformation, diversity, and inclusivity in higher education from a feminist perspective. In addition, Dr Singh loves writing poetry and exploring the creative side of life. Her research interests entail interrogating internationalisation as a driver of transformation in South African higher education.

She currently occupies the position of Chief Officer at the University of the Free State, responsible for Virtual Engagement and Select Strategic Projects and is responsible for the project management of the iKudu project which is an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education(CBHE) project. The iKudu project focuses on transforming curricular through internationalization and virtual exchanges. Through this portfolio, she aims to highlight the importance of internationalisation in enhancing the quality and societal relevance of research and education.

Kim frequently presents on credential evaluation topics and is dedicated to promoting understanding of the South African education landscape through her leadership at SAQA. She is particularly focused on fostering knowledge exchange in credential evaluation both within South Africa and internationally.

Currently, Ms. Stevens serves as the Director of the Postgraduate Office (PGO) within the Division for Research Development (DRD) at Stellenbosch University, where she leads a team of seven staff members. As part of the DRD Management Team, her role encompasses overseeing postgraduate processes, shaping policy, and enhancing support across the postgraduate student lifecycle.

She is a doctoral candidate in Higher Education Leadership and Practice and has been recognized with multiple honors, including the AIEA Innovation Award and the Louise McBee Scholar designation. Her research and professional interests focus on internationalization, leadership, and strategic planning in research-intensive universities. Iyonka is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences and is deeply committed to advancing inclusive, mission-driven global education.

He has examined several PhD and MPH/MPhil Theses in Health Promotion for various Universities and supervised several students in Public Health at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He has also developed and taught several courses in Health Promotion. His main research interests are Social and Behavioural Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Public Health; Health Promotion; Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health.

He is a Consultant with FHI 360 on USAID-accelerated social and behaviour change (ASBC). He is a Reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals and has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles. He is a Registered Health Promotion Practitioner and an Assessor of course accreditation with the International Union of Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), and also an Expert Assessor (Health Promotion) for the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). He is also a Trustee with the Institute of Health Promotion and Education of the UK.

Ms Tele firmly believes in the value of collaborative partnerships in providing transformative student experiences. During her career she has initiated local and global partnerships with academic, government and key industry role players. She is driven by the prospect of using internationalisation as a strategic influence to reimagine student support services at universities.
Her research interests include social justice and transformation in higher education, with a specific emphasis on the role of higher education institutions in modelling and shaping meaningful transformation in society.

He was invited by WES to present the evaluation process conducted by SAQA specifically on qualifications offered in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Attended the 16th Annual IEASA Conference held in South Africa, 2012. SAQA Delegate at the BRICS MRQ Workshop held in Pretoria, 2023. TAICEP Member and presenter at the 2024 Annual TAICEP Conference held in Canada. He continues to play a role in providing information to Namibian Qualifications Authority on how SAQA evaluates and compare qualifications from different countries.

Prior to joining UL, he spent a decade at a then Forbes 500 cosmetics company focusing on philanthropy, internal communications, governance and expansion into Africa.
He is currently studying towards further postgraduate qualifications in Communication.

With a strong passion for internationalisation in higher education, Nicole is deeply committed to fostering inclusive and impactful global engagement. Her work is guided by a belief in the transformative potential of even the smallest internationalisation initiatives, particularly in the African context.

Nicole is especially interested in how internationalisation strategies influence African higher education systems and the broader societal outcomes they help shape.

I have been involved in the field of international education since 2009. Currently, I am managing the Centre for Global Engagement, which forms part of Stellenbosch University International.

He is an established researcher with a portfolio of over 45 peer-reviewed academic publications, primarily focusing on research in higher education. Emnet has received advanced-level research training in higher education from the Centre for Institutional Cooperation (ICIS) at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, as well as specialised training in Leadership and Management of Higher Education Institutions from Maastricht School of Management. Emnet is currently the Chair of the World Council for Comparative Education Societies (WCCES) Peace Education Task Force. He is also an advisory board member of the Finnish Higher Education Partnership Programme (HEP) and a member of the Advisory Committee for the Danish Knowledge and Innovation Programme. Prior to pursuing his PhD, Emnet served in various roles, including Head of the Quality Assurance Office and Department Head of various academic entities.

Normah currently serves as the President of the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA), where she chairs both the Executive Committee and the Management Council. In this role, she provides strategic leadership in advancing international education, fostering global partnerships, and promoting South Africa’s higher education engagement on the international stage.

She is pursuing doctoral studies focusing on international student mobility, with a particular interest in identity transformation, student agency, and reimagining internationalisation from a Global South perspective. Her research explores the lived experiences of South African students in mobility programmes, contributing to ongoing debates around equity and access in higher education.

An accomplished communications professional, Normah is deeply committed to inclusive development, global citizenship, and building collaborative bridges between academia, government, and civil society. Her leadership reflects a vision of higher education as a driver of transformation and sustainable impact.

What Simangaliso enjoys most about working with students is seeing their confidence and critical thinking grow. He finds it incredibly rewarding to guide students from uncertainty to clarity and to help them connect theory to real-world application.
A piece of advice he often shares with his students is: “Never underestimate the power of consistency and curiosity. The most successful people are not always the most gifted, but the most persistent and willing to learn.”
He chose STADIO for its bold vision to widen access to quality, industry-relevant education and its strong commitment to innovation and student-centered learning. It provides him with a space to contribute meaningfully while growing alongside passionate colleagues and students.
Outside of work and studies, Simangaliso enjoys travelling, exploring new places, and embracing new experiences. Now based in the beautiful city of Cape Town, his ideal Saturday afternoon often includes visiting a wine farm in Stellenbosch, sipping a glass of red wine, and unwinding. A fun fact about him: he was born and raised in KwaMashu (KZN), spent a decade in Pietermaritzburg (KZN), and now finds himself fully embracing the vibrant lifestyle and scenic beauty of Cape Town.