As a passionate education sociologist with a focus on transformative education, her work bridges the intersection of social justice and pedagogical reform. She specializes in understanding and transforming the dynamics within higher education systems, advocating for inclusive, equitable, and socially just learning environments that empower all students, particularly those from marginalized communities. She is deeply committed to fostering educational models that promote critical thinking, collective action, and a commitment to social transformation. Her research and practice consistently bridge theory and praxis, engaging both academic and practitioner communities on critical issues in international education.

She has experience in facilitating cross-institutional networks, coordinating international funding applications, and building platforms that support research, innovation, and strengthening institutional capacity. With a background in international relations, she has a strong interest in inclusive and sustainable academic collaboration between countries.

Prior to joining the IEPA faculty, he served as Dean of Students at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tennessee, USA; Residential Coordinator at Ohio University; and senior staff at the University of Cape Coast. In June 2022, the President of the Republic of Ghana, through the Minister of Education, appointed Prof. Boakye-Yiadom as Ghana’s National Convenor for the Transforming Education Summit (TES) which was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City from 16th to 20th September 2022.

Prof. Michael Boakye-Yiadom’s research interests include leadership development in higher education and student affairs, harvesting culturally indigenous knowledge in higher education, international and contemporary issues in higher education and student affairs; diversity and inclusion in education; and educational experiences of underrepresented populations in higher education. Prof. Michael Boakye-Yiadom has played different leadership roles in many research and capacity development programs and projects. Recent examples are the IEPA UCC – Ohio University Service-Learning Program; the IEPA UCC – University of Maryland College Park Global Classroom Initiative; the IEPA – VVOB Africa Centre for School Leadership Program in Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya; and many others. Prof. Mike Boakye-Yiadom serves as the Governing Council Chair of OLA College of Education in Cape Coast, Ghana. Additionally, Mike was recently appointed as Co-Chair for the Editorial Board of the Global Report on Teachers, authored jointly by UNESCO and the Teacher Task Force.

Prof. Boakye-Yiadom is a scholar-practitioner passionate about improving the quality of education and student learning outcomes in Africa. His global engagements with colleagues in educational institutions across the world are supported through collaborative research, innovative pedagogy, and impactful community engagements

His work focuses on designing and operationalising mobility frameworks that expand access to international opportunities, while strengthening intra-Africa collaboration and global engagement platforms. His portfolio spans Internationalisation at Home (IaH) and Internationalisation of the Curriculum (IoC), where he champions transformative models such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) to embed intercultural competence within teaching and learning.

Dingaan actively contributes to high-level internationalisation initiatives, through Erasmus+ instruments, and participates in key networks such as, EAIE, SASUF+, SANORD and IEASA. His work is underpinned by a commitment to reimagining internationalisation through an Afrocentric lens one that challenges structural inequities and prioritises reciprocity, inclusion, and sustainable partnerships.

He brings a critical practitioner forward-looking perspective to sectoral discourse, engaging on how internationalisation can serve as a catalyst for transformation, knowledge exchange, and global solidarity within the African higher education context and beyond.

As the inaugural leader of Boise State’s Center for Global Engagement, Gonzalo established and continues to direct a centralized global affairs organization within Academic Affairs, integrating strategy, operations, and student support services under a unified framework. His work has focused on advancing comprehensive internationalization, strengthening global partnerships, expanding international enrollment, and aligning global engagement with institutional priorities in academic excellence, research collaboration, and student success.

With more than 25 years of experience in international higher education, including over 15 years as a Senior International Officer, Gonzalo has held leadership roles in both public and private institutions in the United States and Chile. Across his career, he has built three centralized global engagement operations, led institution-wide internationalization strategies, and developed extensive global partnership networks supporting student mobility, faculty collaboration, and cross-border academic initiatives.

His leadership includes securing and managing externally funded programs and international mobility initiatives, as well as advancing faculty engagement through globally focused curriculum development and research collaboration. He has facilitated more than 500 international institutional partnerships and currently oversees a portfolio of more than 100 active agreements worldwide.

Gonzalo is an active member of leading international education organizations, including NAFSA, AIEA, EAIE, and APAIE.

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 current research interests lie in critical perspectives on higher education internationalisation, with a particular focus on decolonial and transformative approaches.

She has also engaged in language consultancy services in both Zimbabwe and Ethiopia for organisations such as the African Union, OSSREA and British Council. She has also had exposure under a U.S. Language Fellow programme to Best Practices in English Language Teaching using the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model, as well as to English for Academic Purposes and Second Language Acquisition Research. She has presented papers at international conferences both on the African continent and beyond she is an active member of the International Association of Intercultural Communication Studies.  Her research interests lie in language, communication identity, postcolonial African Literature, decolonization, internationalization and gender studies.

She has worked in the international education field for over thirty years and specialises in intercultural competence and training, intercultural  assessment and evaluation, teacher/faculty preparation/development, curriculum internationalisation, and global leadership and she is regularly invited to speak around the world on these topics. In addition, she consults with organisations such as OECD, UNESCO, World Bank and International Baccalaureate Organization, among others.  Founding president of the World Council in Global and Intercultural Competence, she is author/editor of 14 books and 80+ book chapters and articles.  She holds a masters and doctorate from North Carolina State University and can be reached on LinkedIn. ​

Mr Dikgale began his career at the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), where he worked in the Africa Multilateral Cooperation (AMC) Directorate from 2016 to 2019. He later joined the National Research Foundation, serving as Secretariat for the Future Earth Regional Office for Southern Africa and as a Professional Officer for Africa Collaborative Grants and Initiatives. From 2021 to February 2026, he was Manager: Internationalisation at the University of Venda.

His work has contributed to key continental initiatives, including inter alia the African Union Pan African University (PAU), the African Union Space Working Group (AUSWG) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Science, Technology and Innovation technical working groups. He also serves on the Council of the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA).

*He serves nationally as the member of various bodies: the DHET Reference Group on the Policy Framework for the Internationalisation of Higher Education); the CHE Committee for the Management of Higher Education Qualifications, and as a Council member of the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) where he is also the Chairperson of the Directors Forum.

*At International level, he represents the University in the Board of Directors in the South African Nordic Centre (SANORD), and he also serves as the member of the Policy Advisory Group, South African-Sweden University Forum (SASUF), etc.

In addition, the CCA administers the Africa Collaboration Grant associated with the bilateral partners and the administration of various Intra-Africa mobility programmes.

Moreover, the CCA host the secretariats of the AUDA-NEPAD Southern African Network of Water Centres of Excellence (AUDA-NEPAD SANWATCE) and the Partner Enhancing Resilience for People Exposed to Risks (PERIPERI U). These networks create research and capacity development partnerships with more than 40 Universities across the African continent, with Dr Elema also being the Network Director of both Secretariats.

Over the years, he has gained extensive experience in the African higher education sector and has been working with various partners on project implementation, project evaluation and multi-lateral partner programmes.

His education includes a Master in Business Administration (MBA) and a PhD in Science and Technology Studies at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

He has been a panellist on various discussion forums and presented his recommendations on thought provoking topics related to higher education. Dr Fernandes championed the need for an independent rankings framework for the Arab Region and hence was instrumental in developing the QS Arab Region University Rankings in 2014/15. He also founded India’s first nationwide private sector evaluation framework called QS I-GAUGE.

At UWC—a historically disadvantaged institution with a proud anti-apartheid legacy and 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, and student and staff mobility programmes, as well as policy advisory support. She is particularly focused on strengthening South–South and North–South cooperation, alongside expanding partnerships in the East African–ASEAN region. Her work contributes to efforts to decolonise internationalisation by amplifying Southern knowledge systems and prioritising reciprocal, context-sensitive engagement.
Tracy also facilitates high-level diplomatic and institutional visits, manages international delegations, and supports university leadership in forging transnational alliances. A committed internationalist with a background in communication and global studies, she brings critical insight, empathy, and strategic vision to international education—positioning UWC as a globally engaged, locally rooted institution.

Dr Hackmann has 25 years of international experience in science and technology policy, global science strategy and systems development, international science advice and diplomacy. Her work has consistently emphasized interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, the role of science in addressing complex societal challenges, equitable global partnerships, and the strengthening of science systems in Africa and the Global South. She continues to serve as an advisor to the United Nations and remains active on the boards of numerous international scientific organisations and initiatives. She is a Fellow of the International Science Council (ISC), and chairs South Africa’s ISC Advisory Council.

She previously served as Manager of the International Education and Partnerships Office at the Durban University of Technology, and holds a PhD in Higher Education Studies from the University of the Western Cape. Her research examines the leadership of internationalisation, with a particular focus on leadership practices in intra-Africa collaborative teams.

She is also the Co-Chair of the South African UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competence and currently serves on the Department of Higher Education and Training Reference Group for the Implementation Strategy of the Policy Framework for Internationalisation of Higher Education in South Africa. In addition, she has been appointed to the State University of New York COIL Advisory Council and the COIL Connect Research Group, where she works on policy, research and practice for more inclusive, digitally enabled international learning.

He is a PhD candidate at the University of Johannesburg. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Management and Governance, a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy and African Studies, and a BBA in Marketing Management from the Institute of Marketing Management

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.

Prior to this, he received the China Government Scholarship and pursued a Master’s degree in Applied Economics at Hunan University in China, where he graduated in 2015. In the same year, he undertook a one-month internship at the Centre for Water Management and Climate Change at the Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City. His six-year residence in Northeast Asia, included attending the 9th Asia Crop Science Association Conference in South Korea, personal cultural travels to Thailand and Cambodia. As a lifelong learner, on Monday’s and Thursday’s he takes Mandarin classes in preparation to take the HSK examination. He hopes to resume his Japanese language studies in the future, including taking the JLPT.

Vusi holds a Master of Science in Governance and development from the University of Antwerp in Belgium and he is currently undertaking a joint  PhD Programme with the University of Limpopo and Iowa State University in the USA.

She holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Pretoria, completed in partnership with Purdue University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management from the University of South Africa. Her writing and research engage with themes such as innovation systems, research support, the “missing middle” in the research pipeline, and the role of networks and partnerships in shaping academic and professional growth. Through her work, she reflects on how mentorship, collaboration, institutional support, and strategic networking can help early career researchers build visibility, confidence, and sustainable research careers.

Alongside her academic work, Jaimy‑lee has extensive professional experience in the non‑profit and NGO sector, where she has worked in youth development, community engagement, advocacy, and strategic communication. This industry background informs her interdisciplinary approach to scholarship, which foregrounds socially grounded, community‑centred perspectives on communication, identity, and access.
Her work is particularly concerned with how meaning‑making practices produced outside formal academic environments, such as those found in civil society organisations, digital culture, and youth‑led spaces, can inform more equitable and contextually relevant approaches to higher education internationalisation.

With an extensive background in the non-governmental sector, Chrispinus has designed and implemented programs that intersect education, community development, and sustainable growth, particularly in underserved and informal urban contexts. His experience spans partnerships with universities, community-based organizations, and development stakeholders to address barriers to equitable access, quality learning outcomes, and youth empowerment.

In his current role, he supports universities in leveraging evidence-based insights to improve student satisfaction, retention, and engagement, while fostering cross-border partnerships that advance internationalization in African higher education. His work contributes to building resilient institutions capable of responding to evolving global education demands.

Chrispinus is committed to promoting inclusive, high-quality higher education systems in Africa and continues to advocate for innovative, collaborative solutions that expand opportunities for students and strengthen institutional impact across the region.

A pioneer in his field, Mokoena was the first South African to complete the DAAD DIES Management of Internationalisation training course in Germany. He has since become a key multiplier for this knowledge, serving as a trainer and mentor for the National Multiplication Trainings program, where he has helped build a robust community of practice for internationalisation managers across South Africa.

His professional expertise is complemented by a rich history in sports leadership, having served on the University Sports South Africa National Committee for Basketball. Recognized for his work in “Internationalisation at Home” and digital transformation in higher education, Mokoena continues to bridge the gap between South African institutions and the global academic community. For Mokoena, AI is not merely a tool for efficiency, but a strategic asset used to champion Africa-centred narratives and modernise the management of international partnerships in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

She holds a PhD in Zoology and an MPhil in Science and Technology Studies from Stellenbosch University, along with certificate in Research Management and Leadership from George Mason University USA. She serves on several boards and committees of research institutes and research management entities globally and is the founder of the Pan-African Postdoctoral Research Network. Palesa is passionate about fostering a culture of research excellence, innovation, and entrepreneurship while driving impactful and policy-aligned research.

Mojalefa has contributed to the development of student-centred programmes such as the Global Ambassador Programme, which promotes intercultural exchange and internationalisation at home. His work reflects a strong commitment to creating inclusive spaces where local and international students can engage meaningfully and develop intercultural competencies.

He is currently registered for a Master’s degree in African Studies, where his research focuses on traditional leadership and local governance in post-1994 Qwaqwa, with particular attention to the gap between policy and practice. His interests lie in governance, decolonial thought, and the role of institutions in shaping local communities.

Driven and community-oriented, Mojalefa is passionate about bridging global and local contexts to expand opportunities for students in under-resourced environments.

He currently serves as Coordinator of the International Student Services Office at the University of the Western Cape, where he leads efforts to strengthen institutional systems supporting international students, with a focus on immigration compliance and student experience.
Khwezi is also the Founder and Executive Director of a non-profit organisation dedicated to guiding high school learners in their transition to higher education, with a strong commitment to expanding access for previously excluded population groups.
His work reflects a deep commitment to inclusive, student-centred approaches that enhance both access and success in higher education.

Though yet to publish formally, Nxumalo has actively shaped African discourse through grassroots student engagement, dialogue facilitation, and advocacy grounded in the realities of rural and historically marginalised student communities. He describes himself as a Black conscious leader who remains firm and rooted in African-centred discussions—refusing to allow Western frameworks to define the terms of his or his peers’ struggles.

At IEASA 2026, Nxumalo calls on participants to take seriously the *lived experiences* of students from the deepest peripheries of the Global South. His contribution lies not in academic papers, but in the unvarnished truth of navigating hunger, dust roads, under-resourced labs, and institutional invisibility—while still aspiring to lead. He insists that shaping the Global South conversation means centring those who walk kilometres for a lecture, not just those who write about them, those who live it.

Dr Ngumbela has an established academic profile, having published extensively in accredited journals and presented papers at national and international conferences. Beyond academia, he actively contributes to public discourse as an independent in-depth news analyst, regularly providing in-depth commentary and writing opinion pieces. He is also a resident analyst on SABC’s Umhlobo Wenene FM, where he engages audiences through critical analysis of current affairs.

He plays a significant role in postgraduate supervision and serves as an external examiner and moderator for various universities. Professionally, he is affiliated with ASSADPAM, SAAPAM, SAMEA, AAPAM, and IASIA, and participates in the Eastern Cape Indigenous Knowledge Systems Annual Conference.

Since joining the University of Pretoria in 2016, Fundie has advanced from intern to full-time staff, contributing to internationalisation activities, drafting academic agreements for internationalisation, and managing global engagement data. In her current role, she coordinates university knowledge networks, oversees strategic stakeholder networking events, and manages the institution’s internationalisation reporting committee. Her unique blend of academic and legal expertise positions her at the intersection of global engagement and regulatory compliance in higher education

Rudolph has taught graphic, web, video, media and technology for more than two decades and has led AI and innovation programmes for organisations including Tiger Brands, Umfa, FreshCap and Tagmarshal. He is the lead facilitator of The AI Power Experience, which has trained over 1 000 individuals and corporate teams to navigate the AI revolution, and he is a regular speaker at AI events. His work focuses on turning fear into fluency and turning everyday experimentation into measurable impact.

She has served for 12 years on the Council of the International Education Association of South Africa, contributing across all portfolios and holding key leadership roles, including as President (2019–2020) and Treasurer (2021–2023). She is an active member of the IEASA Directors’ Forum and a committed advocate on national policy and practice relating to internationalisation.

A regular contributor to the sector, she has published articles, reviewed academic journals, facilitated workshops, and participated in international panels. Her contribution to this conference includes co-presenting on the International Student Barometer; international student recruitment; immigration issues and compliance. Her current interests include the geopolitical dynamics affecting higher education.

Recognised with honorary lifetime membership of Golden Key International Honour Society in 2025, Quinlan is known for her collaborative leadership, mentorship, and commitment to advancing global awareness to have meaningful local impact.

Kind Regards,

Orla

Formerly, part of Oxfam GB’s Senior Management team, Ms Quinlan provided strategic leadership and oversight to a global team working on Oxfam’s development partnerships, humanitarian and advocacy programmes, managing over 1000 programme-specific donor contracts, located across 70 countries. She has given seminars on leadership and strategy to large international NGOs. Her earlier humanitarian field work included being the Country Director of CONCERN’s programme response to the Great Lakes Crisis in Burundi, as well as the management of a variety of community engagement, education and humanitarian response programmes in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Haiti. Ms Quinlan started her work life as a teacher in a disadvantaged area in Dublin.

Her academic background includes a B.Ed. and an MSc in Social Policy, Planning and Implementation in Developing countries, Education and Planning and Gender and Planning (London School of Economics and Political Science). Ms Quinlan is passionate about education, an advocate for social justice, embraces diversity and a life-long learner.

He moved on to the European Union-African Union partnership HAQAA 2 program as a Policy and Data Consultant, where he drafted the policy blueprint for Higher Education Management Information Systems (HEMIS) in African contexts.  Currently, he works at the University of the Free State Office for International Affairs as a Post Doc Researcher, where he is looking at Epistemic exclusion and isolation through the lens of higher education credit systems. He looks forward to a world where higher education plays a significant role in increasing the knowledge available to the world through collaboration, partnerships, and inclusion.

Her experience at the Human Sciences Research Council, including leadership of the Africa Institute of South Africa, shows how research careers can grow through interdisciplinary work and partnerships across countries and sectors. Palesa has led and contributed to major Africa-focused projects in food systems, climate-smart agriculture, democracy, conflict, health sciences, and innovation. She has also taken up influential national and international roles, including with NACI, the EU platform through the Department of Science and Innovation, the International Science Council, and the Science for Africa Foundation. Her journey highlights an important message for early career researchers: becoming established is not only about publishing, but also about building networks, seeking mentorship, engaging across sectors, and positioning oneself for leadership and wider societal impact.

Throughout their career, they have been actively involved in planning and implementing integration and engagement initiatives designed to foster a sense of belonging, cultural exchange, and community among students and partner stakeholders.

Arvash is passionate about enhancing the international student experience and supporting institutional internationalisation goals through responsive service delivery and collaborative partnerships. Their work reflects a commitment to operational excellence, student support, and the continuous improvement of processes that enable international students to thrive academically and socially within the university environment.

Her most recent book, Academic Xenophobia: African Scholars in South African Universities, brings together some of these concerns by examining how power, mobility, belonging, and exclusion are experienced within contemporary higher education. Across her work, she remains committed to asking difficult questions about just encounters, and what it might mean to educate in ways that affirm our shared humanity.

In addition, Dr Singh serves as the Deputy President for the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) and is part of the IEASA Management Council for several years. Dr Singh is a HERS SA Alumnus, a COMENSA Credentialed Coach and has just been appointed by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) reference group for the Policy Framework for the Internationalisation of Higher Education. 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.  Her research interests entail interrogating internationalisation as a driver of transformation in South African higher education.

Ivan holds a Master of Business Leadership (MBL) from the University of South Africa and is completing a PhD in Business Administration, focused on the governance of social enterprises in South Africa. His academic work and research interests include governance frameworks, sustainability, social innovation, ESG, climate adaptation, and organisational performance. He actively contributes to international research platforms and has presented at global conferences across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the United States.

His career includes senior leadership roles within provincial government, development agencies, academia, and civil society, where he has led policy development, monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, and large-scale development initiatives. Ivan also serves as a Senior Researcher at the Aqua Energy Research Institute, contributing to applied research in water governance, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

Passionate about building institutional capacity and unlocking human potential, Ivan combines academic rigour with practical implementation expertise to deliver measurable impact for public and private sector clients.

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.

Dr. Tilley has proud Southern roots and is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, Texas State University, and Prairie View A&M University (a Historically Black College & University in Texas), where she respectively earned her undergraduate degree in Economics, her master’s in Student Affairs in Higher Education, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership.

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.

Her academic and professional interests focus on Chinese language teaching, intercultural communication, and the internationalisation of higher education. Through her leadership, the Confucius Institute at UWC has become an important platform for fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange between China and South Africa.

Dr. Wu is committed to building sustainable educational networks and enhancing global engagement, contributing significantly to the development of language education and cross-cultural cooperation in the Global South.

His research focuses on the causes, dynamics, and developmental implications of protests and social movements, linking theoretical frameworks such as dependency theory with grassroots realities. His work also examines service delivery, local governance, and political economy, contributing to debates on inclusive development, democratic governance, and socio-economic justice.

Dr Yende has been actively involved in internationalisation initiatives. While at the University of Venda (UNIVEN), he coordinated the iKUDU Programme (Working Group 1) and participated in COIL activities. In 2022, he completed the DIES National Multiplication Training (NMT), reflecting his commitment to international academic collaboration and capacity development

He currently serves as the Academic Affairs Internationalization and Partnership Coordinator at Woldia University, where he leads initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional collaborations, staff and student mobility, and global engagement. He has previously held key leadership positions, including Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities and University- Industry Linkage Coordinator. Mohammed has extensive experience in designing and delivering training programs, as well as conducting applied research funded by national and international organizations. His recent work focuses on internationalization in African higher education, civic engagement, and the sociopolitical dimensions of development. He has presented papers at national and international conferences and is actively engaged in collaborative research and academic partnerships, particularly between Ethiopian and South African institutions. His work aims to contribute to context-driven, inclusive, and sustainable models of higher education development in Africa.