Ryan du Toit, a PhD student in psychology from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Health Sciences, will soon leave for Belgium, after he has been selected for an international priority country exchange programme.

The exchange programme comprises a fully paid scholarship, starting in September 2023 until the end of January 2024.

This initiative is part of the Community Psychosocial Research focus area’s (COMPRES) efforts to increase its global footprint.

The PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hasselt, Belgium is the host university, and during his stay, Ryan will work with 35 other international students on intercultural diversity.

Prof Retha Bloem, director of COMPRES, says Ryan was selected from 17 full-time postgraduate students from the NWU who participated in the preliminary rounds of this exchange programme.

“Ryan was the only student from the NWU to receive this bursary. His selection was based purely on merit and his exceptional results in previous studies,” she says.

Ryan says he learned about the programme from Prof Bloem.

“After I read up on the programme, I felt rather excited and believed it would be a wonderful learning experience, especially as the exchange programme allows you to study abroad and be part of a community of international students,” he adds.

The exchange programme serves as a very important vehicle to serve as an ambassador for the NWU and South Africa, and to network and build relationships between the Global North and Global South academic sphere.

Ryan says he wishes to represent the university and showcase the academic and research skills that he has gained throughout his undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Ryan is keen to share his experiences and cultural insights with his peers and community.

“Luckily, we live in an age where sharing such an experience is easy – I will use various social media platforms to share the unique cultural experience as it happens.”

He says upon returning from the exchange, he will share and reflect on his experience and will gladly answer questions from anybody who wants to know more.

Embarking on this incredible opportunity, Ryan will represent the NWU’s Faculty of Health Sciences, fostering global collaboration and knowledge exchange in Belgium.