North-West University (NWU) PhD candidate Dakalo Goitsilwe has been selected to participate in an international postgraduate exchange programme at PXL University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hasselt, Belgium. This represents a significant milestone in an academic journey built on perseverance, continuous learning and a commitment to social work.
Her selection for the NWU–PXL student exchange programme for the 2026/2027 academic year will see her based at the PXL University from mid-September 2026 until the end of January 2027. The programme provides postgraduate students with an opportunity to experience a different higher education environment, engage with academics and students from diverse cultural backgrounds, participate in academic activities and broaden their perspectives beyond the South African context.
For Dakalo, who is pursuing a PhD in social work, the opportunity represents more than international travel. It is an opportunity to grow academically, professionally and personally while gaining a deeper understanding of social work from an international perspective.
“For me, being selected to participate in the programme is an opportunity I am incredibly grateful for and one that represents a significant milestone in my academic journey.”
Her academic interests include gender equality, social justice, advocacy and mental health. During her time in Belgium, she hopes to engage with new perspectives on social challenges and explore how different societies and institutions understand and respond to social issues.
Building on a journey in social work
Dakalo's academic progression reflects her commitment to advancing her knowledge and contributing to the social work profession.
Her doctoral journey has also provided her with an opportunity to examine social issues at a deeper level, while her professional experience as a lieutenant in the South African National Defence Force has exposed her to another dimension of working with people and institutions.
Balancing these responsibilities with family life has been an important part of her journey. As a wife and mother of four, Dakalo describes the opportunity to study internationally as both a personal and academic achievement.
Learning across cultures
The NWU–PXL exchange is designed to promote intercultural learning, academic development and knowledge exchange between the two institutions.
Dakalo is particularly looking forward to engaging with academics and fellow students from different cultural and academic backgrounds, developing international networks and learning about approaches to social challenges that differ from those in South Africa.
“I am particularly excited about the opportunity to learn how social challenges are understood and addressed in a different social, cultural and institutional context,” she says.
“I believe that exposure to different approaches and ways of thinking will not only enrich my doctoral journey but also challenge me to think more critically about the issues I engage with in my research and professional practice.”
For her, the exchange is also about building relationships that extend beyond the duration of the programme.
Representing the NWU on the international stage
As she prepares for the exchange programme, Dakalo views the opportunity as a chance to represent the NWU internationally while learning from a diverse academic community.
She hopes to return not only with academic knowledge, but also with new relationships, perspectives and experiences that can contribute to her work.
“For me, this exchange is about much more than travelling to Belgium. It is about academic growth, intercultural learning, knowledge exchange and professional development.”
This opportunity is also a reminder of the transformative power of education.
“It is a dream come true and a reminder of what is possible when we continue to invest in our education, remain open to learning and embrace opportunities that take us beyond what we already know,” she says.
As a PhD candidate, military officer, wife and mother of four, Dakalo now looks forward to beginning a new chapter of her academic journey in Belgium carrying with her the support of her family, her professional experiences and the pride of representing the NWU on an international platform.
NWU PhD candidate Dakalo Goitsilwe has been selected to participate in an international postgraduate exchange programme in Hasselt, Belgium.
