The North-West University (NWU) created opportunities for students to engage with international academics, experience diverse teaching approaches and broaden their understanding of global higher education through its International Teaching Week hosted by the Faculty of Education at the Vanderbijlpark Campus.
The programme brought together delegates from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Sweden and Lithuania for a week of academic exchange, cultural engagement and collaboration, with student exposure to international perspectives and teaching practices at the heart of the initiative.
Organised under the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP), the initiative provided a platform for academics and higher education practitioners to share knowledge, exchange innovative teaching practices and explore opportunities for collaboration, while giving the NWU students valuable access to international expertise and experiences.
Dr Elize Küng, deputy dean for strategic relations in the Faculty of Education and chairperson of the organising committee, described the week as a success, emphasising that its greatest value lay in the opportunities it created for students.
“International Teaching Week is about much more than bringing academics from different countries together. It is about creating opportunities for our students to interact with international lecturers, experience different teaching approaches and gain exposure to perspectives beyond their immediate academic environment,” she said.
“Having international academics engage directly with our students enriches the teaching and learning experience, broadens their horizons and helps them appreciate the diversity of knowledge, cultures and educational practices. These interactions also encourage critical thinking and prepare students to participate confidently in an increasingly interconnected world.”
The programme featured a range of academic and interactive activities designed to expose students to different approaches to teaching, learning, research and the application of technology in higher education. Through teaching sessions and engagement with visiting academics, students had opportunities to interact with lecturers from different countries, ask questions and gain insights into international academic environments.
A highlight was the PowerHub virtual reality session facilitated by Prof. Chantel Muller and Jan Kruger, which introduced participants to technology-enhanced teaching approaches and demonstrated how innovative tools can enrich the learning experience.
Research entity presentations by Prof. Johan Botha (Education and Human Rights in Diversity), Prof. Dorothy Laubscher (Self-Directed Learning), Dr Melese Shula (Research Incubation Hub) and Prof. Kat Yassim (Community-Based Educational Research) further created opportunities for academic engagement and knowledge-sharing, exposing participants to the research strengths and areas of expertise of the university.
Beyond the lecture rooms, delegates took part in cultural activities showcasing South African heritage and hospitality. These included a beading workshop and a braai and drumming session at Stonehaven-on-Vaal, offering opportunities for cultural exchange and relationship-building.
The programme concluded on 8 October, with an NWU show-and-tell session, final feedback and a gala dinner. On Friday, delegates visited the Maropeng exhibition, Sterkfontein Caves and the Lion and Rhino Park, extending their cultural experience and providing further opportunities to strengthen international connections.
The International Teaching Week forms part of the broader commitment of the NWU to internationalisation and strengthening global academic partnerships. By bringing international academics into direct contact with students and staff, the initiative contributes to a richer learning environment while laying the foundation for future collaboration in teaching, research and academic development.
Through initiatives such as these, the NWU continues to demonstrate the importance of international engagement in preparing graduates to navigate an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.
The Faculty of Education hosted International Teaching Week hosted at the NWU’s Vanderbijlpark Campus.
