Two Social Work students Selected for Canada Exchange

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Two second-year Social Work students, Ms Nomusa Ndlovu and Ms Liteboho Mosola, were recently selected to participate in a five-month exchange programme to Carleton University in Canada. 

Ndlovu is thrilled to be a part of the programme, revealing that for her, it is a dream come true. ‘The criteria were hectic and the process was long but because we wanted it, we tried our hardest. It’s a huge achievement for both of us,’ she said.

‘I am from Mthwalume, from a disadvantaged community, and I’m very happy that someone from there has made it this far. I’m very proud of myself and my family is very proud of me as well,’ explained Ndlovu.

She added: ‘I think it’s going to be a very nice experience for me. I’ll get to know and understand things that are very different, including people from different cultures who will inform my intellectual outlook from a different perspective. Besides the academic experience, there’s the opportunity to socialise with people from different countries and backgrounds, so I think it will be a huge experience for me and I regard it as a privilege.’

Mosola is excited about being a part of a programme that will help equip her with more knowledge to be a better social worker. ‘I am very excited about going abroad. It is a very big achievement for us. I’m also looking forward to the cold. It’s going to be an experience.

‘I can’t wait to experience life as a foreigner far away from home. I’m not going to be a foreigner in Swaziland or Botswana; on a different continent it will be a completely different experience. We will be mixed up with students from countries such as Australia and Japan, so it will be an amazing experience,’ said Mosola.

Ndlovu and Mosola are former students of the College of Humanities Access Programme.

‘When I came to varsity I qualified in terms of the points but unfortunately the Social Work programme was full. We then enrolled in the access programme,’ said Mosola. ‘The access programme was a great success. We passed very well and started last year in Social Work.’

The students advised others to work hard, not only in academia but in the development of leadership skills, and to make a positive difference in communities and society.

College of Humanities Dean of Teaching and Learning, Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa, said: ‘Where you come from does not matter, what matters most is where you end up. I am very excited that our two former Access students who are currently doing Social Work were selected to go on an exchange programme to Carleton University in Canada. These students joined the University of KwaZulu-Natal, College of Humanities through the Access programme which is intended primarily to facilitate the academic development of students whose prior learning has been adversely affected by educational or social inequalities. It is aimed at facilitating equity of access and of outcomes.  I wish them all the best during the duration of the exchange programme.’

UKZNdabaOnline