ISA representatives and Corporate Relations staff members.International Students Enjoy African Experience
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A three-day leadership camp was hosted by the International Student Office for International Students Association representatives studying on UKZN campuses.
The camp took place at St Lucia and included a full programme comprising indoor games, VIP access to the Zulu Reed Dance at KwaNongoma, a boat cruise, a game drive and an introduction to African cultural practices.
‘Bringing a variety of International Student Association (ISA) members together for this camp has helped us to better understand each other’s culture,’ said President of the Howard Campus ISA, Mr Tamasang Tangie Willy. ‘I think the ideas we discussed at the camp can help us create a better platform for interactions with each other, including South African students, and make things more comfortable for everyone as there are a number of challenges international students face,’ said Willy.
The programme contained ice breaker activities and a leadership workshop that discussed challenges facing students on campus and how they could be overcome by practising good leadership skills and Ubuntu.
Mr Feruzi Ngwamba of the School of Social Sciences on the Pietermaritzburg campus presented the Governance and Organisational Development session which explained the structures and rules of the association. ‘We came to this leadership camp to provide training to international students to help them understand how the University operates, and the rules and regulations that guide the relationship between student organisations and the University,’ said Mr Ngwamba. ‘This is quite important because most of the international students at UKZN get to realise they have not integrated themselves into the university system in terms of feeling at home and feeling they are part of the broader university community,’ he said.
Response to the leadership camp was positive, with student representatives appreciating the opportunity to meet one another, discuss important matters and share experiences.
Words: Sinethemba Khumalo
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini