FACULTY OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES ESTABLISHES INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH AUSTRIAN UNIVERSITY

The Faculty of Educational Sciences at the Mthatha Campus welcomed two exchange students from the Private Pägogische Hochshule Graz (PPH), (a university in Austria) in the Foundation Phase Program on Friday.

The visit is part of the European Union Erasmus and funded student and staff exchange program between PPH Augustinum and WSU’s educational sciences faculty and was initiated by the departmental head of Mathematical Education, professor Alex Jogymol.

“The paperwork for this European Union Funded project began in 2020. We received the mobility grants and since then have been in close contact with the coordinator and finalised the program the students wanted to do here at WSU. We are also hoping that this visit will enable these two Austrian Academics to have further engagements with WSU’s Academics on future collaborative activities,” said Jogymol.

This partnership is one of many international partnerships which, according to the university’s Strategic Plan 2020-2030, refers to ‘embedding community engagement and international partnerships in the academic world.’

Faculty dean Dr Zanoxolo Gobingca said: “Partnerships like these are very important for us especially now that the faculty has received an opportunity in curriculum transformation. We are looking forward for these students to join us and for our students to visit PPH as the learning opportunities will assist us in this curriculum transformation,”

The two students, Julia Klug and Nora Blazek, are set to join Bachelor of Education Foundation Phase Education students and will be attending classes, including isiXhosa lessons.

The pair will also do their teaching practice at Transkei Private School and Tipini Junior Secondary School in Mthatha.

In a meeting held on Thursday  with PPH Augustinum coordinator, Professor Carina Farte expressed her excitement for the exchange program as this is their department's first group of exchange students.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our students to be exposed in different kinds of educational systems and have intercultural engagements and we also look forward to welcoming students from WSU. I hope that this is the beginning of a fruitful partnerships where we can collaborate,” said Farte.

Funda Trust representative, Christin Rauter said the initiative was an exciting opportunity for both universities as it would be a platform not only for cultural exchange, but for new learning experiences and growth.

The PPH Augustinum was welcomed by the partnerships of Acting Campus Rectors, Francis Kwahene and Professor Elphina Cishe, Director of Community Engagement International Partnerships, Mzolisi Payi and various departmental heads in the faculty, including the Foundation Phase Program HOD, Dr Mziwoxolo Krexe.

By Ongezwa Sigodi