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Two WSU Bachelor of Education third-year students who participated in an international student exchange programme in the first semester have returned to start their School Based Experience (SBE) with excitement about their future.
The Erasmus+ European Union funded student exchange programme took place at Kirchliche Padagogische Hochschule Augustinum (KPH Augustinum) commonly known in English as the ‘Private University College of Teacher Education’ in Graz, Austria.
The two students, Amahle Tuswa and Siviwe Saba, joined KPH students in Austria, engaging in their sessions and even got the benefit of learning a new language, German. They also got the opportunity to do their practical learning in one of the primary schools in Austria.
The third-year Bachelor of Education student, Tuswa said, “It was a great learning curve, not only being in that wonderful city but also the fact that we got a great experience of being an international teacher and we have learnt a lot about being flexible and adaptive on international grounds”.
The Community Engagement and Internalisation director at WSU, Mzolisi Payi said:” The significance of this project is underneath WSU’s core values of honesty and integrity as the university is moving towards the Vision 2030, which refers to embedding community engagement and international partnership in the academic world “.
Payi again added that, “I wish to see more students participate in these student exchange programmes because, not only do these programmes promote academic globalisation, but also, increase individuals’ flexibility and ability to see the world from an international perspective, developing and producing future ready-graduates”.
The WSU director also explained that he went to check if the two students were settling in well, but also, to cement the relationship they have with the college of education and to explore more opportunities for research student exchange. This means that in the vision of WSU there are still more interventions to come regarding internalisation of both student and staff exchange.
The other third-year Bachelor of Education student, Saba, also added that the opportunity was great because they will not be charged any tuition fee on their return to obtain their Masters. They will only look for a scholarship that will cover their accommodation and meal allowance.
Saba further explained that the opportunity is great in the sense that they will not be charged tuition fees, they will only look for a scholarship that will cover their accommodation and meal allowances.
The two students now are looking forward to starting their international careers in Austria, as the Head of Department Mathematics, Natural and Consumer Sciences in KPH, Professor Alex Jogymol and Payi are restlessly exploring more opportunities for research student exchange.
By Amthandile Mlonyeni
