International Relations
About the International Relations Office
Vision
The vision of the International Relations Office is to be recognised as the axis of international linkages within UWC, through premier collaborations, partnerships and programmes.UWC’s Institutional Operating Plan (IOP) is framed as a broad and integrated framework for 2021-2025. It represents an interpretation of UWC’s role as a public African university. The IOP has five cross-cutting themes that intersect with eight goal areas. The Plan projects internationalisation through its seven Faculties, academic and research endeavours, student experiences and community engagement.
Internationalisation is the active commitment to infuse African and international perspectives throughout the teaching, learning, research and service missions of the University.
The goal of UWC’s internationalisation strategy is to partner with institutions across various research and academic programmes to build on existing scholarship, produce new knowledge and address global challenges facing humanity.
The focus of internationalisation is to build resilient North-South partnerships, build co-operative engagements that enhance the quality of knowledge production and develop socially-responsive scholars committed to transforming the lives of the vulnerable and marginalised.
Mission
UWC is a national university, alert to its African and international context as it strives to be a place of quality and a place to grow. It is committed to excellence in teaching, learning and research; to nurturing the cultural diversity of South Africa and to responding in critical and creative ways to the needs of a society in transition.The mission of the University’s International Relations Office is to promote UWC’s international profile and standing through the facilitation of partnerships; contribute towards a global perspective for staff and students; to expand the UWC footprint from the African continent to the world and to foster mutual engagement and collaboration between the Global North and South. UWC endeavours to share African-centred research and scholarship for the greater global good.
History
UWC is a national university, alert to its African and international context as it strives to be a place of quality and a place to grow. It is committed to excellence in teaching, learning and research; to nurturing the cultural diversity of South Africa and to responding in critical and creative ways to the needs of a society in transition.Services
The International Relations Office aims to advance internationalisation in all of it efforts.It is the first port of call for local and international students, and provides a range of services, from general enquiries to immigration advice to assistance with matriculation exemptions.
Our Office facilitates programmes for institutional visits from partners and potential collaborators. We represent UWC on platforms and consortia such as AAU (Association of African Universities); ACU (Association of Commonwealth Universities); ANIE (African Network for Internationalization of Education); COIMBRA (Coimbra Group Universities); EAIE (European Association for International Education); IEASA (International Education Association of South Africa); Golden Key (International Honour Society); NAFSA (Association of International Educators); SANORD (Southern African-Nordic Centre) and SARUA (Southern African Regional Universities Association), among others.
The office also works closely with the International Student Support Office (ISSO) who support the enrolment of full degree international students.
Functions of the Office:
- Initiating, implementing, managing, advising and reporting on the University’s Agreements of Cooperation involving staff and student exchanges and collaboration
- Coordinating Student mobility progammes
- Hosting joint projects with partner institutions
- Facilitating incoming and outgoing exchange students and staff
- Preparing programmes for international visitors
- Implementing the UWC’s IOP strategies for Internationalisation