​​Academics are often seen as the key people responsible for making universities excel – but, in reality, the hard work done by administrative support staff – often behind the scenes – also helps drive universities globally to great heights.
 

This was the premise behind the recent 2025 Trilateral Staff Development and Exchange (TriStaX) programme, held at the University of Stellenbosch (SU) aimed at enhancing skills to promote an international, intercultural environment on campuses.

The programme, which ran from15 – 19 September, was aimed at Professional, Administrative, and Support (PASS) staff from SU, University of Hamburg (Germany) and Northwestern University (USA).) This year's theme was: Cultivating Global Excellence Through Inclusive International Competencies. Fourteen people attended - five each from SU and Hamburg and four from Northwestern.

The internationalisation of universities means integrating an international, intercultural dimension into institutions as a whole. The TriStaX programme, which started in 2022 at SU, aims to nurture international practitioners, through sharing best practices in university administration and operations. Key topics addressed include how to practice international competencies across various administrative roles, faculties, and support services. Participants examined the theme through workshops and discussions, using best-practise examples.

Lidia du Plessis, Programme Manager: Staff Internationalisation at SU International (SUI) said the three participating universities are already partnering comprehensively on various levels. “This further collaboration on an administrative level brings another layer to the trilateral relationship."

TriStaX, now in its second cycle, takes place on a rotational basis with each university taking turns to host. “In the previous cycle, Northwestern University focused on alumni relations and stakeholder engagement, and Hamburg focused on sustainability and the SDGs.

“TriStaX is aimed at employees in any part of university administration. It's important for people in administration to have an opportunity to travel and benchmark what they do in relation to their international peers," Du Plessis said.

Activities included a scavenger hunt to get to know the SU campus, lunch in the university's Botanical Garden, visits to wine farms, and trips to the township dinner theatre, Amazink and songo.info, a programme in Kayamandi township which uses sport to uplift children.

The participants also attended a presentation on SU's SOAR programme aimed at building the capacity of first-generation students at SU, who, according to SOAR Coordinator Joy Petersen, might otherwise have dropped out of their studies. They also participated in a multilingual mindset workshop and learned about SU's multilingualism practices at SU's Language Centre and visited the Gender-Based Violence Hub.

In a session on Intercultural Competence, Angelo Jephtha, Coordinator: Student Life & Success, SUI highlighted the importance of cultivating “intercultural competence, active citizenship, and global citizenship in a world where “only about ten percent of culture is visible to others – and it takes time and effort to learn about people's culture beneath the surface".

Robert Kotzé​, Senior Director, SU International stressed that being an internationalisation practitioner is a transformative measure which changes perspectives and “adds value to the individual and the institution. “Colleagues should “actively engage, respond, and take action" to integrate an international, intercultural and global dimension into the university community."

Mr Kotzé​ gave an overview of SU's internationalisation journey which started in 1993 when the Officer for International Relations opened.

Participants also attended a 'story circle' – an initiative, based on oral story-telling traditions, which is often used as a platform for people from diverse backgrounds to share stories, experiences and perspectives. The UNESCO story circles - developed by Dr Darla Deardorff, chairholder of the UNESCO chair on intercultural competence at SU – are an inclusive tool for people to practise listening and build empathy and understanding between different cultures.

Dr Zethu Mkhize, Director: Transformation Office, gave participants an historical overview of South Africa's national agenda on Transformation and its implications for SU. She also discussed the mandate of the university's Centre for the Advancement of Social Impact on Transition, set up by SU following the Fees Must Fall era.

Highlighting how SU cultivates global excellence through the initiatives showcased during TriStaX, Du Plessis said: “You can only achieve global excellence if you include everyone. SU is agile in responding to the needs of a multilingual, diverse environment, as evidenced by the units and projects showcased.

“Now that TriStaX is in its second cycle, the programme builds on the strong foundations of the first one and has the same objectives: to focus on cultivating internationalisation practitioners, sharing best practices in university administration, and strengthening global perspectives on operational excellence. Through short-term exchanges, participants gain hands-on experience in diverse PASS environments, develop new skills, and build networks that support innovative approaches to managing and enhancing university services."

Eva Leptien from the department of International Affairs at Hamburg University and co-coordinator of the programme with Du Plessis and Kim Rapp from Northwestern University, praised the “valuable" collaboration between the three universities. “This programme is one component of the internationalisation partnership to deepen the institutional and personal connections between our universities on specific topics."​

In the final session, when asked to name their most memorable take-aways from the programme, participants said they were particularly moved by SU's emphasis on 'ubuntu'.

“This ubuntu mindset  – “I am because you are" – encapsulated my experience here. It's left me with the strong conviction we all have the responsibility to look after each other," said Samantha Kwok-Ting Woo, Northwestern's Associate Dean of Community Engagement and Access. She said she was also impressed by how SU “opens its gates" to the surrounding community. “I'd love to see more of that permeating the work we do. I will go home and tell everybody about that."

Sebastian Zubrzycki, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Programme Coordinator at Hamburg praised SU for its “student-centredness". “It amazes me that you have about 72 refugee students here every year and provide them with opportunities. I'd love to see more of your student-centred spirit in Hamburg."

Stephanie Teterycz, Senior Director of Operations and Outreach for the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern, said she was deeply moved by SU's multilingualism mindset and indigenous language policy. SU's focus on serving the community through, among other initiatives, the GBV hub, was also inspiring. “We, at Northwestern, can do more in this regard."

SU's Hayley du Plessis, who works as Post Graduate Officer and support to the Vice Dean, Research in the Faculty of Science, said the scavenger hunt was a highlight. “I've been at SU for many years and yet haven't been into some of the buildings."

Participants hailed the way SU helps students – both local and international – integrate into the community.

They praised the UNESCO story circles, with some saying they hoped to implement these back home. All agreed the three universities share similar problems – like budget challenges, student integration and transformation - and can also share solutions.