“Meeting new people, keeping an open mind, and having a lot of fun." This is what Mira Janna Pichai from Clemson University in South Carolina, United States, expects from the 2019 Stellenbosch University (SU) Summer/Winter School. And she will not be disappointed. With more than 100 students from 15 countries attending, this annual event during the June/July semester break offers an exciting programme, packed with diverse learning opportunities.

The Summer/Winter School, which is hosted by SU International, intends to provide both international and local students with a transformative student experience, while also promoting internationalisation at home. To this end, the programme includes classes on various relevant topics, as well as social events that afford participants the chance to interact with peers from other world regions. This intercultural experience is proven to enrich students' lives and cultivate global citizens for the future.

The academic programme consists of lectures, group discussions and field trips, and is taught by SU faculty and other South African experts. Students follow a general elective programme, choosing courses from a range of disciplines, including Philosophy, Engineering, Botany, Political Science, Economics, Literature, Art and Media, History, HIV/Aids, International Relations, Chinese Studies, Multilingualism, Linguistics, and Marketing. In addition, participants have the option of attending one of three thematic programmes. The programme “Learning, Sustainability and Community Engagement" is a collaborative venture with local schools and non-profit organisations, “Doing Business in Southern Africa" equips students with an understanding of the business challenges and opportunities in this rapidly growing region, while “Public Health" introduces them to the healthcare system in the country.

For most of the students, this is their first time to South Africa. Therefore, aside from the academic exposure, they can look forward to being immersed in the country's culture, sights and sounds. Students will be treated to excursions to Table Mountain, Robben Island, the ROOT44 Market, Cape Point and the Cape Peninsula. And those interested to see more can join an optional Garden Route tour following the Summer School. The evening programme includes film screenings, a traditional braai, karaoke, “sokkie" dances and dinners. 

Across the board, participants enrolled for the 2019 event are eager to start. Anna Bowen, who studies Business Management at the University of Georgia, United States, says she is “curious to learn a lot about South African business and the history of the country, and to have a lot of fun at the same time". Political Science and Public Affairs student Ricki Orozco, also from the University of Georgia, is particularly intrigued by the political history of South Africa, being a “totally different environment" from the countries he has visited to date.