In March 2023, Stellenbosch University (SU) celebrated 30 years of formalised internationalisation. More than 100 representatives from our partner universities attended the event, which coincided with the Stellenbosch International Academic Networks (SIAN) meeting.

The celebration was an opportunity to look back on the internationalisation successes of the past three decades, which have been filled with many highlights.

Over this time, internationalisation has been about sharing best practices and enriching the work of both academics and support services staff. Our students are at the centre of what we do, and we want to ensure that we offer them a transformative experience. This includes equipping them with global competencies so that we can send them out into the world as global citizens and globally engaged individuals.

This approach has served us well: SU belongs to 36 networks globally. In 2022, 308 of our students followed a programme abroad, and this year to date, we have welcomed a record number of 650 international semester students from across the world. We have also awarded more than 40 joint PhD degrees with 28 global institutions, as well as over 60 double master's degrees with 11 partners.

But we cannot rest on these laurels; we must look to the future. After 30 years, SU continues to revitalise its approach to internationalisation, looking at trends to determine where our efforts should be growing.

Most countries are experiencing a changing demographic that results in a younger average population age. This implies a demand for more opportunities in higher education. The advances in digitalisation and technology constantly produce new means of teaching and learning. The increase in online programmes, networks and partnerships in higher education globally requires us to adjust and keep pace with our models of teaching.

After 30 years, SU is committed to driving our internationalisation agenda towards the future. And we would like to take our partners along on this journey.

• Prof Hester C. Klopper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs