​​​Ten Stellenbosch University (SU) staff members were selected for this year's blended mobility programme for professional administrative support services (PASS) staff, presented in collaboration with Lund University (LU) in Sweden.

Allowing PASS staff a chance to interact with their peers abroad, the unique programme offers an opportunity for professional development, continued education and the learning of new skills, while they also gain valuable international experience. The programme addresses the topics of intercultural skills and inclusion and aims to stimulate dialogue on internationalisation in diverse university environments. The topics and best-practice examples from both SU and LU are introduced in a combination of online and face-to-face interactions. 

Ms Lidia Du Plessis, Programme Manager: Staff Internationalisation ​ at SU International explains, " this programme is one of the many tools that helps make SU an employer of choice, through investing in the personal and professional development of staff". ​

The first online session, on 12 June, served as an icebreaker for participants from the two institutions to get to know one another. For the next online offering, on 21 August, LU will host a talk about Swedish culture to prepare their SU peers for their visit to Lund in September. Once in Sweden, the ten SU staff members will be job-shadowing their LU peers, while the Swedes will have a chance to do the same at SU in November. 

The SU participants are as follows:

• Mrs Karlien Breedt, SU Archives, Registrar's Division
• Mrs Mandy Gabriels, Legal Services
• Ms Katlego Letlonkane, Human Resources: Employment Equity and the Promotion of Diversity
• Mr Phumlani Mathebula, Facilities Management
• Ms Puseletso Motsomane, Division of Research Development
• Mr Gert van Deventer, Division of Innovation and Commercialisation
• Mrs Natasja Malherbe, Library and Information Service
• Mr Lishen Chetty, SU Woordfees
• Mrs Melissa Siegelaar, Office of the Dean: Economic and Management Sciences
• Ms Marick Hornsveld, Corporate Communication and Marketing