What began as a small “family meeting" in 2003 has evolved into an annual event, with 104 delegates from 67 universities across 36 countries attending the Stellenbosch International Academic Network (SIAN) meeting this year from 12 – 15 March 2025. This year's meeting spotlighted Responsible Internationalisation — a concept with many definitions and the subject of many published articles. Welcomed by Robert Kotzé, SU's Senior Director SU International, he explained that : “SU's goal with SIAN remains to highlight Stellenbosch as a prime destination for students and a place where partnerships are valued.

Internationalisation is evolving

"SU International aims to contribute towards SU's aspiration to be an internationally recognised research-intensive Institution, rooted in Africa with a global reach," says Kotze. “We promote and enable internationalisation at SU by involving faculties and Professional Academic Support Staff (PASS) environments through developing a platform for International Higher Education Research in Africa, purposeful bilateral partnerships in Africa and beyond, enabling broad participation in multilateral alliances and networks, and Global Learning for a transformative student experience.

Collaboration and support

Professor Sam Tshehla, the acting DVC for Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs, welcomed the delegates to this year's SIAN meeting, highlighted the importance of collaboration and support from various stakeholders. Emphasising SU's strong partnerships, particularly in Europe, he highlighted SU's goal to increase its footprint in Africa. He emphasised the importance of research's impact on society at large, especially for the next generation.