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International Office Discusses Strategic Plans for Internationalisation at DUT

International Office Discusses Strategic Plans for Internationalisation at DUT

The Durban University of Technology’s International Office held a two-day workshop on a strategic plan for internationalisation at DUT’s Hotel School, Ritson Campus from 7 to 8 August 2014.

Facilitating the workshop were Jos Beelen and Orla Quinlan. Jos Beelen is a researcher and consultant on internationalisation of the curriculum at the Centre for Applied Research into Economics and Management at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and Orla Quinlan is the director for internationalisation at Rhodes University. Their idea behind hosting such a workshop was to look at ways to reinforce a learning environment and research that will equip DUT students and lecturers with international and intercultural professional competencies.
Other key speakers at the workshop were DUT’s Director of International Education and Partnerships, Dr Lavern Samuels and visiting Professor Kathleen Nokes, who is the Honorary Research Professor at Durban University of Technology and Professor at the Graduate Centre (CUNY).

Beleen spoke about DUT’s internationalisation strategic plan in the context of the recent World of Work Careers Fair, saying that it would reward the institution with diverse knowledge, attitude and skills for students and lecturers, if such fairs were done on a regular basis. He also encouraged the university to shape its curriculum for new job opportunities that would enable graduates to be employable beyond South Africa’s borders.

DUT has already set the pace in transforming its curriculum into one that is relevant for the global employment market, for example, through availing foreign language studies. Tourism students are already studying German since a large proportion of South African tourists come from Germany.

Dr Samuels said, “What we are looking at is how the broader activities of the university can contribute to internationalisation of the curriculum. The Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Ahmed Bawa, started the curriculum renewal project and spoke about it as a defining project of the university where every department would relook at their academic programmes.”

He added that the university runs the Confucius Institute which offers mandarin lessons in partnership with China. Hospitality and Tourism students are also encouraged to take up Portuguese and French so that they become competitive and employable.

“If you look at the DUT graduates attributes, it is very much in keeping with graduates attributes from other institutions and they contain elements of the global world. International dimensions feature prominently in our graduates attributes. If we look at the type of research we do, the research agenda that we have set also addresses the issue of internationalisation through how our topics which are contextualised,” said Dr Samuels.

The workshop inspired members from various departments at the university to draft their wish lists in order for their internationalisation efforts to run smoothly.

DUT’s Dr Shirlene Neerputh, said, “The library is now engaging with Google and providing services at the international level. My role is to ensure that DUT resources and research gets into the international arena. The DUT library would like support in creating an awareness of international trends and research.”

The workshop concluded with staff from various departments understanding that there was a need for an action plan and a needs assessment as well as a formation of a DUT special interest group.

– Gift Nyamapfene and Talent Buthelezi

Pictured: DUT Director of International Education and Partnerships, Dr Lavern Samuels, Orla Quinlan, Director for internationalisation at Rhodes University, Jos Beelen, researcher and consultant on internationalisation of the curriculum at the Centre for Applied Research into Economics and Management at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and visiting Professor, Kathleen Nokes, at the two-day workshop.

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