The conference was attended by students and lecturers from the Department of Senior Phase and FET Studies (CPUT), University Colleges Leuven Limburg (UCLL), Belgium, and HAN University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.
CPUT Lecturer Felicity Titus, showed the audience graphics depicting the slave trade such as the ships and the market.
Said Titus: “If we don’t pay attention we can go back there again.”
She added that to ensure a no return to slavery the students should tap into their international competencies such as personal growth, language skills, global management, intercultural competencies, international disciplinary learning.
CPUT lecturer Vanessa Van Staden said that from observing International projects in the Senior Phase and FET Studies it has dawned on her that diversity has a strong impact on the goals of each project.
Van Staden said the HAN and CPUT student exchange project had only two CPUT students and two HAN students in 2016, but four CPUT students and two HAN students participated in both 2017 and 2018.
“2019 saw two CPUT students exchange fieldwork experiences and products with two HAN student by means of WhatsApp, YouTube videos and Powerpoint slideshows.”
She added that the partnership saw to the placement and supervision of UCLL students at Kalkfontein Primary School in Kuilsriver.
Dean of Education, Prof Thobeka Mda, said the partnership between CPUT and HAN is to be applauded because it is driven by committed academics. “Faculties thrive on collaborations and partnerships. Knowledge is created and disseminated.”
Mda added that the partnership is one of, if not, the most successful in the Faculty.
The students presented their projects and posed questions to the audience about how to enhance or sustain their projects. To recognise their efforts they were issued with certificates by their lecturers.
