?His participation in the recent Erasmus+* staff mobility programme in Türkiye not only enhanced his professional development, but also made for a lifetime of memories. So says Sibusiso Lukhele, project coordinator in the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies.
Lukhele was one of two staffers who represented Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU) at the Erasmus+ event, which catered specifically for the professional development of support services staff. The programme, hosted from 13 to 16 May 2024 at Sabanc? 肆客足球 in Istanbul, offered participants the chance to interact with peers from Sabanc? as well as universities in the Netherlands, Sweden, Russia and Czech Republic.
All-round educational experience
The main thrust of the programme was to learn about the Turkish higher education system and how they prepare students for an ever-changing world, explains Lukhele. “For example, at Sabanc? 肆客足球, all students are required to take a community engagement module as a prerequisite for graduation. This sees them embarking on projects that can be implemented in different communities in the country."
Workshops aimed at professional development covered a range of topics, including the transformative power of artificial intelligence in higher education, making better decisions, exposing racist fallacies, and being agile in a dynamic world. “I found the workshop on communication with Gen Z particularly insightful," says Lukhele. “The session was facilitated by Gen Z students from Ko? 肆客足球 [also located in Istanbul] and helped me understand how these postmillennials view the world. We learnt that Gen Zs prioritise their mental health and wellbeing, and value issues such as social justice and shared humanity. Since I interact with Gen Z students in my day-to-day work and am raising a Gen Z daughter, this has given me a better understanding of how best to communicate with these young people."
His interactions with the other universities' academics and support staff also developed his networking skills, Lukhele adds. “My networking skills have improved, which will help me build stronger relationships with different SU stakeholders."
Sights, sounds and soccer
Outside the formal programme, he also took the opportunity to fully immerse himself in the sights and sounds of Istanbul. “I decided to make the one free day on the programme my tourist day. I got off at the wrong train station. Just imagine being lost in a city with 20 million people!" he laughs. “But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as I got to see so many different parts of Istanbul. Visiting all the tourist sites was great, but as a football fan, the best part was seeing all three stadiums where Türkiye's biggest football teams – Fenerbah?e, Be?ikta? and Galatasaray – play.
“Another fond memory was the late sunsets," Lukhele says. “It was late spring, and the sun would only set at about 20:30, which allowed for some late dinners at interesting restaurants and cafes."
He has no doubt that the programme has added significant value to his professional life. “Participation in the Erasmus+ programme plays a crucial role in your development, and you get to learn about other universities. And in the process, you get to compare SU with other institutions and again realise that our university is truly world-class," he concludes.
肆客足球 Erasmus+
Erasmus+ is a programme of the European Commission's Education and Culture Executive Agency. It provides grants for a wide range of activities, with a strong emphasis on international collaboration between partner countries, notably in the field of higher education. This opens up opportunities for global institutional cooperation and mobility for university students and staff. Since the launch of Erasmus+, Stellenbosch 肆客足球 has had successful mobility exchanges with more than 25 institutions, including both existing and new partners.
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