CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Fourteen faculty members from several universities across South Africa will transform their teaching, learning, and research during a 10-day program starting April 14 on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.
The visiting cohort is comprised of early-career and mid-career professors. There will also be two advisors/coordinators joining the group.
These professionals are members of two programs administered by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) called the Future Professors Programme (FPP) and the Accelerated Academic Mentors Programme (AAMP).
The FPP is a flagship initiative funded by the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) of the Department of Higher Education and Training in the Republic of South Africa. The FPP is focused on transforming teaching, learning, and research, improving quality, and promoting equity.
The AAMP is a UJ initiative designed to provide mentorship, support, and development opportunities and focused advice to a nominated group of permanent academic staff at UJ, thereby creating the conditions for these candidates to advance their academic career trajectories.
Of the 14 visiting professors, six of them, each from a different South African university, are participating in the FPP, and eight from UJ are participating in the AAMP.
Global Education and Training Director Matt Rosenstein said GET and Global Relations at Illinois International worked together to collaborate with UJ and bring the program to Illinois’ campus.
“From the initial meeting at UJ that (GR Director Sammer Jones) and I attended in September 2023 where we discussed the program idea with UJ, to the planning process that enfolded over a year after that, GR contributed to the conceptualization of the agenda and dialogues on how to meet program objectives every step of the way,” Rosenstein said.
Program Goals
GET Program Coordinator Melissa Ramos Vaesken; GET Associate Director for Program Implementation; and GET Program Coordinator Shynar Imangaliyeva led the coordination of the upcoming visit for Global Education and Training.
Ramos Vaesken described three goals or objectives for the program:
- Gaining insight into the environment of an international university with links to discipline-specific departments.
- Understanding the context of higher education in the United States.
- Presenting research in their field and receiving constructive feedback.
These goals are intentional, Ramos Vaesken explained, because they not only reflect the purpose of each of the programs represented, but they will also aid in fostering professional, academic, and research collaborations among faculty from Illinois and South African universities.
Imangaliyeva added that they worked hard to ensure the program not only introduces participants to the United States higher education system but also equip them with practical tools to enhance their teaching, research, and international collaborations.
For example, each day of the workshop is focused on empowering the visiting professors through sessions, activities, discussions, and keynotes led by Illinois faculty and staff who will provide innovative teaching strategies, research advice, and leadership development skills.
Imangaliyeva said these elements were carefully designed to leave participants with new knowledge and valuable professional connections that they can continue to build on.
“Putting this program together was about creating an environment that fosters collaboration and learning,” Imangaliyeva said. “From day one, we aimed to ensure that every session, panel, and tour provided meaningful opportunities for participants to engage, reflect, and network (which are) elements that are essential for their growth as academic leaders.”
Ramos Vaesken acknowledged that the program will not only fosters academic excellence but also advance equity and knowledge exchange, which will in turn grant participants on both sides the opportunity to strengthen institutional ties and expand global scholarly impact.
“This project reflects Illinois’ (Vision 2030) strategic priority to build mutually beneficial partnerships with institutions in the Global South, ensuring that research and innovation are co-created across borders,” Ramos Vaesken said.
Program Highlights
Imangaliyeva worked on both the substantial and organizational aspects of the program and said a major highlight of this initiative has been collaborating with a wide array of campus partners including Illinois International leadership; the College of Education; the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA): the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology; the College of Fine and Applied Arts; the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL); and many others.
“This strong network ensures that participants gain a comprehensive perspective on both research and teaching innovation,” Imangaliyeva said. “It’s been a true interdisciplinary effort, and I couldn’t be more excited to see all the hard work come to life.”
Ramos Vaesken said Illinois and GET are proud to partner with the University of Johannesburg in a collaborative project like this one because it directly aligns with the campus-wide Vision 2030 Global Strategy commitment to deepening engagement with the Global South.
She also noted that leading this project has been an exhilarating yet intense experience.
“I know we will be witnessing connections forming— researchers bonding over shared interests from the Global South and Global North, lively debates sparking new perspectives, and spontaneous collaborations taking shape,” she said.
Moreover, Ramos Vaesken mentioned that the real reward from the visit will come after seeing long-term partnerships flourish, receiving heartfelt thanks from visitors whose careers were impacted, and knowing that she had a part in helping to create a bridge between two academic worlds.
“It’s a blend of diplomacy and human connection that leaves a lasting mark on everyone involved,” she said.
More Information
The program kicks off April 14 and ends April 22.
Daily workshops, keynotes, panel discussions, and tours will take place in different buildings across campus such as:
- The Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL)
- The Illini Union
- The I-Hotel & Conference Center
- Siebel Center for Design
- The Main Library
- The National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
Representing the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in the Accelerated Academic Mentorship Programme are:
- Faeeza Ballim, professor in the Department of History at UJ
- Thandiwe Sithole, Vice-Dean of Global Engagement in the Department of Chemical Engineering at UJ
- Lydia Mavuru, professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education at UJ
- Noluntu Mpekoa, professor in the Academy of Computer Science and Software Engineering at UJ
- Mduduzi Biyase, professor in the School of Economics at UJ
- Phoka Rathebe, professor of environmental health at UJ
- Desiree Smal, Vice-Dean, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) at UJ
- Samantha Huneberg, senior lecturer in the Department of Mercantile Law at UJ
Representing the Future Professors Programme are:
- Delarise Mulqueeny, professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand (UNIZULU)
- Nomso Hintsho-Mbita, professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Limpopo (UL)
- Yeshona Sukai, senior lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology at the University of the Western Cape (UWC)
- Osayuwamen Omoruyi, senior lecturer in the Department of Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Sol Plaatje University (SPU)
- Sanjeev Rambharose, senior lecturer in the Department of Physiological Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch (SUN)
- Jack Madito, professor in the College of Science, Engineering & Technology at the University of South Africa (UNISA)
The two advisors are:
- Andrew Kaniki, academic advisor to the FPP and Illinois alumnus
- Koketso Mogadima, project administrator for FPP UJ
Analicia Haynes is the storytelling and social media specialist for Global Communications at Illinois International. She can be reached at ahayn2@illinois.edu.