From 22 to 24 August the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) hosted  its 21st annual conference in Pretoria, this year themed “Engaged universities: Comprehensive Internationalisation – a dialogue between local and global realities”. Among over 150 delegates were representatives of international partners of IEASA from Europe, Asia and the Americas, including ACA. 

ACA’s role at the conference was at least twofold: ACA’s Policy Officer took part as one of the trainers in a full-day workshop on Fundraising and Proposal writing for representatives of South African universities (mainly staff of international relations offices) and fundraising organisations. Together with experts from South Africa and the University of Antwerp, they walked the participants through proposal writing, project management, fundraising approaches and partnership building in the higher education sector in Europe and South Africa. 

Secondly, ACA hosted a session dedicated to the Study in Europe project, implemented together with the Archimedes Foundation, British Cuncampus France (coordinator), DAAD and Nuffic. The presentation provided an overview of project implementation since 2014, achievements up to now and future activities until 2020, among which a Study in Europe fair in South Africa in 2020. Part of the presentation zoomed in on the network of European Higher Education Experts in South Africa, which ACA developed in the first phase of the project (2014-2017). Some of the Experts from South Africa shared their experiences in the session and illustrated how the project helped them  enhance study abroad advising activities and cooperation with partners from Europe. The participants discussed cooperation prospects and areas of interest for future joint activities with European partners, both at national and institutional level.

 ACA would like to thank the colleagues from IEASA for an inspiring event and their hospitality. All the best for all further work and see you next year in Cape Town!