New association to lobby for needs of international students

A new association that will lobby for the needs of the country’s international students was formed recently. The development follows the UCT Students’ Representative Council’s recent International Students’ Conference in Cape Town.

The International Students’ Association of South Africa is made up of representatives from the country’s universities. The association’s aim is to get universities to cooperate on tackling issues that affect their international students. Among these are scholarships, visas and xenophobia, said Chanda Chungu, deputy speaker of UCT’s student parliament and president of the new association.

“Additionally, we agreed to recommend that the South Africa Union of Students (SAUS) create a portfolio to deal specifically with international student matters.”

The event was sponsored by the Vice–Chancellor’s discretionary fund and was attended by the minister of home affairs, Malusi Gigaba, and members of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation.

Photo Gideon Mduma.

Caption: Attendees of the International Students’ Conference included (from left) Gloria Chikaonda, (UCT SRC chairperson of international students), Rorisang Moseli (current UCT SRC president), VC Dr Max Price and Chanda Chungu (deputy speaker of UCT’s student parliament and president of the International Students’ Association of South Africa).