Is higher education responding effectively and quickly enough to internationalisation challenges and developments? Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) is hosting the 17th International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) Conference 2013 (21 to 24 August 2013 at the Bloemfontein Campus) with the aim of answering the emerging question about higher education's response to internationalisation in a changing world.  

IEASA, a non-profit organisation, was established as a result of the need for universities in South Africa to respond to international educational trends. "If South Africa is to remain competitive within the global economic environment it is important that our higher education provides opportunities for students to obtain a global perspective and become global citizens", says Prof. Thandwa Mthembu, CUTs Vice-Chancellor and Principal and the Regional Chair: Sub-Sahara Africa of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP). The theme for the conference is Internationalisation in a Changing World: Higher Education's Response. The conference is focusing on knowledge sharing with discussions on best practices, challenges and opportunities, and the critical role leadership and support services has to play in successful internationalisation. 

Further interesting topics will include the interlinking role of indigenous knowledge management, the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and special student issues, such as xenophobia, ethical considerations and other diversity challenges. The IEASA Conference will open up international contacts and will focus on creating cross-border partnerships, which will benefit students of tertiary institutions and will contribute to South Africa's status as a competitor and participant in world markets. "As part of CUTs internationalisation strategy, we continue to reach out to students and academics from the rest of the SADC states, Germany, Belgium, Finland, The Netherlands and China and others" says Prof. Mthembu. "These partnerships ensure that our students are not only industry-ready, but that they have a global perspective to their studies and an understanding of international challenges and opportunities."  

Prof. Henk de Jager, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at CUT; Prof.  Alvaro Romo, Secretary General-elect of IAUP; Dr Lavern Samuels, IEASA President; Prof. Rosa Meyer from Catholic University of Rio in Brazil; Dr Nico Jooste, IEASA Vice President;  Mr Ramo Damodaran, Deputy Director: Outreach Division and Dr Jimmy Ellis, CUT Internationalisation Consultant.   

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