Join a university where diversity drives innovation, inclusion is lived, and global voices shape the future: The Centre for Global Engagement welcomed a new cohort of international students, marking the beginning of an exciting academic journey. Pictured above: Students exploring the Mangaung City of Roses and Franklin Game Reserve as a new city (Bloemfontein/Mangaung) begins to feel like home.

Welcoming international students at CUT is more than an annual tradition, it is a celebration of global connection and shared ambition. This year, the Centre for Global Engagement officially received a vibrant new cohort of international first-years, exchange students, and interns, alongside university leadership and the Global Engagement team, all united by one purpose: to ensure every student feels not just registered but truly received.

Delivering a powerful message of affirmation, Ms Martina Moss, Deputy Director: Academic Staff and Student Mobility, reminded students that regardless of category or country, they are first and foremost CUT students. Drawing on the university’s motto, she challenged them to be “A CUT above the rest”, to think beyond limitations, embrace opportunity, and carry their CUT experience home with pride.

Students were introduced to key support systems from academic development services to medical aid options, equipping them for a smooth and successful academic journey.

Ms. Molleloa Lerata (left) and Ms. Dorcas Mushiya Kazadi (right) engaging with Ms Martina Moss, Deputy Director: Academic Staff and Student Mobility during the welcoming ceremony.

The most inspiring moments came from the students themselves. Ms Privilege Sithole from Zimbabwe, enrolled for a Bachelor of Education in Computer Science, posed a thoughtful and important question about access to institutional activities, particularly sport. “Would nationality be a barrier?” she asked. The response was immediate and unequivocal: “At CUT, merit and commitment open doors. Inclusion is not the exception; it is the standard.” Her question not only sparked reassurance but reinforced the university’s commitment to equity, participation, and belonging for every student.

Ms Dorcas Mushiya Kazadi from the Democratic Republic of Congo, pursuing a Bachelor of Environmental Health, shared her aspiration for a fully immersive university experience from laboratory readiness to active participation in student life. Her message resonated across the room: the desire not just to attend lectures, but to belong, contribute, and grow within the broader CUT community.

As the new international cohort begins their journey, one truth stands firm-CUT’s story continues to expand, strengthened by every culture, every perspective, and every bold step forward.