INU – Personal på vift

25 februari, 2016

Molo! Day 3 at NMMU South Africa

Molo! (means Hello in Xhosa, one of eleven official languages in South Africa)

People people people… New encouters, new experiences, new insights. Exciting stories.

Today I spent the whole morning at The Student Counselling, Career and Development Centre (SCCDC), where I met Dr Maud Ntanjana, Dr Hanna von Lingen, Kameshnee Ramasamy, Ruth Connely and others. I had the prevelige of presenting Malmö University´s Study and Career Centre for a this courios and interested group of counsellors att NMMU. We had very interesting discussions about the significance of guidance and counselling of students of all ages, and how important role counsellors play in schools, universities and community as a whole. We also exchanged our views on the imortance of a research-led counselling. You would notice that you met with the genuine counsellors since it was my turn to answers all the (open) questions. Pure pleasure.

After our morning meetings Maud, the manager of SCCDC, drove me to the university’s Missionvale Campus located on the outskirts of Port Elisabeth´s suburban centre, where I spent the whole afternoon with Lungsi Ntlokwana and her staff. Siya, future counselling psychologist, who is doing her internship at Counselling Centre on Missionvale Campus took me on a nice campus tour. It was amazing to see that this modern Capus was located just next to Missionvale townships, that are still made up largely of shacks. Location, location, location.

Later I met with a group of high schools pupils from disadvantaged schools who were to attend a career workshop. These pupils spent about 3 hours at Student Counselling Centre on Missionvale Campus in career programme which helps them identify their personality, interests and values and guides them towards a career decision, and provides them with career information. What a wonderful initiative!

After another day full of impressions I had to go for a evening run on the beach. I am exhausted and yet so pleased.

Good night wherever you are! 🙂

24 februari, 2016

Get off your umtarara. Day 2 at NMMU South Africa

Get off your umtarara and make things happen! – Motto of the day.

Another day at NMMU filled with interesting meetings with committed people and stories about students making a difference, and the staff making it happen.

This morning I spent some time at the Study Abroad Office with Mona Lisa Ndwayana and Jade Mentor who told me about their hard work with orientation program for international students.

Later I attended First Year Architecture student workshop presented by Gino Frenchman, Academic Development Professional of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Media. Afterwards we had some interesting discussions about the importance of first year experience for students.

So exciting! But no room for reflection yet; I had to rush to my next meeting, this time with Dr Jennifer Winstead, at the Higher Education Access and Development Services. She proudly presented her work with The Co-curricular Record, now official document that recognizes a student’s out of classroom experiences.The co-curricular activities and recognition is verified by the relevant departments and the document can be used when applying for jobs and further studies.

My next meeting was with Kim Elliot, Senior Manager in Leadership Training and Development in Students Governance. I was really blown away with Kim´s story and her passion for helping students. Among other things Kim is one of the facilitators behind Beyond the Classroom (BtC) programme BtC which started in 2009 as a voluntary leadership programme for students at NMMU. ”Get off your umtarara” – an amazing story.

I must admit I had a hard time leaving Kim but I had to attend another meeting this late afternoon. This time with Dave Jenkings, Director of Centre for Access Assessment and research. Although I was extremely tired, I was not disappointed, and it was thanks to Dave’s warm reception and his interesting presentation.

No energy left for sightseeing today either, unfortunately, but it was worth it! I’m sure I will sleep well tonight. Good night from Port Elisabeth wherever you are!

24 februari, 201629 februari, 2016

Ubuntu. Day 1 at NMMU South Africa

Diversity, Excellence, Ubuntu, Intergity, Respect for the natural environment, Taking responsibility – the values of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. I feel like I am home.

I am sitting and relaxing in my apartment in the Postgraduate Village in Port Elizabeth after my first, incredibly exciting day at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. I’m tired and it’s late but nevertheless I will try to collect my thoughts after all the exciting meetings today. I am overwhelmed by the fantastic reception I received from the colleagues at NMMU. My day began with my guide for the day, wonderful Nonto, picking me up at my guest house and taking me to the International office where I had several meetings with their staff, including Kate Mey, Manager of International Partnerships and Tohiera Moodien Snr Manager in the International Student Admin. They told me about the important work they do in terms of the reception of international students and staff. It was inspiring to see how dedicated they are to helping and encouraging students with different cultural backgrounds to engage with outside community . We discussed our universities` visions and our way of working, and came to the conclusion that despite the geographical and cultural distance we work towards very similar goals and face similar challenges. For those who is interested in more details I will gladly tell more about the discussions when I am back home in Malmö in a couple of weeks.

After these interesting talks I got introduced to International Office Staff by Janine Wagenaar, who, by the way, is responsible for arranging my whole visit here and she is doing a wonderful job.

Then the morning meetings followed by lunch talks with Kate about living in South Africa and a Campus Tour with Nonto. I had the privilege to see the vice chancellor office in the Main University Building and the amazing view over Port Elisabeth.

Then I spent the whole afternoon with Johan van Rensburg, Study Abroad Outgoing and Short Programmes Assistant and Claire Dullisear, Short Programmes Coordinator. They told me about the amazing projects they work with. You can find more info about their projects here: http://international.nmmu.ac.za/Short-Programmes-International-Summer-Programmes/Community-Service-Learning

Truly satisfied I rounded up the workday by visiting a supermarket together with Nonto, who helped me pick up typical South African groceries and delicacies. On top of everything I saw a couple of monkeys on my way back to my apartment and was advised to keep my food locked away since the monkeys would steel it otherwise. 🙂

That would be all for tonight. Good night everybody, wherever you are.

10 augusti, 2012

Showtime!

I skrivande stund är seminariets höjdpunkt och mål i full gång. Rollspelet där vi simulerar FNs General församling och debatterar frågan om Irans kärnvapenprogram. Jag är facilitator för Country Group America, vilket är sjukt roligt och lärorikt. Mina studenter upplever just nu stor frustration över att de andra deltagande länderna inte agerar i enlighet med “verkligheten”. Snart är det överläggningar och snabba förhandlingar över en kort lunchpaus. Efter det får alla länder lämna in var sin amendment till den föreslagna resolutionen. Spänningen är olidlig!

9 augusti, 20129 augusti, 2012

“Things I have learnt…”

Idag höll jag i en “Evaluation session” för studenterna. Imorgon är sista dagen och då är det rollspel hela dagen och det finns ingen tid för att hålla i en muntlig utvärdering. Studenterna gör naturligtvis en skriftlig utvärdering efter alla är avslutat (online) men den muntliga utvärderingen brukar alltid ge mycket mer. Tre saker av allt positivt som studenterna delade med sig av, fastnade hos mig. Frågan var “Things I have learnt during the seminar”:

To be more tolerant
To respect other people’s opinion and culture
To communicate in different ways with different people

Med dessa tre färdigheter kommer man långt här i världen!