Journal of Student Affairs in Africa | Volume 4(2) 2016, 53–54  |  2307-6267  |  DOI: 10.18820/jsaa.v4i2.7   53

www.jsaa.ac.za

*  Media release, Division of Corporate Communication, Stellenbosch University, 28 October 2016.

On campus

Global representatives flock to Stellenbosch  
for 3rd student affairs global summit*

Invited representatives from 19 countries working in the rapidly developing area of student 
affairs and services gathered in Stellenbosch to attend the bi-annual Global Summit on 
Student Affairs and Services. The Summit brought together key leaders in Student Affairs 
from around the globe to engage in dialogue around critical issues in Student Affairs.

Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) and the International 
Association for Student Affairs and Services (IASAS) were the joint initiators and drivers of 
the event, and after a rigorous application process Stellenbosch University (SU) was granted 
the honour to host the event held from Wednesday to Friday (26-28 October 2016) at the 
Wallenberg Research Centre at STIAS in Stellenbosch, South Africa. 

Prof. Adam Habib, chair of Universities South Africa (USAf), an organisation 
representing South Africa’s universities, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the 
Witwatersrand, delivered the keynote address on Thursday themed “Contextualising 
Higher Education within Emerging Democracies”. 

“The event is a very exciting platform for a global conversation to advance the role 
of higher education in general and student affairs and services in particular,” said Dr Kevin 
Kruger, president of NASPA. It was the third event of its kind with the first event held in 
Washington in 2012 and the second in Rome in 2014. 

According to Dr Birgit Schreiber, Senior Director: Student Affairs at SU, one of the 
main organisers of the Summit and representative of the host institution,

Not only in South Africa, but the world over an emphasis is increasingly placed on what 
can be termed a global transformation project. Sharply coming into focus are issues such 
as how a global perspective meets local realities; activism and democratisation; access and 
gender and human rights. Although these issues are globally relevant, they are extremely 
relevant and topical in South Africa and other emerging democracies. It is thus very fitting 
that South Africa was chosen as host nation to these important discussions. 

More than 50 selected thought-leaders of higher education from countries across 
regions and continents participated in the event. “Discussing Student Affairs initiatives with 
colleagues from around the world helps to enhance overall student learning and success,” 
noted Achim Meyer auf der Heyde, president of IASAS.

http://www.jsaa.ac.za


54   Journal of Student Affairs in Africa | Volume 4(2) 2016, 53–54  |  2307-6267  |  DOI: 10.18820/jsaa.v4i2.7

“The programme is usually focused on a particular theme,” added Schreiber. “This 
year we used the UNESCO Operational Strategy on Youth (Medium Strategy 2014–2021 
with focus on Access and Gender) as the basis for discussions. The focus is on translating 
the high-level objectives into local realities, addressing issues of global-local tensions, 
rising opportunities in youth access and the role of universities and Student Affairs in 
democratisation and transformation around race and gender inequalities.”

According to Schreiber, the two-day conversations generated concrete outcomes:

They focussed on regional collaboration and partnerships among the professional 
organisations and universities to further the work in Higher Education with special 
focus on accelerating the ideals of Social Justice. A position paper based on participants’ 
contributions will be submitted to UNESCO.

Apart from dignitaries from NASPA and IASAS, Mr Yousaf Gabru, Chairperson of the 
South African National Commission for UNESCO, and those representing among others 
the European Council on Student Affairs, the Southern African Federation for Student 
Affairs and the Academic Association of Student Affairs (USA) were in attendance. 

Also included in the programme was a student panel consisting of six  students who 
shared how their experienced the impact of Student Affairs on their lives and studies, and 
how Student Affairs enabled them to promote values of human rights, equity and justice. 


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