ACCORD had the pleasure of hosting four students from the School of International Training (SIT) accompanied by Dr Imraan Buccus, the Academic Director of the SIT Programme in South Africa, on Thursday, 29 February 2024. The SIT programme aims to prepare students as future inter-culturally competent leaders, professionals, and citizens and fosters a global network of individuals and organizations committed to responsible global citizenship. The programme offers field-based academic study abroad programmes for undergraduates, accredited master’s degrees, and certificate programmes for graduates and professionals.
ACCORD takes pride in creating spaces for young researchers and political enthusiasts to thrive, and supports their educational and creative processes while remaining open to the wealth of knowledge yet to be gained from young leaders. The theme for this group of SIT students is “International Relations in the Global South.” During the visit, Ms Katharine Bebington, ACCORD’s Researcher, presented on South Africa’s foreign policy. She shared the vision and mission statement of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), which is responsible for the formulation, promotion, and execution of South Africa’s foreign policy. The presentation detailed South Africa’s foreign policy during the Apartheid era and post-Apartheid, including a chronology of South Africa’s foreign policy during the reign of the four Presidencies (Mandela, Mbeki, Zuma, and Ramaphosa).
The students raised several thought-provoking questions and made insightful comments that deepened the conversation. A robust discussion took place on various issues relating to South Africa’s foreign policy, including South Africa’s submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the Israel/Palestinian war. The relationship between ACCORD and SIT spans many years and has been a mutually beneficial experience for all concerned. Several SIT students have been afforded internships at ACCORD over the years of collaboration.
