27/08/2026
🌍 LOOKING BACK: DAY 1 MORNING | IEASA 2026
Yesterday marked the opening of the 28th IEASA Annual Conference in East London, bringing together colleagues, scholars, practitioners and partners under the theme:
“Rewriting the Agenda: Internationalisation Through a Global South Lens.”
The morning programme began with Opening & Strategic Framing by IEASA Vice President, Dr Tasmeera Singh* who set the tone for the conversations ahead and invited delegates to critically reflect on the evolving internationalisation landscape through a Global South lens.
🏛️ Host City Address
We were honoured to hear from **Dr Nthabiseng Taole-Mjimba, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare**, who welcomed delegates to the Eastern Cape and East London and highlighted the importance of bringing the international higher education community together in the region.
🇿🇦 Presidential Address & Official Welcome
IEASA President Dr Normah Zondo officially welcomed delegates and reaffirmed IEASA’s commitment to advancing internationalisation, strengthening partnerships and creating space for meaningful dialogue across the sector.
🏛️ Ministerial Address
The morning continued with an address by **Hon. Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training**, who shared important perspectives on the role of internationalisation within South Africa’s higher education landscape.
🎓 Keynote Address
The keynote placed academic freedom at the centre of the conversation, highlighting the need for collective action against xenophobia and for research-backed evidence to challenge narratives about international students and academics. The importance of university autonomy and protecting higher education from uninformed political interference was also emphasised.
✨ Day 1 set a powerful foundation for the conversations that followed — challenging assumptions, sharing knowledge and continuing to rewrite the agenda from a Global South perspective.
📸 Here’s a look back at some of the highlights from yesterday morning.
📸Siphosethu Dlamini