African Students’ Board – bringing together students from the continent

Seven years down the line, the ASB continues to serve as a platform where African students can meet and engage on topics relating to the continent. At the same time, it functions as a support structure allowing smaller African societies at SU to engage with larger ones. According to Refiloe Nkhasi, current ASB chair, “the initial purpose was to provide a contact point where African students wanting to apply to SU could be assisted with queries by African students already enrolled at SU”. Today, however, the ASB’s primary mandate is to strengthen existing African student communities at SU and establish new ones. To this end, the ASB collaborates closely with the Students’ Representative Council member responsible for internationalisation as well as SU International to help African students integrate with life at SU, thereby making them feel at home. The organisation also assists students to establish and register societies and so add to the diversity of campus life.

To offer African students a chance to engage on critical topics and meet peers from the continent, the ASB hosts events throughout the academic year. One such event is the annual African Gala Dinner. This highlight on the ASB calendar honours African culture, fashion, food and music, with each student celebrating what makes them uniquely African.

Moreover, being a strong advocate for African excellence, the ASB works with SU International to award the annual SU/Africa Postgraduate Funding for Excellence in Campus Life. This scholarship is offered to African students enrolled for any full postgraduate degree at SU. Criteria include not only academic achievement, but also engagement in student life and the display of remarkable leadership skills, whether in student leadership structures, faith communities or their academic departments.

 Photo: Refiloe Nkhasi