Far from viewing the absence of a dedicated international office as a structural barrier, staff members at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) have used the factor as inspiration to pioneer grassroots global engagement models. During the concluding workshop of the “Building Bridges: Developing Internationalisation Skills for Professional Staff in Universities” initiative, held at MUT from 2 to 4 September 2026, delegates showcased high-impact institutional change projects. Led jointly by MUT and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), the two online session, and two in-person workshops culminated in 18 participants presenting actionable change projects designed to embed international perspectives directly into administrative and research workflows.
The presentations delivered by MUT staff who are participants in the Building Bridges programme addressed barriers experienced by international students applying to stury at MUT, as well as creating an enabling research environment for postdoctoral fellows at MUT. Sthembile Maphumulo-Ndlovu, a School Liaison Officer in the Department of Marketing and Communications, highlighted strategies to enhance international recruitment and registration workflows. Maphumulo-Ndlovu noted that presenting to multi-university delegations opened vital doors for collaborative student recruitment across Southern Africa.
Ayanda Bulose, another School Liaison Officer, in the same department, presented “Converting Applications to Registrations”, a project built over seven months of cross-departmental consultation. Bulose focused on resolving practical challenges encountered by international applicants while identifying opportunities for partnership with other Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs). Both Maphumulo-Ndlovu and Bulose have hands-on experience of internationalisation, through student recruitment.
Dr Melvin Mothoa, Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship Officer, Research Directorate, presented a paper on “Strengthening Postdoctoral Development and International Research Collaboration at MUT”. Dr Mothoa’s intervention focuses on creating structured institutional support, active academic host engagement, and regional networks for Postdoctoral Research Fellows (PDRFs).
The Building Bridges change projects transition from development into formal submission by the end of September 2026. By turning administrative, research, and communication roles into drivers of global outreach, MUT staff demonstrate that meaningful internationalisation depends on practical systems, clear communication, and institutional ownership, proving that progress can flourish across every department, with or without a standalone international office.