In efforts to create strong ties with national and international partners, the University has at the forefront of its internationalisation programme its students and its immediate communities as the direct beneficiaries. To this end, the organisers of the two-day meeting between MUT and the US’s Sacramento State University decided to include students from the BB Campus’ Coastal College and learners from some local high schools.
On 5 November 2025, at MUT’s Student Centre, together with MUT staff and students, the Coastal College students and the learners had a great opportunity to listen and learn from the President of Sacramento State University, Dr Luke Wood. Dr Wood, who achieved his academic qualifications at a very young age – wrote his first book while he was studying towards his PhD, used his life to illustrate to the listeners that a person’s life should not determine their future. This is a familiar phrase at MUT; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning Professor Marcus Ramogale often says it when giving advice to students.
Dr Wood, a globally respected advocate for educational equity and student success, delivered a public lecture titled “From Margin to Mainstream: Building Empowered Universities for First Generation Success”. He explored how institutions can better serve first-generation students and create inclusive pathways to academic achievement.
Dr Wood had it very tough from a very young age. He and his twin brother were born in prison. They were taken to a foster home. If it were not for a few loving people who looked after them, they would not have made it in life. “I should not be where I am,” the graduate of Sacramento State University, who vowed that he would be its President one day, said on MUT Radio. Indeed, he made his dream come true. Dr Wood told the students and learners that the lesson he learnt about the story of his life is that whatever a person goes through should prepare them for the future. Dr Wood uses everything he learnt to shape others’ lives. The beneficiaries of that learnt are the students of his university. More than 150 academic programmes and non-academic programmes are geared towards benefiting Sacramento State University. Most of the students at his institution are Black and do not have a strong background. Dr Wood said he deliberately brought four young black men to show everyone that a Black person can make it if they believe in themselves and are given a chance. This was the gist of his public lecture.
Both staff and the students and learners were more than impressed with Dr Wood’s presentation, given the quality of the questions they asked. Some learners expressed a strong desire to study at Sacramento State University.