In 2024 the Aeres University of Applied Sciences (Aeres UAS) of the Netherlands and University of the Free State in South Africa came together to develop a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) programme (a virtual student exchange programme). The common subject was development of livestock farming plans. Through hybrid lectures, both Dutch and South African students developed livestock farm plans for real companies. Dutch students also conducted literature review on livestock farming in South Africa, while the South African students produced videos for the Dutch students to learn about farming in South Africa.
The private sector in South Africa was strongly involved in the project. Local companies and farmers from South Africa participated in giving online lectures to students. The programme concluded with hybrid presentation where groups consisting of students from both countries showcased their farm plans.
Challenges and gains for international students
Staff and students in the project had to navigate cultural and language differences, varied academic approaches and levels, factors that might have posed a challenge to the success of the project. Instead, these dynamics turned into new skills that required flexibility, cultural sensitivity, and creative problem-solving. The collaborative project provided global exposure without travel, allowing students to connect with peers abroad, strengthen their cross-cultural communication, adapt to new perspectives, and tackle real-world problems.
The collaborating universities noted that, if planned well, this form of collaboration could be a game-changer in international students exchange programmes.
Moving ahead: Nampo Cape and new collaborations
The success of the pilot in 2024 inspired the University of the Free State and Aeres UAS, in partnership with the Netherlands Embassy in Pretoria, to take their story to Nampo Cape 2025. This is one of Africa’s leading agricultural shows, which took place in the Western Cape Province between 10 and 13 September 2025. Their aim was not only to share lessons, but also to mobilise the private sector for deeper participation with higher education and to explore new avenues for collaboration. During this show, representatives from the University of Free State engaged with various local companies. One specific question that guided this engagement was: What are the benefits that would encourage the private sector to participate in such a programme?
Four specific observations were made. First, product integration: the private sector finds such initiatives beneficial if their products are included by the students in the research studies. This is important as it would also act as an opportunity for the participating companies to promote their products. Second, access to findings: companies will see the benefits of having access to the findings from such research studies. Thirdly, problem-solving, companies find their participation beneficial if the research studies help to solve the technical problems they are grappling with. Fourthly, operational savings, cutting costs for business operations can also be a motivating factor for companies to be involved in such programmes.
With these findings the two universities are planning to continue the exchange with concrete business cases in future. For future collaborations, the universities have agreed to strengthen the inclusion of Dutch innovations by involving Dutch companies that have operations in South Africa. Furthermore, the two universities have concluded that to improve on the efforts of the 2024 pilot project, they will conduct robust and detailed planning combined with dedicated capacity building for COIL by specialists in the field, ahead of involving students in the exchange. They also intend to involve additional universities, for instance The Hague University of Applied Sciences, as well as Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences with whom the UFS have had a collaboration through the iKudu project and more, to expand the experiences of students on both sides of the globe.