The new Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Director is committed to an approach to internationalisation that celebrates our shared humanity.
Dr Divinia Jithoo previously served as Manager of the International Education and Partnerships Directorate at Durban University of Technology and joined CPUT earlier this month.
“For me internationalisation of higher education is first and foremost a commitment to our shared humanity, rooted in Ubuntu, Satyagraha and Sumud, and expressed through practices that honour dignity, solidarity and justice in our universities. It is about creating spaces where diverse knowledges and identities are recognised and where South African and African voices shape global conversations, rather than simply echoing them.”
She says a key lesson from her previous role is that internationalisation must be intentionally designed to advance diversity, equity and inclusion, so that global engagement does not become a privilege for a few but an everyday possibility for many.
At CPUT her immediate priority is to co-create, with colleagues across the institution, a partnership and internationalisation agenda that is explicitly values-based and aligned with SMART Vision 2030, centring equity, innovation and human dignity.
“This includes mapping and consolidating a focused set of strategic partnerships that deepen African and Global South collaborations, and that create tangible opportunities for students and staff to engage in reciprocal, humane and socially responsive global initiatives.”
A second priority is to embed inclusive international and intercultural learning opportunities across the curriculum through initiatives such as COIL, virtual exchange and collaborative research, with a specific focus on pluralistic perspectives and decolonial approaches to knowledge.
“I am also prioritising internal engagement, to ensure that colleagues across faculties and professional services feel supported to integrate global perspectives that affirm Ubuntu and diversity into teaching, learning and community engagement.”
She studied journalism at Nelson Mandela University and began her career journey at the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
“Working in media sharpened my ability to listen deeply, tell stories responsibly and analyse how power, identity and representation play out in public discourse, all of which now inform how I think about internationalisation and the narratives we reproduce in higher education.”
The shift to international education came when she worked in the Office for International Education at Nelson Mandela University and moved from communication and marketing into short programmes and study abroad advising.
“It felt like a natural progression to move from telling stories about society to helping shape educational experiences that foster intercultural understanding, pluralistic perspectives and solidarity across borders. The skills from media communication, critical analysis, stakeholder engagement and public speaking are now central to how I advocate for inclusive, human-centred internationalisation that honours both global and local voices.”
Jithoo says every CPUT staff member and student plays a vital role in building a globally connected university that is firmly rooted in Ubuntu and committed to justice, inclusion and care.
“Internationalisation is not only about mobility or formal agreements, it is also about how we bring diverse perspectives into our classrooms, laboratories, residences and online spaces, and how we treat one another as members of a shared human community.”
She explained that staff contribute by designing curricula and research that reflect pluralistic perspectives, by engaging in ethical partnerships and by modelling intercultural humility and openness in their daily work. Students contribute by bringing their lived experiences into dialogue with global ideas, questioning dominant narratives and embracing opportunities, whether virtual or physical, that allow them to learn with and from peers across the world while staying grounded in their South African and African identities.
“Together we can ensure that CPUT’s global engagements are not extractive or symbolic, but transformative for our communities and partners alike.”
A key highlight of her career has been contributing to more inclusive and socially just models of internationalisation that aim to deliberately foreground African perspectives and respond to the lived realities of students and staff in the Global South.
“Through roles at other institutions, I have worked on strategy, partnerships and COIL initiatives that use digital tools to widen access to international learning, especially for those who may never travel physically yet deserve meaningful global engagement.”
Serving as Co-Chair of the South African UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competence has been another important milestone, as it allows her to work with colleagues in South Africa and internationally on research, policy and practice that advance intercultural understanding grounded in Ubuntu and a commitment to fair cooperation.
“Completing my PhD on the structural dynamics of intra African collaborative research teams has also been deeply significant, as it aligns my scholarly work with my passion for African-led, human-centred international higher education.”
Jithoo grew up in the northern areas of Gqeberha.
“I find joy in reading and lifelong learning, advocating for those whose voices are often silenced, including animals, and spending quality time with my parents, siblings and husband, who always keep me grounded and resilient in all I do.”
Asked what motivates her, she responded: “…the possibility of building higher education spaces where every student and staff member, regardless of background, can see themselves as a legitimate knower and global citizen, whose voice matters in shaping the future of our continent and the world. I am particularly passionate about internationalisation that amplifies South African and African scholarship, and that centres the experiences of those who have historically been marginalised in academic and global conversations”.
Written by Ilse Fredericks
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