Martina Moss is the deputy director of the Centre for Global Engagement (CGE). The centre has been and remains the corner stone in the 20 years of innovation at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), focusing on several strategic goals. The centre has clear strategic goals to drive CUT towards success.
“Branding CGE to all stakeholders by presenting at international higher education conferences and writing thought pieces on CGE internationalisation will enhance visibility and support for its initiatives, ensuring that the centre’s role in advancing CUT’s internationalisation agenda is well-recognised.
“Embracing the university’s digital transformation agenda, the CGE is implementing actionable strategies to integrate digital technologies, thereby expanding global engagement through virtual platforms and online collaborations. Transforming CUT into an international campus that provides “a home away from home” for international students and staff is crucial, creating an inclusive and supportive environment that reflects CUT’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Increasing the number of international students and staff CGE contributes to enriching the university’s cultural diversity and global network, while efforts to enrich the CUT experience for these students will enhance their academic and personal growth.
Moss is benchmarking to CUT achievement since, in 2004 under the Advancement Office. “By 2012, CUT had developed a formal internationalisation strategy, which was implemented starting in 2013, leading to the establishment of the International Office. In 2020, the university’s Senate approved a revised structure and rebranded the office as the CGE. This change marked a significant step in CUT’s journey towards becoming a leading African university of technology.”
“The CGE has been instrumental in transforming CUT into an international campus that offers “a home away from home” for both current and future international students and staff,” said Moss.
Moss attributes sustainable growth to the CGE’s strong emphasis on developing strategic international partnerships to bolster collaborative research, academic exchanges, and joint innovation projects. “This approach has significantly expanded CUT’s global impact. From 2017 to 2024, the CGE grew its partnerships from 24 to 87, with 45 actively engaged. Aligning its activities with the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Africa’s Agenda 2063, particularly those focused on sustainable technological innovation and social impact, the CGE contributes significantly to CUT’s mission of shaping the future through innovation.”
