79th Annual CIEE Study Abroad Conference – Day 2 Highlights
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The CIEE 79th Annual Study Abroad Conference brought international educators, university leaders, entrepreneurs, and community partners to Cape Town, South Africa to explore the theme Leaders of Change and Innovation Across Africa.
Day two highlighted how study abroad connects students with Africa's growing role in global innovation, business, and social change. Sessions explored opportunities for students to learn from African entrepreneurs, gain professional experience, and work alongside local community members.
Concurrent Sessions
Morning sessions explored sustainable urban development in South Africa and Africa's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Luvuyo Rani, Founder and CEO of Silulo Ulutho Technologies, shared the opportunities Africa offers students interested in business and innovation. “There's so much energy. There's so much diversity. There's so much creativity.” he said.
The Communication in the Age of AI session explored the importance of including African languages, cultures, and perspectives in AI development. Bulelani Jili, Assistant Professor at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, emphasized the need for AI systems to reflect local knowledge.
The Culture and Creative Expression as Drivers of Social Change session examined how music, art, and cultural traditions preserve history and drive social change. Frances Vavrus, Vice Provost and Dean of the International Division at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, reflected on how visits to Robben Island and the District Six Museum deepen students’ understanding of history and culture. “These are potent examples of place-based learning and collective memory, the foundation for intercultural understanding,” she said.
In the session High-Impact Experiential Learning for the Future of Work, Ronald Smith, Executive Director of the Karsh STEM Scholars Program and Humanities and Social Sciences Scholars Program at Howard University spoke about the career-ready skills students gain through experiential learning. “Students learn how to engage respectfully with people whose backgrounds differ from their own,” said Smith. “They become more confident in their ability to operate in complex environments and more comfortable with ambiguity and change.”
Egan Bowersfeld, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Colorado Boulder, shared how studying abroad in Rwanda and Uganda helped him develop professional skills and learn from local communities. He described collaborating with African university students on challenges involving water access and healthcare. “Getting such a different perspective was so valuable as a student, because we're kind of surrounded constantly by our own feedback loop,” he said.
CIEE Global Internship Conference Pop-Up
The Global Internship Conference Pop-Up introduced attendees to South African organizations offering internships for American college students in technology, business, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and community development.
Participating organizations included Western Cape Government (District 6 Community Day Centre), Life Choices, MOSAIC Training Service and Healing Centre, Higher Health, Africa Unite, loveLife, DKMS Africa, Zlto, One Eighty Materials Engineering Solutions (OEMES), Bridges for Music, The Sprightly Seed, Molo Mhlaba, Hope Cape Town Association, and Cape Mental Health.
These organizations are among CIEE's 83 internship partners across four African locations.
CIEE Community Impact
CIEE’s Community Impact Initiative builds bridges of mutual understanding between students and their host communities through meaningful service opportunities with local organizations. During fall 2026, more than 460 CIEE college students participated in community service with 218 organizations worldwide. Approximately 80% of CIEE Cape Town students participated in community impact activities.
The plenary discussion featured Loyiso Mankomo of loveLife, Mluleki Mxotwa of Meals on Wheels Community Services Langa, and Yolanda Zide of Christine Revell Children's Home. It was moderated by Patrick Moran, CIEE Senior Vice President of College Study Abroad, and Faeza Khan, CIEE Cape Town Center Director,
Mankomo spoke about the unique opportunity for two-way cultural exchange during community service, sharing an example of an American student who was unfamiliar with netball, a popular sport in South Africa. “Students share their particular culture with the locals, and then vice versa,” he said.
The discussion emphasized that meaningful service starts with understanding local priorities. Community partners described how student volunteers bring valuable support to their organizations while developing empathy and a deeper understanding of the people they serve.
“When students come, they bring a new perspective, they bring enthusiasm, the willingness to serve,” said Mxotwa. “Then when they have to leave, they leave with a greater understanding of people’s contexts.”
Offsite Reception at Groot Constantia
Day two concluded with a reception at Simon's Restaurant at Groot Constantia, South Africa's oldest wine-producing estate. Attendees connected with colleagues and partners while experiencing Cape Town's cultural heritage and hospitality.