Throughout the years of study at Stenden South Africa, students gain knowledge from international guest lectures. This year, we have had a diverse array of experts in their fields come and share their knowledge with both the Hospitality Management and the Disaster Management students.
Marius van Graan lecture on drones in warfare
Covering war and conflict journalism, an international cinematographer, business owner, award winner and embedded journalist from Zakuna Pictures spoke to the Disaster Management students about the use of drones in war and about Ecocide in Ukraine. Having a guest lecture by a professional with first-hand experience on these topics brought the real world into the classroom. During the lecture actual footage from the Ukraine war was shown and first-hand experiences about the way drones are being made on a daily basis was shared.
Jess van Schlakwyk, an alumna of the BBA Disaster Relief Management degree, shared her journey from graduate to business owner. Through Disaster Nomad, Jess has also worked with organisations such as UNICEF, Save the Children, Ibex Ideas, Oxfam and Coventry University, supporting work linked to preparedness, resilience and disaster risk reduction. Her lecture was an inspiration to the students and showcased how broad the Disaster Management field truly is.
Dr Sharrock with alumna Rene Beukes
Hospitality Management alumna René Beukes, now a Chief Stewardess on a private yacht, shared how her B.Com Hospitality Management degree enabled her rapid progression in the yachting industry, highlighting the qualifications required, the realities of yacht work, and its challenges. She encouraged students to complete their degree, focus on their strengths, and develop specialisations, explaining how her studies at Stenden South Africa equipped her with leadership skills, guest relations experience, and service knowledge. René also noted that her wine minor made her CV stand out during applications.
Students were able to participate in a week of practical lessons from North West Umbrella Fire Protection Association. Students learnt how to create an effective fire beater, how to use those fire beaters on a real fire and how to use mobile weather stations to monitor areas during emergency situations. Once their training was complete, the students donated the fire beaters to the community.
Our Hotel Openings students recently learned from guest lecturer Candice Pretorius, who shared her experience working with Kruger Untamed’s zero-impact pop-up camps. As Operations Manager for Kruger Untamed, Candice unpacked the realities of setting up a remote pop-up luxury game lodge near the Kruger National Park, highlighting the importance of detailed planning in projects where logistics are complex and full project teams are often not in place.
Ed Gutshe, a prominent local businessman in Port Alfred, spoke with the students completing their tourism elective. Ed has played an active role in developing Port Alfred as a tourism destination through his involvement with Sunshine Coast Tourism. During his session, he shared valuable insight into destination branding, local tourism challenges and the progress made over the years.
As part of the Wine Business: South Africa Minor, students took part in a specialised workshop led by Derek Ramsden, Cape Wine Master. Linked to the Cape Wine Academy, the Wine Business Minor course gives students practical exposure to industry knowledge through expert guest lectures and focused workshops. This not only strengthens their understanding of the wine and hospitality sectors but also adds value to their CVs and opens the door to a wider range of career opportunities.
Stenden South Africa also hosts visiting professionals for an extended time. Nikki Webster shared a wealth of knowledge during her time here and h er contribution extended far beyond the classroom. Nikki engaged with the Disaster Management degree, as well as minors such as Ethical Leadership and Events Management. She also joined students on a field trip where she assisted with capturing and organising research data and supported fundraising efforts that helped channel donations towards local community projects.
These industry experts bring extensive knowledge to the students, opening pathways for bigger dreams and networking opportunities.
