Staff and students’ experiences of internationalisation at Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Abstract

Service delivery is one of the most important aspects of the Higher Education sector not only when dealing with international students. It is imperative that higher education institutions should monitor and evaluate its administrative and academic employees. There is a need for a good performance system, which includes standards that define whether staff performances have merits or shortcomings. This will encourage staff to be proficient in their work environment. It is also important to equip staff with service delivery training. This research project examines staff and students’ experiences of internationalisation at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The researcher identified problems that international students encountered at CPUT, subsequently made recommendations, which deal with how to improve CPUT services to international students. The researcher undertook a quantitative research approach by administering a closed-ended questionnaire, which was compiled by a registered statistician. The study found that most of the participants did not understand or were not aware of internationalisation at CPUT. A majority of the participants did not understand their role when it came to assisting international students. They perceived that whatever international students required had to be sought from the international office. They understood their role within CPUT in terms of meeting the university’s objectives, as being that, which is set out in the university’s Vision and Mission.