Develop your leadership skills in an international setting!

ImageSASUF

Are you interested in international relations, global cooperation and leadership in an international context? Do you perhaps have a particular interest in South Africa and/or Africa? If so, the SASUF+ Student Leadership Programme (SLP) could be just the thing for you! The SLP offers you the opportunity to:

• Meet Bachelor, Master’s and PhD students from Swedish universities
• Collaborate digitally with students in South Africa
• Develop leadership skills, intercultural competence and networks.

Umeå University can nominate several people to take part. Don’t miss this opportunity!

A leadership programme with a global perspective

The SASUF+ Student Leadership Programme is not a traditional course, but a practical and collaborative leadership training programme. Together with students from both Sweden and South Africa, you will work on real-world issues related to leadership, intercultural communication and sustainable student engagement within the framework of the South Africa–Sweden University Forum (SASUF+) collaboration.

You will have the opportunity to:

• develop your own leadership style
• gain experience in intercultural collaboration
• work in international student groups
• help build long-term structures within the SASUF Student Network.

Meet students in Sweden – collaborate with students in South Africa

The programme consists of two parts:

• Part 1 (16–17 September 2026): A hybrid event with an in-person gathering in Linköping for Swedish students and PhD students, and a parallel event in South Africa, combined with digital collaboration. Umeå University will cover travel and accommodation to and from Linköping. You have the option to participate online only if you wish.
• Part 2 (17 March 2027): Digital closing event with presentations and an exchange of experiences.

Between the meetings, you will work in an international group with students from both countries. You will meet online a few times to discuss various issues, alongside your studies.

For those who want to get involved – whatever your level of study

The programme is open to students at all levels, including PhD students, at SASUF+ partner universities in Sweden and South Africa. Umeå University is one of these. It is particularly well suited to those who:

• are interested in international relations or Africa/South Africa
• want to develop leadership and collaboration skills
• are curious about the SASUF Student Network

Certificate and valuable experience

Students who complete the programme will receive a Certificate of Completion, which attests to their active participation and the completion of a group-based portfolio. This experience is a strong asset for future studies, community engagement and international contexts.

How to register your interest

Are you interested in taking part in the SASUF+ Student Leadership Programme? If so, please send an expression of interest by email to Umeå University’s local SASUF coordinator, Jessica Bergström Grahn, by 22 May at the latest.

Please attach a cover letter explaining:

• why you wish to take part in the leadership programme
• what you hope to gain from the programme
• whether and how you are interested in getting involved with the SASUF Student Network.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions! You can also read the FAQ below.  

Selection and nomination take place at Umeå University, and selected students are then nominated for the programme. You will be notified if you are nominated by 1 June 2026 at the latest.

About SASUF

SASUF+ (South Africa–Sweden University Forum) is a strategic partnership between universities in Sweden and South Africa. Its aim is to strengthen academic collaboration and mutual understanding between the two countries. SASUF+ also includes the SASUF Student Network, where students engage with international issues and collaborate across cultural and national boundaries.