On 6 May 2025 Akademia’s Leriba Campus in Centurion hosted an international delegation of the van die Sindicato das Entidades Mantenedoras de Estabelecimentos de Ensino Superior no Estado de São Paulo in Brazil – also known as the Union of Higher Education Institutions in the State of São Paulo (SEMESP). This visit was facilitated in South Africa by the South African Private Higher Education (SAPHE), an umbrella body for larger private higher education institutions.

Dr Celia Booyse, senior manager: Programme Development and Accreditation at Akademia, says international visits like this not only bring about closer cooperation with the SAPHE, but also provide a golden opportunity to gain a global perspective on private higher education. She explains that increased collaboration between such institutions also actively contributes to SAPHE’s initiatives to deepen and enrich private education in South Africa.

The delegation consisted of seventeen members and was accompanied by SEMESP’s executive director, Rodrigo Capelato and Nancy-Anne Anderson, chief executive officer of SAPHE. Dr Gustav Wolvaard, founder and managing director of The Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) led a part of the conversation. The visitors, that followed a week-long travel programme in South Africa, met with representatives from the Council on Higher Education and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), while several private higher education institutions in Gauteng and the Cape were also visited. 

According to Booyse, the scope of the discussions mainly focused on Akademia’s internal quality assurance mechanisms and policies. She concludes by saying that the visit was a first for the Brazilian delegation and that after the visit, they are excitedly looking forward to future cooperation as will be achieved through the SAPHE.