CPUT is the only institution in Africa selected to participate in the Story Abroad programme- a digital story telling project.
The project sees students record their personal stories in under four minutes and is part of an international project funded by the European Union.
The project collects the personal stories of young people in 10 partner countries, with the aim of encouraging youth to live, study and work abroad.
Daniela Gachago from Fundani says CPUT is the only institution in Africa selected to participate in the programme. As part of the project, the institution teamed up with International House, a language school teaching English to international students.
Gachago says students had to attend a five day workshop, and had to record their stories afterwards.
“Students have to think very carefully on what to focus on and how to make their stories meaningful,” she says.
“It was difficult for student o narrate their stories in English. They were offered the opportunity to do it in their home language, but all opted to do it in English.”
Gachago says through digital story telling students can evaluate their mobility experience.
Linda Bouango, a teaching student from Gabon, participating in an English immersion programme at the CPUT Mowbray Campus, says the project was a learning opportunity.
“We all learnt more about technology and also a lot more about English,” says Linda.
Set to graduate soon with her teaching qualification, Linda says she will look at how to incorporate digital story telling in her classroom.
Director of the Office of International Affairs, Merle Hodges, says the stories are important for the university community as it provides administrators and lecturers with a view of what international students are experiencing.
“These stories can help us to internationalize our curriculum,” she says.
Hodges says the stories can also help local students to learn more about mobility.
