WSG students experience transformative global immersion at Cambridge University

On 2 June 2025, a group of students from the Wits School of Governance (WSG), enrolled in the Executive Development Programme in Corporate Affairs, arrived at the historic University of Cambridge to start the first part of their transformative learning experience.

The three-day global immersion trip swiftly evolved into a powerful encounter with global thought leadership, real-world complexity, and the urgent demands placed on future African corporate affairs professionals.

Hosted in partnership with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership – Africa (CISL Africa), and led by Director Professor Richard Calland and Programme Director Sibusiso Nkomo, the trip embodied the best of global-local collaboration. Nkomo curated a compelling two-day Corporate Affairs Leadership Programme (CALP) at the Møller Institute, Churchill College — a setting rich in academic legacy and contemporary leadership development.

The programme was designed to challenge students to think beyond the boardroom. From sustainability to AI, from geoeconomics to governance, students were pushed to locate Africa in global debates, while reflecting on their own role as future leaders.

The programme drew on a stellar cast of global contributors who brought depth, relevance, and forward-thinking insight. CEO of CISL, Lindsay Hooper, reinforced the value of this collaboration between Wits University and Cambridge University, emphasising the importance of cultivating a new generation of African leaders equipped to navigate global challenges with confidence and context.

Following the CALP, students joined the prestigious Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Forum, which brought together more than 60 global sustainability leaders from across sectors — finance, mining, education, health, tech and beyond. This offered students a rare opportunity, not only to listen and learn but to speak into global dialogues from an African perspective.

“Our students didn’t just attend — they engaged,” said Professor Themba Maseko, Head of the Wits School of Governance. “Their insights reflected the depth of the programme back home, and the critical value of African voices in global sustainability conversations.”

Legacy and leadership

At Queens’ College, students dined with Professor Gerry Gilmore, Emeritus Professor of Experimental Philosophy at the Institute of Astronomy. At Downing College, the conversation turned to the climate crisis, led by Sir David King, Head of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, and Dr Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of Natural England. These once-in-a-lifetime moments demonstrated the value of networking, curiosity, and connection beyond the classroom.

“We often underestimate the power of informal learning spaces,” said Raesetsa Hopane, Acting Executive Education Director. “This immersion reminded us that leadership development is also about exposure — to people, ideas, and perspectives that stretch and inspire.”

Looking ahead

Part two of the programme begins on 7 July 2025 at WSG’s Parktown Management Campus, where the momentum and will be led by Professor Laura Pereira (Wits University Global Change Institute) alongside an accomplished academic team including Adjunct Professor Alex van der Heever (WSG), Dr Thelela Ngcetane-Vika (WSG), Khanyi Mlambo (Cambridge), and Adjunct Professor Thabani Mlilo (CISL and UCT).

For more information: https://www.wsg.ac.za/short-courses/executive-development-programme-corporate-affairs 

Contact: Lerato.Mooya@wits.ac.za