UFH B.Com student to participate in US Student Leadership programme

Katleho Mphutlane, a second-year UFH B.Com student will be jetting off to the United States later this year to participate in the Study of the US Institutes for Student Leaders (SUSIs) programme.

The five-to-six-week academic programme is organized by the University of Washington and is designed for foreign undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 25 to improve their understanding of the US and develop their leadership skills. It is also aimed at inspiring students to be leaders and become agents of change in their communities.

The trip is set to happen between October and November. This will be the first time the programme will be administered physically since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 24-years-old was born in Odendaalsrus, a small mining town in Free State where he completed his primary school before moving to Gauteng to complete his high school studies at Lifa Ifa Secondary School in Kwa Thema, Gauteng.

He will be among only three African students participating in the programme.

Katleho believes his selection into the programme was influenced by his track- record in community engagement. He has served in non-profit organisations and participated in outreach programmes and held leadership training for high school learners.

“Between 2018 and 2020, I was the chairperson for Global Leadership Psychology, a non-profit organisation based in Pretoria. In 2019, I joined Big brother UP a non-profit organisation based in Mamelodi as the Media and Marketing officer, this is where I did many outreach programmes like donating stationery and also hosted annual soccer tournaments.

“In 2019, I volunteered in Gilead Health Unit based in Pretoria which provide transitional residential care for people living with psycho-social disabilities. I also provided leadership training at two schools.”

An avid reader, Katleho who is currently reading “The End of Money” by David Buckham, Robyn Wilkinson, and Christiaan Straeuli says he wants to complete his studies up until PhD level and continue working within the space of non-profit organisations.

“I want to inspire more students to become leaders in their communities and become agents of change in their communities. In the future, I would love to see more UFH students participating in such international programmes”.

The programme includes a four-week academic residency consisting of interactive classroom activities; site visits and workshops; a one-week educational study tour to one of the US regions; community service and an opportunity to interact with their American peers on a college campus.