The Council for Advancement and Support in Education (CASE), a global organisation with offices in London, Mexico City, Singapore and Washington DC, has partnered with the South African Institute for Advancement, Inyathelo, and today launched an inaugural  internship programme in South Africa, which gives 11 local graduates an opportunity to harness their skills in the field of advancement, at six universities across the country.

During the 8-week internship, participants will gain immersive experience in key areas of advancement, including fundraising, alumni engagement, and strategic communication. They will benefit from hands-on learning, professional mentorship and collaborative projects that enhance their skills and deepen their understanding of the profession. The internship offers structured opportunities for networking, leadership development and innovative problem-solving to support African institutions.

Interns have been selected from the following universities:

•            Cape Peninsula University of Technology

•            University of Johannesburg

•            Durban University of Technology

•            University of Pretoria

•            University of the Western Cape

•            University of Cape Town

Inyathelo Acting Executive Director Feryal Domingo, explained the significance of this opportunity, particularly as South Africa commemorates youth month.

“This internship is an innovative initiative designed to raise awareness of careers in advancement and establish a strong foundation for a continent-wide programme. With many careers being oversubscribed and rising youth unemployment, this opportunity opens up avenues to employment that many young people may not have recognised,” said Ms Domingo.

The interns expressed sincere appreciation for the opportunity to grow their footprints in the advancement space.

“This internship will give me an opportunity to grow in my position, particularly in prospect research and fundraising. It also gives me a platform to network and I hope to broaden my network pool. Furthermore, by combining the principles of ubuntu with the tools of advancement, I believe we can begin to address many of the socio-economic challenges experienced globally, said Mpho Seete, a Prospect Research Intern at the University of Pretoria.

Acknowledging the vital role of education, philanthropy, and institutional advancement in shaping Africa’s future, this pioneering internship will cultivate the next generation of professionals dedicated to driving growth and innovation in learning and development.

 “When we first launched the CASE internship programme in 2016, our ambition was straightforward: to nurture entry-level talent and broaden awareness of advancement as a profession. Nearly ten years on, bringing this initiative to South Africa with Inyathelo feels particularly meaningful. By providing eleven recent graduates with immersive, hands-on experience in fundraising, alumni engagement, and strategic communications, we’re not only welcoming new entrants to the field of advancement but also fostering a more robust pipeline—one that will bolster institutional resilience and innovation across the world. I’m confident that these emerging leaders will carry forward our shared mission of advancing education to transform lives and society,” said Sue Cunningham, President and CEO of CASE.

Rob Henry, Vice President of People, Culture & Talent at CASE emphasised that with more than a decade of experience and approximately 100 interns annually, CASE is excited to partner with Inyathelo to expand its internship programme across Africa.

“The field of advancement is continuously evolving to meet the dynamic needs of education, philanthropy, and institutional sustainability. CASE champions lifelong learning, professional development and career growth by fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptability. Through talent development initiatives, CASE increases awareness of advancement careers while strengthening workforce pipelines, ensuring a steady influx of highly skilled professionals ready to tackle emerging challenges,” said Henry.

Through this initiative, the CASE- Inyathelo internship programme aims to empower a new generation of Advancement professionals, shaping Africa’s educational landscape and championing institutional development for years to come.