Report on the 2024 KAS-SAIIA Careers Event

The annual KAS-SAIIA Careers event is co-organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s RegionalProgramme – Political Dialogue for Sub-Saharan Africa (PolDiSSA) and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). Since 1999 KAS has funded an internship programme, run by SAIIA, providing successful candidates with the opportunity to enroll for a master’s degree in International Relations, Development Studies, Political Science, Economics, Law or Journalism and other related subjects within the humanities and social sciences discipline, while simultaneously working at the SAIIA office in Cape Town or Johannesburg. The careers evening, which is conceptualised by the current cohort of KAS-SAIIA scholars, provides insights and showcases success stories that demonstrate the versatility and relevance of humanities degrees in today’s dynamic job market. This year’s theme, Formative Futures: How to Find Employment with Your Humanities Degree explored various sectors where humanities graduates can thrive, including in policymaking, media and journalism, law, and the corporate sector. Speakers: Professor Bhaso Ndzendze, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations. Vice-Dean of Internationalisation at the University of Johannesburg; Leanne Manas, award-winning journalist and UNHCR ambassador and Tsotang Sethabela from the South African Red Cross Society and Representatives from the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO), Lusu Booi, Albert Geldenhuys and Kabelo Ramongane.