Congratulations on your acceptance to the IHRE program!

Along with your acceptance comes a number of forms and documents that must be completed.  Please refer to the tabs above: "important updates," "South African study permit," and "South African Medical Aid."

Feel free to contact us at ihre@bard.edu or 845.758.7081 if you have any questions!

Bios of IHRE students

Here are bios from all the students participating in IHRE 2008.  (Please email me for the password.)

Shingwedzi/Tshulu orientation information (Email ihre@bard.edu for the password).

General information

Packing List

Malaria information

Program Orientation and Weeklong Residency

In 2008, for the first time, IHRE is inviting all students to attend an intensive weeklong residency in a rural community in the northern part of South Africa. The residency will take place at the start of the program at the Wits Rural field station at Shinwedzi. Shinwedzi is not a “cultural village” geared to tourism, but a group of communities with diverse interests and experiences. Wits faculty with ties with the community will participate. All IHRE students—those coming from African colleges and universities as well as those coming from North American institutions—will take part in the residency.  This will allow the IHRE students both to get

to know each other and to get first-hand experience in human rights issues as they affect and are perceived by local residents.

Prior to arriving in South Africa, students traveling from North America will meet on Bard College’s campus in New York’s Hudson Valley for a pre-departure orientation. Topics include Academics at Wits, Culture Shock, and Life in Johannesburg. Students will then travel with Bard staff on a group flight to Johannesburg.

After a night’s rest at a hotel in Joburg, the North American group will join the Southern African group, and all will travel together to Shinwedzi. The Tshulu Camp will be the group’s home base for the next six days. Activities include a comprehensive introduction to the IHRE program, two nights’ homestay with a local family, a seminar on land and refugee rights in this porous boarder area, and a foray into nearby Kruger Park to see the Park and learn about issues of environmental protection, tourism, and land rights. Students will be divided into interest groups to discuss human rights issues with representatives of local communities. Issues addressed may include the environment, public health, women and children’s roles/rights, and the tensions among new democratic and traditional forms of governance. 

Importantly, the weeklong residency will provide    physical and intellectual space for the IHRE student body to get to know one another. Since IHRE students come from throughout North America and Africa, the opportunity to form relationships prior to the beginning of classes is a vital part of the program.

On returning to Johannesburg, visiting students will move in to their dormitories on the main Wits campus. A day’s orientation to Wits and a day’s orientation to the city of Johannesburg will be provided, along with at least one day of rest prior to the start of classes.