International student’s rocky road to graduation

Life as a foreign student studying towards a university degree in South Africa comes with a chunk of challenges. Financial uncertainty, immigration status hassles that hamper their varsity registration, and even exclusion from certain academic programmes.

But despite it all, Congolese-born Innocent Biringanine kept his eye firmly on the prize (attaining his university degree). He sought solutions to the multiple stumbling blocks, and he has weathered the storm. On 2 April, he will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Audiology from the University of Cape Town (UCT), and his message to students going through similar challenges is: “Ambition is the path to success; persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.”

“It has not been easy. It’s been one challenge after the other. But here I am. I’m proof that persistence wins, and even though things seem dauting, especially when it feels like doors are closing for you, all you need to do is to keep going because the tide turns,” Innocent said.

Rough start

Like many students, Innocent struggled desperately to secure a scholarship to fund his undergraduate programme. While UCT accepted his application to start his degree at the beginning of 2021, weeks passed, and he received nothing positive on a single scholarship application. Innocent said South African nationals often receive precedence for bursary applications and refugees and asylum seekers are seldom considered due to sponsors’ strict application criteria. Thankfully, the Solly and Zohra Noor Foundation came through for him and he was ready to get going with his studies – or so he thought.

“I was devastated. At times I event felt depressed.”

The hiccups didn’t end there. Shortly after he attempted to register for his degree of choice, he got word that UCT’s International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO) could not process his registration because his immigration documentation was not up to date. 

“I was devastated. At times I even felt depressed. However, I knew I needed to act quickly. I got through the funding hurdle, and I couldn’t allow this obstacle to stop me from pursuing my studies. So, I sought help from UCT’s Refugee Rights Unit (RRU),” he said. 

Helping hand

The RRU stepped in on Innocent’s behalf and a lawyer took over all communication with IAPO. And it was a constant, frustrating back and forth process – providing endless explanations that his documentation was dated due to delays on the side of the Department of Home Affairs. But after many stops and starts, IAPO accepted the registration.

“I owe a great debt of gratitude to the RRU who held my hand through this process and really fought hard with me and for me. I wouldn’t be graduating if not for them. The issue with my documentation persisted throughout my undergrad programme and honours and the RRU were there through it all,” he said.

As a result of the dated documentation, it took months for the RRU and IAPO to finalise the red tape. And once they reached a decision and Innocent was finally permitted to register, it was halfway through the first term of his first year.

“I had to catch up on everything: lectures, assignments and tests while my classmates were already well into the semester. Some courses were very difficult to pick up on and by the time I started, the class was already in the middle of multiple quizzes. I managed to integrate over time, but the learning curve was steep,” Innocent said.

Growing love for audiology

As he integrated into his class, got to know his peers and familiarised himself with his courseload, his love for audiology blossomed. After all, Innocent said, it was not his first career choice. He had hoped to study medicine. But due to certain restrictions that accompanied his immigration status, he was not allowed to proceed.

His next course choice, he noted, was actuarial science. But because of his love for health sciences, he decided that audiology would be a better option. He admitted to not being 100% satisfied with the coursework in the beginning. Innocent said some courses were largely theory-based, which felt somewhat disconnected from the practical aspects of the programme.

“At times it was difficult to see how the concepts I was learning would apply to real-world situations. However, over time I began to appreciate the value of theory, especially when I started interacting with patients. And it was the patient interactions that truly sparked my passion for the profession,” he said. “Helping people and seeing their smiles afterwards gave me a deep sense of fulfilment. Patients also appreciated my efforts and commended me for my care. I was where I was meant to be.”

Thanksgiving

As he prepares for graduation day, Innocent said it would be remiss not to acknowledge those supporters in his corner who ushered him to the finish line. He has high praise for his supervisors, Zenzo Chakara and Nikki Keaton, in audiology – for their motivation, which often extended far beyond providing just academic support, as well as their guidance and commitment to seeing him succeed. And he’s also grateful to Farzana Mahomed at the Solly and Zohra Noor Foundation, who provided constant reassurance and support, especially when he faced those dreaded registration hurdles. And of course, not forgetting his mom and brother who have always been his biggest cheerleaders.

“They kept me going. Knowing that so many people sacrifice so much and believe in you, makes such a difference to your mindset. I knew giving up would’ve been a blatant disregard of that support and love and to walk away from that would’ve been ungrateful,” he said.

“Just press on. Your time is now.”

It’s for this reason that Innocent believes in the importance of a solid support structure – both on and off campus – and he encouraged students to find their tribe and to stick together. This, he added, will help when things are not going according to plan. To current and potential foreign students out there who are facing similar challenges, Innocent urged: don’t give up.

“The road is daunting and can get very tough, which will weigh heavily on you, like it did on me. But there are avenues to take and many people out there rooting for people like us. Just press on. Your time is now,” he said.

Innocent has enrolled for his master’s in audiology, which he will complete full-time.