German students strengthen Kouga ties through study tour. From the southwest of Germany, where the Black Forest meets the Rhine River along the French border, a group of young German public administration students journeyed to the golden shores of Kouga.
Fourteen second-year students from the Hochschule Kehl, University of Applied Sciences in Public Administration, travelled with their lecturer, Prof. Dr. Gert Fieguth. Over more than a decade, he has become a familiar and warmly welcomed visitor to the region.
They arrived on 17 February 2026 for a ten-day study tour. The trip took them from Cape Town to Addo and then into the heart of Kouga, including Humansdorp, St Francis Bay, and Jeffreys Bay.
Although this was the first visit to Kouga for this year’s group, they stepped into a relationship that has deepened steadily over time.
A long-standing partnership
What once formed only a small part of a broader South African study tour has, as Fieguth reflects, “become the most intense part of the trip, thanks to Kouga Local Municipality, as well as the hospitality of the community and the people of Kouga.”
The visit traces back to the original twinning agreement between Kouga Local Municipality and Ilsfeld Local Municipality in Germany. Over the years, the exchange has grown into a strong institutional partnership.
Fieguth describes Kouga as “an excellent place to study with very open and helpful people” for future public administrators.
Kouga Economic Development and Tourism section
For the students, Kouga offers something especially valuable. It is a municipality comparable in size and challenge to those where they will one day serve in Germany.
“In terms of size and challenges, Kouga is very similar to the municipalities where our students will work,” Fieguth explains. As a result, it is an ideal environment for comparing solutions across different contexts.
The study tour was experiential, but it was also academically rigorous. Students must submit a research paper to progress to the next year. Even so, he emphasises that “the content aspect is even more important,” as exposure to what he calls “a highly efficient South African administration broadens the students’ horizons enormously.”
Tourism and renewable energy focus
This year’s research focus was tourism and renewable energy. That theme guided the group through museums, tourism offices, environmental sites, and local businesses.
Kouga’s Economic Development and Tourism section designed a comprehensive programme for the visit.
The students engaged with environmental specialists, tourism products and activities, financial experts, public servants, restaurateurs, shop owners, and local youth. They explored heritage and natural assets, analysed tourism products, and experienced the local economy in motion.
Their presence during the off-peak season also supported local business activity.
Learning in both directions
In these encounters, learning flowed in both directions.
The students compared administrative systems and often expressed admiration for “the South African pragmatism that can lead to quick, citizen-oriented solutions,” as well as the strong service culture they observed.
At the same time, they recognised that bureaucratic hurdles are similar to those in Germany. In this way, the visit highlighted shared challenges in public governance.
Cultural exchange in Kouga
Cultural immersion formed an essential part of the journey.
The group attended church services, visited schools, held conversations with residents and traditional leaders, and even celebrated a birthday at a family home in Jeffreys Bay.
“This is very important,” Fieguth notes.
“We try to integrate cultural exchange into the whole programme,” ensuring that learning extends beyond lecture rooms and interview notes into lived relationships.
Lasting value for the municipality
For Kouga, the benefits are both tangible and lasting.
The visit yields a body of research that will be shared with the municipality’s Economic Development and Tourism section.
“The students compile a collection of their research findings and make it available to the municipality,” he explains.
Several are already planning three-month internships in municipal departments and local schools. This is part of a long-standing tradition that has seen students contribute to fields ranging from HR to the environment.
Many also return later with partners and families. In turn, this strengthens tourism ties and people-to-people connections.
Building future public sector leaders
Fieguth believes international cooperation plays an important role in shaping future public sector leaders.
“Public sector leaders need to think strategically,” he says. “It is very helpful if they have a good understanding of international developments and can think outside the box.”
Even where solutions cannot be transferred directly, the exchange expands the range of possibilities for addressing local challenges.
Looking ahead to 2027
Looking ahead, the partnership continues to build momentum.
“I hope that this partnership will continue and be successful for both sides,” Fieguth says, adding that preliminary discussions are already underway for a 2027 research theme on small and medium-sized enterprises and economic development.
“We had a fantastic, wonderful and intense time in Kouga,” Fieguth reflects.
“Many thanks to everyone who took the time for us. It was a great experience.”
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