| Record number of degrees to be awarded at graduation ceremonies | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6142 | | Record number of degrees to be awarded at graduation ceremonies | Martin Viljoen | <p>Stellenbosch University (SU) will again award a record number of degrees at its December 2018 graduation ceremonies – 5769 compared to 5720 in December 2017 and 5300 in 2016. There is also an increase in the number of doctorates 149 and master's degrees 546. <br></p><p>Eight ceremonies are to be held in the Coetzenberg Centre in Stellenbosch from Monday 10 to Friday 14 December 2018. </p><p>Four <strong>honorary doctorates</strong> will also be awarded: to Prof Homi K. Bhabha, the world's foremost postcolonial literary theorist from Harvard in the USA; Prof Dame Glynis Breakwell, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath whose contribution to social psychology is globally significant; Mr Lesetja Kganyago, the President of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and Chair of the International Monetary and Financial Committee; and, Justice Zak Yacoob, an outstanding South African jurist in the field of human rights and constitutional law (<a href="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/MORE%20ABOUT%20THE%20RECIPIENTS%20OF%20HONORARY%20DEGREES.pdf">LINK</a> to more information on the recipients)<br></p><p>Bhabha will receive the degree Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil), <em>honoris causa</em>, Breakwell the degree Doctor of Philosophy, (DPhil), <em>honoris causa</em> (both on Thu 13 Dec at 17:30; Kganyago the degree Doctor of Commerce (DCom), <em>honoris causa</em> (Mon 10 Dec at 17:30), and Yacoob the degree Doctor of Laws (LLD), <em>honoris causa</em> (Thu 13 Dec at 10:00).</p><p>SU awards honorary degrees to recognise and reward excellence in a variety of fields and to identify these individuals as role models for the University community. Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Bill Gates, Antjie Krog, Helen Suzman, Athol Fugard, Tito Mboweni, Naledi Pandor, David Kramer, Thuli Madonsela, Edwin Cameron and Mervyn King are among the recipients of SU honorary degrees. </p><p><strong>The schedule of the December graduation ceremonies are as follow:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Monday 10 December</strong> at 17:30: Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (for a B group)</li><li><strong>Tuesday 11 December</strong> at 10:00: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and at <strong>17:30:</strong> Faculty of Science.</li><li><strong>Wednesday 12 December</strong> at 10:00: Faculties of Education and Military Science and at <strong>17:30:</strong> Economic and Management Sciences (for an A group)</li><li><strong>Thursday 13 December </strong>at 10:00: Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences (ONLY Drama, Music and Visual Arts); AgriSciences en Law (excluding BA Law, BCom Law and BAccLLB) and at 17:30: Faculty of Arts and Social Science Faculties of of Arts and Social Science en Sosiale Wetenskappe (Including BA Law but excluding Drama, Music and Visual Art) </li><li><strong>Friday 14 December</strong> om 10:00: Faculties of Theology and Engineering</li></ul><p>The university also gives recognition to some of its foremost academics and other staff members throughout the graduation ceremonies. </p><p>Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Bill Gates, Antjie Krog, Helen Suzman, Athol Fugard, Tito Mboweni, Naledi Pandor, David Kramer, Thuli Madonsela, Edwin Cameron en Mervyn King tel onder die ontvangers van US-eregrade. </p><p><strong>Ticket system in place</strong></p><p>As the seating in the Coetzenburg Centre is limited, and SU has to comply with national legislation and municipal by-laws, only a specific number of admission tickets for guests will be allocated per graduand*. (More info <a href="/english/students/Pages/Graduation.aspx" style="text-decoration:underline;">here</a>)<br></p><p><strong>Parking in Stellenbosch</strong></p><p>Heavy traffic is expected on all the main roads to Stellenbosch as well as in town. Graduates, parents and friends are kindly requested to arrive early to avoid traffic jams and to ensure parking spots. </p><p>Guests should allow for enough time to park their vehicles and walk to the Coetzenburg Centre. Guests are advised to wear a hat during the walk and to bring along unflavoured bottled water. Please note that food and sugary drinks are not allowed in the Centre.</p><p>Graduates with disabilities, or who are injured or sick and cannot move onto the stage, should call the Client Services Centre at 021 808 9111 or email <a href="mailto:info@sun.ac.za">info@sun.ac.za</a> to arrange for the awarding of their degrees in front of the stage. </p><ul><li>Visit <a href="file:///C:/Users/viljoenm/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/O2EI2D9T/www.sun.ac.za">www.sun.ac.za</a> for more information<br></li></ul><p><br></p> |
| 18 institutions attend SU's Living Learning Communities colloquium | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6080 | | 18 institutions attend SU's Living Learning Communities colloquium | Jesse Bruwer / Student Affairs | <p>Stellenbosch University (SU) facilitated its first annual Living Learning Communities (LLC) colloquium in collaboration with Association of College and Housing Officers International South African Chapter (ACUHO-I SAC). This colloquium aimed to reflect on practices that regard the living and learning communities on campus, to share the latest body of knowledge such as current affairs, climates and topics of discussion on campuses, to create a platform for campus delegates (bodies who represent students and student affairs) to challenge and support one another, and to take actions and innovations for intentional programs, research and services that promote student development.<br></p><p>The colloquium was hosted by the Centre for Student Communities (CSC) at SU's Division Student Affairs (DSAf). It took place in the amaMaties Hub, as a symbol to emphasise the idea of a cluster as a home open to all students and larger community that forms part of SU and not only to students in residences. The venue of the colloquium was purposeful because one of the goals is to improve, prove and encourage the creation of living learning communities. In this colloquium topics of discussion arose aiming to share practices related to LLC environments as extensions of teaching and learning projects of universities in South Africa and the wider African continent. Among proving and improving student access to LLC and discussing curricular approaches in LLC's, the educational sessions during the seminar included approaching research and publication in Student Affairs and balancing gender, sexuality, religion and culture.</p><p>In total there were sixty delegates from eighteen different institutions across three countries: Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. A panel of staff representatives of DSAf included the director of the CSC, Mr Pieters Kloppers, ResEd Manager of the amaMaties Cluster, Ms Benita van Zyl, Mentor Co-ordinator, Ms Joy Petersen and Listen, Live and Learn (LLL) Co-ordinators, Mss Tarina Nel and Gcobisa Yani, and other staff members who helped out. There were three student delegates of whom two were part of the transformative discussion panel facilitated by Bantubonke Louw of Stellenbosch University International. Topics of conversation from this panel included conversations on decolonialisation of the curriculum, what living and learning looks like in future and valuing conversations that take place on and around campus. </p><p>There was also an international student panel that included a student from University of Botswana, who was head of the house in her block, and a Student Representative Council member of Zimbabwe Open University. The international student panel created a good engagement space to see the differences between distance learning students and on campus students. The engagement between the staff and students were an important element in the process where students could see that transformation is in the happening, and university staff could see that students want to engage and work together in this process of creating a beneficial living and learning experience and space. </p><p>“The possibilities of virtual communication created such an amazing opportunity for international voices who do a lot of work in LLC spaces and programmes to share and engage from across the world. This just illustrated the virtual educational and curricular possibilities- and the older people were fascinated!" shared the organiser of this colloquium, Ms Delecia Davids, Co-curriculum coordinator at the CSC. It was also the first time ever that there was virtual communication at such a colloquium. The voices included Paul Gordon Brown, part of the Roompact team as Director of Curriculum, Training and Research, specialising in the curriculum environment. Dr Dee Fink, author of Creating Significant Learning Experiences for College classrooms, who spoke about learning beyond mere cognitive learning, emphasising care about specific things and topics such as lifelong learning, values and changes. Dr Virginia Koch of Auburn University, who is active in the ACUHO-I SAC body and gave a practical application of examples on Fink's books within residences. The virtual education has not yet been implemented at any of the previous LLC colloquiums and the organisers were delighted that it worked. This international panel emphasises the worldwide standards these LLC seminars hold.</p><p>The colloquium creates an opportunity for engagement, facilitates discussions and addresses actions that are put into place and encouraged by campus delegates, staff of student affairs and living learning community advocates. It creates a space for conversation and engagement between staff and students and it is in such seminars where the production of larger living and learning communities on campuses are emphasised. All members of the ACUHO-I SAC body, and non-members involved in LLC are welcome at these colloquiums, however special fees are charged for non-members. For more information on ACUHO-I SAC and LLC colloquiums visit <a href="http://www.acuhoisac.co.za/home/">http://www.acuhoisac.co.za/home/</a>.</p> |
| The new 2019 SU Woordfees festival programme drops at an all-night launch party | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6078 | | The new 2019 SU Woordfees festival programme drops at an all-night launch party | Danie Marais - Woordfees | <p>On the night of 16 November, a whole troupe of dancing cats will be let out of a brand new bag at the 2019 US Woordfees festival progamme launch in Stellenbosch.<br></p><p>The festival theme is “Young" because the Woordfees is turning 20 in 2019, and a 20-year old is a rambunctious youngster. That's why we are going to party all night long – just like we did in 1999, the year when it all started.</p><p>The big launch bash is at the HB Thom Theatre (soon to be named the Adam Small Theatre) in Victoria Street with music, poetry, stand-up, theatre, dance and films. It starts at 22:00 and ends around 5:30 the next morning.</p><p>On the bill for this night of passion for the arts are, amongst others, the poets Bibi Slippers and Jolyn Phillips; stand-up with Shimmy Isaacs; party jams with Die Wasgoedlyn music collective; contemporary dance with Conway October, Yaseen Manuel en Ray Claasen, and an excerpt from the rip-roaring <em>Bal-oog en Brommel</em> with actors Richard September and De Klerk Oelofse. Andries Bezuidenhout, Danie Marais and Desmond Painter will also do <em>Ladies and Gentlemen, Leonard Cohen</em> – a tribute with acoustic versions of Cohen hits that sold out quickly at the 2018 Woordfees. Films will be shown continuously at the HB Thom Laboratoy. The festivities will end on a high and pure note the next morning with an organ recital by Zorada Temmingh at the Moederkerk.</p><p>Everybody is warmly invited to this variety concert of a launch party. Tickets are available through Computicket at R100 per person.</p><p>Come and be young and free together all through the hot summer night of 16 November.</p><p><em>For any further information, contact Danie Marais at </em><a href="mailto:danie_marais@sun.ac.za"><em>danie_marais@sun.ac.za</em></a><br></p><p><br></p> |
| Newly elected SRC inaugurated | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6054 | | Newly elected SRC inaugurated | Jesse Bruwer / Student Affairs | <span><p>Stellenbosch University’s (SU)
Centre for Student Leadership and Structures (CSLS) under Division
Student Affairs (DSAf) recently held the inauguration on the Students’ Representative Council (SRC).
This ceremony was to formally introduce the new 2018/2019 members into
their term in office and to also acknowledge the outgoing SRC. The concept
of such a form of formal leadership was an opportunity to acknowledge
the work of Student Governance under CSLS and was welcomed by SU
management and students. Some of the guests included the Rector and
Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wim de Villiers, Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel
(Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching), Prof Nico Koopman (Vice-Rector of
Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel), management staff and staff
of DSAf including the Senior Director, Dr Birgit Schreiber.</p><p>Mr
Anele Mdepa, Manager at the Office of Student Governance, shared that it
was a work of collaboration and reflection on what has happened this
year and to appreciate the support and cross collaboration from and
within the university. The inauguration looked into how the university
is shaping itself in terms of innovation and moving forward, how a space
of expanding horizons and new contents to seek open-mindedness can be
created and what future leadership will look like. As part of the
programme and inauguration, the SRC members also took a pledge to keep
them accountable and transparent in the responsibility of their roles
within and beyond Stellenbosch.<br></p><br><div>Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel
officially opened the evening’s programme with a contextualisation of
the SRC and student governance, followed by Prof Wim de Villiers who
welcomed the guests and reflected on the outgoing SRC and how “they put
processes and frameworks in place so that the environment in the SRC
speaks to constructive engagement, student, transformative student
experience, and ethical leadership”.</div><div><br></div><div>Evenings
like these give opportunity for mutual validation and consensus on the
importance of leaders, said Mr Thulani Hlatswayo, intern at Student
Governance. The inauguration was a priority to the Rectorate and staff
of SU and they made effort to be there and to celebrate with the SRC and
in this space of trust is established between SRC members and the
Rectorate and those in management and leadership. The Rector enjoyed
working with the previous SRC and engagements with them were based on
constructivism and strategies as a matter of displaying leadership in a
sense of managing skills, mediating, negotiating and contribution to
interpersonal capabilities. The Rectorate and SRC were on a level of
mutual consensus about moving forward, protecting and supporting
students.</div><div><br></div><div>Senior Director of DSAf and the
keynote speaker at the inauguration, Dr Birgit Schreiber, shared four
points of advice to the new SRC members: avoid confirmation bias and
not to fall into a trap of blind spots but to rather seek to test ideas
on a diverse team creating stronger ideas, seel consensus rather than
just a majority, be aware of limited views and not to avoid making
faulty inferences by distinguishing between incident and general
practice and, finally, remember our (SU’s) past and to appreciate how
far we have come – we are working to improve SU’s and ultimately South
Africa’s success, but we should remember the progress that has been made
thus far.</div><div><br></div>Miss Carli van Wyk, newly elected chair
of the SRC, shared that the speakers of the evening shed light on the
importance of student leadership for our university, and also our
country. The evening celebrated the past year and allowed for a new
chapter to start. “The new SRC feels very honoured to be serving on this
body and are eager to start working. We know that the task at hand is
not easy, but together as a team and the support fellow students, we can
make a difference,” Carli added.</span><p></p> |
| SRC and TSR attend Senior Student Leadership Development Training | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6055 | | SRC and TSR attend Senior Student Leadership Development Training | Jesse Bruwer / Student Affairs | <p>In September 2018 Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Student Governance at the Centre for Student Leadership and Structures (CSLS) in the Division Student Affairs (DSAf) hosted the Senior Student Leadership Development Training for the SU Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and Tygerberg Student Council (TSR). This training happens annually as soon as the newly elected SRC and TSR’s are elected. Formerly SU’s SRC and TSR held their trainings separately, but this year they decided to do it together, along with the South African Military Academy.<br></p> <br>The training took place in St Helena Bay with a fully packed programme for the weekend. Some themes of this year’s leadership programme comprised of the new leaders establishing a vision and mission for the term in office ahead, talks on higher education context and society, the role of SRC and TSR, understanding of constitutional literacy and role clarification as guidance to their journey, complexities the term might hold and learning about thorough budgeting and proper inter-communication.<br> <br>This training mainly serves as induction and preparation for the newly elected senior student leaders and aims to develop and prepare them for the term ahead. Mr Thulani Hlatswayo, intern at Student, shared that even though this is the formal purpose of the training, it also aims to extend transformation and development for these student leaders “to become agents of change”. With co-curricular programmes that are offered by SU, transformation should be a key element in how things play out at the university and in town and students should contribute and participate in the change, enhancement, development and growing in society. This is ultimately why information is shared, and why overarching with training, consistency and practicalities need to be applied in leadership roles, to the greater society, and in the long term as a contribution to the country and continent and the globe.<br> <br>This leadership induction and some other programmes are presented for the Senior Student Leaders during their term in office. Some dual campus trainings include themes such as conflict management and communications and how to navigate around conflict within and with student body, and how communication on topics of critical engagement are the key points of it. Some topics focus on the constitution and teaches leaders to incorporate the whole constitution with their expectations and responsibilities and to develop student affairs. These training sessions allow opportunity for consultation and the space for the leaders to share concerns and develop abilities to work around it and to draw on and implement team dynamics. Leadership excursions include visiting Robben Island and partaking in programmes on decolonialisation in education and transformation, attending Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu centenary celebrations and visiting the FW de Klerk Foundation.<br> <br>The mentorship programmes that run parallel between the student leaders, and the CSLS and student governance, offers academic support programmes, time and stress management support and an availability of mentors for the SRC to have discussions with if they cannot disclose to the CSLS on support. Student governance aims to promote ethical leadership and enhancement of leadership development in student leaders to promote student accountability, transparency and responsibility.<br> <br>The training and programmes comprise of a vast variety of themes and educational talks, where for the CSLS and Student Governance the aim isn’t increased participation for statistical accomplishments, but for the benefit of the students, to equip them with knowledge and for them to be consistent in adaptations, flexible around change and inclusive in that sense- to walk into a workplace and society with well-crafted graduate attributes. |
| SU Transformation Indaba tackles important issues on campus | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6057 | | SU Transformation Indaba tackles important issues on campus | Charl Linde | The Stellenbosch University (SU) Transformation Office recently hosted the annual institutional Transformation Indaba under the theme “All Voices". The theme was chosen deliberately, as it has two meanings, the first being that everyone should take ownership of transformation at SU, and the second that all voices should be heard and listened to when it comes to transformation, or, as the Vice-Rector: Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel, Prof. Nico Koopman, who opened the day's programme, put it: “No one in the SU community should be made monddood."<br><br>From the registration process alone it became clear that the Transformation Indaba 2018 would not just be another talking shop, as academic, administration and support service and student attendees were seated at tables in mixed patterns, ensuring representation of the entire University community, thereby enabling a plurality of views. This 'business unusual' approach was also reflected in the day's programme, which included numerous presentations on topical issues in transformation in higher education, a number of themed discussions as well as roundtable sessions with feedback given by way of a roving microphone. Attendees could also leave behind any ideas or thoughts about transformation on sticky notes or flipchart sheets; each table also had a scribe who documented the discussions, which will be collated at a later stage.<br><br>The 'constitution' for transformation at SU, the institutional<span class="ms-rteForeColor-1"> </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x0lbFlxQSl60r24coUekmQuqyC2rlgmp/view?usp=sharing" style="text-decoration:underline;"><span class="ms-rteForeColor-1" style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Transformation Plan</strong></span></a>, underpinned all debates on the day. This document also links closely to the University's reporting on transformation to the Department of Higher Education and Training, as presented on at the start of the Indaba by the Director: Social Impact and Transformation, Dr Leslie van Rooi. Organised around key themes linking to SU's Vision 2040 and Strategic Framework 2019–2024, the Indaba grappled with a transformative-friendly culture for a thriving SU, helpful and unhelpful aspects of institutional culture, the transformative student experience as well as the support of mental health and the wellbeing of staff and students. Profs Ronelle Carolissen and Rob Pattman furthermore introduced their upcoming book, titled <em>Transforming transformation in research and teaching at South African universities</em>. In their presentation, the professors also analysed the SU culture, addressing questions such as “What are the connotations to events in our Maties community?" and “Where do queer students and black women fit into 'skakels', for example?"<br><br>Described by Dr van Rooi as an event that “allows for honest conversations on how we transform", the Indaba could hardly be considered a success if it did not take attendees out of their comfort zones. Students and staff brought up various issues and questions in a frank manner; many of which were immediately addressed by members of the University management in attendance. A black staff member at SU International enquired for example as to why his office, in 2018, was still in a building named after eugenics researcher RW Wilcocks and how he could be included in a possible renaming process. The registrar explained the process to him and invited him to make submissions to the relevant structures. A community member of Stellenbosch also implored the University management to ensure that the needs of the poor in the Stellenbosch district be considered first in any decisions made by SU. Students, on the other hand, spoke out strongly about issues of mental health on campus and called for a separate campus-wide mental health indaba. <br><br>This year's Transformation Indaba was held at Monica Residence to not only bring transformation to the SU community, but also as a cost-saving measure. Attendees were encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to the event, all of which were donated to the #Move4Food campaign at the SU Alumni offices. Deliberate cost savings made in the planning of the event will also be donated to #Move4Food when administration of the event wraps up. <br><br>*Staff and students can like and follow the @sutransform Facebook and Twitter pages to view photos taken at the event.<br> |
| Maties student wins big at 2018 Student Leadership Summit | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6047 | | Maties student wins big at 2018 Student Leadership Summit | Corporate Communication/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie [Rozanne Engel] | <p> <br></p><p>Responsible leaders need to be willing to base every action and decision on their values and principles to make a positive impact on society. This was the opinion of the judging panel who selected the Top 30 university students attending the 10th annual Student Leadership Summit (SLS) of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).</p><p>SAICA created the SLS to remind chartered accountancy students that leadership is determined not by your title or your technical expertise but rather by your ability to uphold your values, no matter the resistance you may face.</p><p>Students from around the country are invited to the SLS annually where they apply their minds to issues of national and professional importance. They network and meet thought leaders from the business sector and have the opportunity to think about how, as young professionals, they can use their skills to help solve these issues. Students are also invited to enter the SLS essay competition, which this year focused on topics such as the following:</p><p>• How to apply ethical standards in business and ensure that your leadership style does not inadvertently encourage others to act unethically.</p><p>• How to ensure transformation and independence within the chartered accountancy profession with specific mention to mandatory audit firm rotation.</p><p>• What responsibilities aspiring chartered accountants (CAs) (SA) have in terms of building better communities in their hometowns.</p><p>Lungelo Ngobese, a 21-year-old BAccounting Honours student from Richards Bay studying at Stellenbosch University clinched the winning spot for his insightful and solution-driven essay detailing the contributions that CAs must make to improve the communities from which they come. His essay also provided CAs with a more structured and practical approach to help numerous rural communities, also suggesting that teamwork by CAs within similar communities could speed up the effectiveness and longevity of initiatives to improve the communities from which they come. Ashleigh Langton from the University of Johannesburg took the second spot, and Asanda Mhluzi from the University of Cape Town came in third.</p><p>According to Ngobese, winning the SLS essay competition is still surreal. He had been applying to SLS since his first year and made the Top 30 only in his third year. “I am still very excited and honoured. The support I have received has been extremely humbling and I didn't expect it to blow up as much as it did. I am so grateful for the opportunities that came with it, having met 29 other brilliant minds from all over South Africa and being challenged about my views on leadership and the realities of the socio-economic issues affecting the country," says Ngobese.</p><p>Teboho Moephudi, project director for SAICA's university projects, including the SLS, said that the quality of the entries for the 2018 SLS essay competition was of a very high standard; however, when it came to the winner, the judges' pick was unanimous. “Lungelo's thought leadership piece was so solution driven and well thought out, the judges knew they had found the winner upon reading his essay," says Moephudi.</p><p>Ngobese plans to travel a bit while completing his articles and hopes to foster mentor-mentee relationships with other students and those who have found success after graduating. “I believe mentorship is a great way of keeping people accountable for plans that are larger than life. Being committed to giving it your best is important, as well as trying to do the small things extremely well, even when no one is looking."</p><p>__________________________________________________________________________________</p><p><strong>About SAICA</strong></p><p>SAICA, South Africa's pre-eminent accountancy body, is widely recognised as one of the world's leading accounting institutes. The Institute provides a wide range of support services to more than 46 000 members and associates who are CAs. It also supports associate general accountants and accounting technicians who hold positions as chief executive officers, managing directors, board directors, business owners, chief financial officers, auditors and leaders in every sphere of commerce and industry, and who play a significant role in the nation's highly dynamic business sector and economic development. <br></p><p>Photo: Rozanne Engel<br></p><p><br> </p> |
| Innovative app making exam access easier | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6024 | | Innovative app making exam access easier | Corporate Communication/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie [Rozanne Engel] | <p>Exams can be a stressful time for many students. Add to that the time-consuming access procedures at exam locations, when all you want to do is to get your exam paper and start, and those stress levels can soar!</p><p>However, thanks to new technology developed by Information Technology at Stellenbosch University (SU), in collaboration with the Examinations Office in the Registrar's Division, the manual and time-consuming process of checking off access lists for students will no longer be the case.</p><p>Since June this year, the identification of students for access to exam venues has been facilitated with the use of cell phones at each venue. Tests were first conducted on a small scale during the November 2017 exams and the technology was rolled out fully for the June 2018 exams, which was a resounding success.</p><p>Emce Louw, Head of the Examinations Office at SU, is very excited about this new technology and says that many students shared the same sentiments during the June exams. “The process of scanning student cards is fantastic. Students were also very impressed."</p><p><strong>How it works</strong></p><p>Exam convenors have access to cell phones with the exam access app at each venue. When students arrive at the exam venue, their card is held against the back of the cell phone and the screen indicates whether they are supposed to write that exam in that specific module in that specific venue or not. The screen displays a green mark if the students are at the correct exam venue (see the images below) and a red cross if not. If students are at the wrong venue, the screen indicates where they should be for the exam (or test).<br></p><p>This easier scanning process is made possible by the near-field communications chip on Android phones, which communicates with the MIFARE chip embedded in student cards. The identification information is then used by the phone app to look up the students' exam venue. The exam venue and module information come from the Student Information System.<br></p><p>The development and successful completion of the technology was a cross-functional team effort. Hendrik le Roux from Information Technology's Access Control Division was the project manager and Guzelle Hendricks was responsible for the business analysis of the two three-month phases of the project, which ran from the end of 2017 to June 2018.</p><p>In addition to Hendrik's and Guzelle's roles in the project, other SU staff who played a key role in getting the project off the ground included Phillip Greeff, Gregory Isaacs, Anna-Mari du Toit, Marc-Allen Johnson, Jeremy van Rooyen, Charles Hopkins (who wrote the app) and Elmar Matthee (who was responsible for the back-end development). On the side of the functional stakeholders, besides Emce Louw, Neels Fourie (Deputy Registrar), Jan du Toit and Helene Nieuwoudt also participated in the project.</p><p>The app will result in access to exam venues being swiftly controlled and will certainly simplify and improve the function of access control with regard to exam venues at the University. <br></p><p><br></p> |
| Rector’s Awards honour 87 students for excellent achievement | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6007 | | Rector’s Awards honour 87 students for excellent achievement | Sandra Mulder/Corporate Communications Division | <p>Stellenbosch University (SU) honoured 87 students last night (11 October) who excelled in areas ranging from academics to co-curricular fields at the annual Rector's Awards for Excellent Achievement. <br></p><p>Prof Wim de Villiers, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor, said at the event that this Award ceremony is an important highlight on the University's calendar, especially in 2018 as it is also SU's Centenary year.<br></p><div class="ms-rtestate-read ms-rte-embedcode ms-rte-embedil ms-rtestate-notify"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gb204GDWqkw" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div><p>“In 2018 we are reflecting on the past and the lessons learned. We are also going forward. One of our themes is to create a transformative student experience. We want to ensure that the University is accessible to all students and then to enable them to be successful. We want access as well as success," De Villiers said.<br></p><p>Dr Wynoma Michaels, who received the Student Representative Council (SRC) Award for Exceptional Alumni from outgoing chair Lwando Nkamisa, was a guest speaker.</p><p>Michaels was in 1998 elected as the first coloured student to be SRC chair. It was also in that year that the majority of the SRC members were female and made out nine of the 15 members. She is presently a business and management consultant who gained business experience as a consultant in the agriculture and food and beverage sectors, as well in the service industry. She started her career as a scientist and obtained a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from SU. She presently owns the business Wynoma Michaels Consult.<br></p><p>In her captivating speech, she prepared students for the opportunities and challenges awaiting them after their studies. “You need to find out what drives you, what is your purpose. Living a life of purpose is usually not about ourselves. It is about living beyond ourselves. Recognition, success and promotion are great, but should it not rather be the products of purpose than the purpose itself….? Seeking after recognition and promotion can cause us to deviate from our purpose or become our purpose."</p><p>“When we are driven by purpose, our definition of success changes as success then is not merely about ourselves, but more about WHO we want to become rather than WHAT we want to achieve," Michaels said.</p><p>She warned them that the biggest challenge when entering the marketplace is not to get “sucked into the 'hamster on the wheel' of more promotions, bigger salaries, bigger offices, bigger clients, bigger cars. “Relax. Yes, let this come, but should it be at the expense of our purpose…? Should these things not be a by-product of living a life of purpose…?"</p><p>Michaels received a standing ovation from the guests after her speech. </p><p>The following students were the recipients of the <strong>SU Medal for Top Magister Student</strong>: Michelle Eckert (AgriScience); Jessica Lee Staple (Arts and Social Sciences), Maria de Man (Education), Johann Pfitzinger (Economic and Management Sciences), Corinna Jeske (Medicine and Health Sciences), Johann Christiaan van der Walt (Engineering), Melise Steyn (Science), Kerry-Terry Lamb (Law); Refilwe Maria Mahlaku ( Military Science) and Juanita Greyvenstein (Theology).</p><p>The other students that received awards for co-curricular achievements were:</p><p><strong>Rector's Award for Excellent Sport Achievement: </strong>Lwazi Madi<em>; </em>Jacques Lloyd<em>; </em>Charmaine Baard<em>; </em>Stephanie Brand<em>; </em>Emma Chelius<em>; </em>Nicky Giliomee<em>; </em>David Bedingham<em>; </em>Keenan Horne<em>; </em>James Murphy<em>.</em></p><p><strong>Rector's Award for Excellent Contribution to Culture:</strong>Mercy Kannemeyer<em>; </em>Shaen Maré<strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Rector's Award for Excellent Social Impact: </strong>Avuyile Mbangatha<em>; </em>Ben Moolman<em>; </em>Cailin Perrie<em>; </em>Ashleigh Purdon</p><p><strong>Rector's Award for Excellent Service Provision: </strong>Rabia Abba Omar<em>; </em>Eduard Beukman<em>; </em>Garrick Blok<em>; </em>Jeanine Botha<em>; </em>Lize-Mari Doubell</p><p><strong>Rector's Award for Excellent Leadership</strong>:<span style="text-decoration:underline;"> </span>Anthony Andrews<em>; </em>Wiann Bester<em>; </em>Chanté du Plessis; Jauné Gouws;<em> </em>Nhlakanipho Mahagane; Fatima Ouiza Mazari; Lethiwe Mbatha; Ben Moolman; Tevarus Naicker; Eduard Roos; Victoria Thomas;<em> </em>Rhys Williams; Eduard Beukman<strong>. </strong><strong> </strong></p><p> Dr Michaels full speech:<br></p><div class="ms-rtestate-read ms-rte-embedcode ms-rte-embedil ms-rtestate-notify"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zU8zSOI0i-A" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div><p><br></p><p>Videographer: Stefan Els<br></p><p><br></p> |
| Celebrating multilingualism at SU | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5978 | | Celebrating multilingualism at SU | Corporate Communication/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie [Rozanne Engel] | <p><br></p><p>“We are who we are through language." This was one of the key sentiments expressed during the Stellenbosch University (SU) Language Day 2018, held at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) on Friday, 28 September.<br></p><p>Seventy-five invited students, lecturers and representatives of professional academic support (PASS) environments attended the Language Day to discuss the value of multilingualism and how SU can create an enabling environment for it to flourish. The event was also streamed and recorded, and an edited version will be made available. Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching, opened and participated in the event, which focused on open conversations around <strong><em>Multilingualism in Teaching and Learning Spaces </em></strong>and <strong><em>Multilingualism in Social Spaces</em></strong>. The topics were contextualised and introduced by Prof Christa van der Walt and Ms Denai Nyagani, after which the participants discussed the questions posed by the speakers. Each group had the opportunity to provide brief feedback in plenary sessions, and all the feedback was recorded.</p><p>According to Dr Antoinette van der Merwe, who facilitated the event, what struck her the most about the day was the open and frank conversations at the tables and the creative solutions and examples of good practice provided for the two main topics.</p><p>“One of the groups stated in their feedback, 'We are who we are through language', indicating that we cannot separate identity and language. Language is what makes us human, and the focus was therefore on respect and dignity for each other's language(s) as basic values," said Van der Merwe.</p><p>One of the other concepts that was also unpacked during the discussions was the issue of linguistic citizenship and that one cannot be part of the conversation and a citizen of South Africa if one does not embrace multilingualism.</p><p>“Acknowledging each other's language and identity is very important. It's part of our identity of being South African, and all staff and students should be sensitive to multilingualism and the struggles we have. Some of the practical solutions that emerged included the use of trilingual terminology lists, peer assistance, extended conversations outside the classroom between lecturers and students within a multilingual environment, and social events in which we celebrate multilingualism together with, for example, our music and food," said Van der Merwe.</p><p>The next step in continuing the discussions and implementing the feedback from those who attended the Language Day will be preparing a document with proposals, recommendations and examples of good practice for further dissemination. The participants were also challenged to create a more enabling multilingual environment at the institutional, faculty, departmental and individual levels.</p><p>“Change starts with the individual. All the participants should take this conversation forward in their respective environments with a focus on what they can do, and not expect other role players to do it for them," said Van der Merwe.</p><p>Prof Schoonwinkel commented: “I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the exciting discussions among staff and students from diverse language backgrounds. The Language Day yielded many constructive suggestions on how we can reap even more benefits from embracing multilingualism at SU and beyond." <br></p><p><br><br></p> |
