On Saturday, 12 March 2016, the Centre for Student Recruitment and Career Advice hosted the Western Cape principals of the Top-100 feeder schools for a breakfast at STIAS. The event created an opportunity for the University to acknowledge the important role that schools play as the input into our excellence pipeline. The Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof de Villiers, awarded each school that attended the function with a certificate to celebrate their consistency (over a 5-year period) in delivering exceptional academic talent for admission into undergraduate programmes at the University. 

The principals were not only treated to a scrumptious breakfast and enabled to attend one of the many shows at Woordfees, but also had the opportunity to network with their peers and Deans from 3 faculties. In addition, Mr Elvis Nyasha Mare, a third year student enrolled in the BCom Management Sciences Programme at SU, and a matriculant from one of the Top-100 schools, shared some of his thoughts related to the theme: "If my principal only knew".

"Every exceptional learner needs an environment that supports, challenges and exposes them to new realities. These environments are created by visionary principals and passionate educators. The Centre for Student Recruitment and Career Advice would like to acknowledge and celebrate educators for whom education is a calling. We understand that we need each other if we want to impact the system in a meaningful way. Events like these provide platforms where we can establish, maintain and advance mutually beneficial relationships," says Dr Gillian Arendse (CSR: Relationship Management).