Support Stellenbosch University (SU) on its journey to become more inclusive, innovative and future-focused. This was the message of Prof Wim de Villiers, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor, to almost 400 members of the Convocation at the annual meeting of the Convocation held at the Paul Roos Centre in Stellenbosch on Thursday 26 January.
"Join us in reaching out to all 120 000 alumni, and also to our young professional graduates. Be proud with us about our alma mater's many achievements and trust our staff, the Institutional Forum, The Senate, University Management and Council to act in the best interest of our institution," De Villiers said.
In his address, De Villiers said despite challenges in the higher education sector, the University experienced an exceptional year. "Last year was in many respects a very huge challenge for the entire higher education sector – because of, among others, protest action over transformation, decolonisation and student fees; expectations of free higher education and financial sustainability after the announcement of no increase in student fees for 2016. Nevertheless, we experienced an exceptional year of sustained accomplishments and new highlights."
The achievements include, among others, a record number of doctorates at the recent December graduation; SU remains the South African leader in terms of registered patents; the most prolific South African academic institution in terms of research outputs; an increase in research chairs and an increase in philanthropic donations.
De Villiers furthermore elaborated on the Language Policy and said that it would not undermine the Afrikaans language or Afrikaans culture and won't deprive Afrikaans-speaking people of the opportunity to receive instruction in Afrikaans.
He emphasized that Afrikaans will remain a language of instruction and an academic field of expertise, and that the academic potential of Afrikaans will be promoted by using, inter alia, Afrikaans for teaching, research and administration; holding symposia, presentations of short courses, and support for language teachers.
Two motions passed
The language policy should ensure that no student be excluded from the academic offering due to inadequate proficiency in English or Afrikaans on the basis of language or race; and so too any staff member from the functions of the University. The Language Policy thus promotes inclusion and the expansion of access."
Two motions, both of which were accepted, were up for debate during Thursday's meeting. The first motion, submitted beforehand by Danie Marais, read: Consistently with requests made since 2001, the Convocation again requests Stellenbosch University to, over and above any lectures that are presented in English, make a full undergraduate offering to students with Afrikaans as the medium of instruction. The Convocation supports the court case aimed at setting aside the new language policy as also the President of the Convocation's participation as an applicant in that application.
A second motion in response to the first one was tabled at the meeting by JD Blanckenberg, SU graduate and member of the Convocation. This read: The Convocation recognises that a wide range of perspectives exists on the new SU Language Policy. We therefore request that the Convocation Executive Committee and Rector's Management Team arrange constructive intergenerational dialogues to foster greater understanding amongst all Maties, enhance informed debate whilst centering and strengthening the human dignity of all participants irrespective of the view the person may hold.
Advocate Jan Heunis, President of the Convocation and a champion for Afrikaans at SU, asked in his speech for a meaningful and honest debate that is characterised by tolerance and in which everyone's point of view is taken into consideration without fear of intimidation and exclusion.
He said it was worrying that, in the space of one year, four South African universities had done away with Afrikaans's status as primary language of instruction along with English without any meaningful undertakings for concrete promotion of another indigenous language other than Afrikaans.
"Often in the past, this university has taken the lead in many respects, and here again is a good opportunity to enhance a bilingual university, with Afrikaans and English and the strong development of isiXhosa as language of instruction, that is worth following on a national and international level."
