​​​​​Last year Stellenbosch University (SU) received one of its largest individual donations ever – an amount of R194,6 million. This huge gift came in the form of a bequest by the late Mr DW (Dirk) Ackermann, an engineer by profession.

As stated in Mr Ackermann's will, the University used this bequest to establish the DW Ackermann Bursary Fund to benefit deserving students in the electrical and electronic engineering disciplines. The capital is now invested accordingly, and the annual income will be used for bursaries, which are to be awarded in terms of the criteria set out in his will.

The fund is managed as an endowment fund and will be sustainably used to benefit many students in future.

In 2018 there are five students who are the first recipients of the DW Ackermann Bursary Fund. On the photo are from the left Prof Maarten Kamper (Chair, Electrical and Electronic Engineering), Daniel Banks, Sharmin Khan, Prof Wikus van Niekerk (Dean), Elsje Pieterse, Sihle Tabete and (insert) Thurai-yaa Gannie.