SU a 'bright star" among institutional responses to pandemic
Stellenbosch University (SU) has been a bright star in the year's institutional responses to the pandemic.
This is according to Justice Edwin Cameron, SU Chancellor, in addressing members of the Convocation at its annual general meeting on Wednesday (9 January 2020). Cameron was the main speaker at the event that was held online for the first time.
“With undisguised pride, I can say that the Rector and his team, with the wholehearted cooperation of the entire academic and support staff, faced an unprecedented crisis, and, with determination and ingenuity, came out stronger and beyond," said Cameron and added that he has profound respect for the way in which this University has surmounted the challenges of the epidemic this year, and enabled students of all social backgrounds to continue their learning and research.
At the same time, the University's inclusive language policy is constitutionally sound and well-founded, Cameron stated. “It succeeds in making the special privilege of a Stellenbosch education available to all, while Afrikaans is still maintained and cherished in a special way."
He added that Stellenbosch is a jewel in its location and setting, in its history, in its academic and research excellence, in its people and in the opportunities it provides. But a jewel is hard, hardy, enduring, capable of enduring harsh treatment. Stellenbosch is not a jewel in this sense, Cameron said. “It is fragile, precious, entirely breakable. We must nurture and treasure our jewel; Stellenbosch is a gem that requires care as something precious. That is the Stellenbosch for which I as Chancellor strive. It is a vision for Stellenbosch I know you also embrace."
Rapid transition to emergency remote teaching
In his report to the Convocation, Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, said that 2020 will rightly be remembered as especially challenging. “Dit was 'n moeilike jaar, maar ons het goeie vordering gemaak. When the coronavirus pandemic struck, all our plans were immediately reduced to two overarching priorities: (1) completing the academic year; and (2) ensuring the University's sustainability into the future. I am happy to say I think we managed well – thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of colleagues and students.
“Probably the most important development at the University this year was our rapid transition to emergency remote teaching, learning and assessment (ERTLA). When contact teaching was suspended on campuses nationwide in March, we had to switch rapidly to online methods – and we succeeded well. Overall, the University has been quite successful with this, for which we are very grateful."
De Villiers also said that we can all be very proud of our student success. “Our University maintains an excellent record. In fact, according to throughput tables published by the Department of Higher Education and Training, Stellenbosch is the top university in the country in terms of student success. Our overall undergraduate module success rate (i.e. students passing their modules) is at a very high 87,2%.
He added that the Class of 2020 is making history, in more ways than one. “No fewer than 5 700 students will be receiving a sought-after Stellenbosch University qualification next week – which is simply remarkable, given the difficulties of this year. We will be awarding more than 3 400 undergraduate degrees, diplomas and certificates – the most ever in this category. We will also be awarding 1 005 honours degrees, 502 master's degrees and 138 PhDs. We are very proud of our contribution to the development of our country, our continent and the rest of the world."
For all these reasons, SU is a sought-after destination for students, De Villiers said. “From intake 2018 to intake 2021, total applications rose by 29%, complete applications by 11%, and provisional offers made to applicants by 10%. That is the biggest vote of confidence any university can ask for."
Engagements where we can be honest and constructively critical
In his presentation Dr Leslie van Rooi, Acting President of the Convocation, gave an overview of alumni events of the year and highlighted the various roles that alumni played in alleviating the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
He also referred to the growing and diversifying alumni structures at the University and said that we should allow for “engagements where we can be honest and constructively critical, where our voices are shared and heard and where we listen."
"If we can not be an alumni community where we can allow for a growing variety of opinions to be shared, then we are failing in our task of truly ensuring the well-being of the University. I would encourage the convocation going forward to allow for more open engagement and platforms where the diversity of opinions are heard. And that we do not follow a single track leads to an understanding that there is only one opinion, one perspective, one understanding, one expression and on concern. And of course, there are major challenges we need to address. We can only do this if we join hands, discuss it together and if we recognise the growing diversity of our alumni. "
He also referred to how coloured Afrikaans speakers are referred to. “If we talk about this category of people, it should be a conversation with the grouping and not a conversation about the grouping. That we do not try in an over-romanticised way in our own campaigns, tell people that we want to speak on behalf of others, speak for others, or correct anything on behalf of others – that is simply inappropriate."
The days where we could speak on behalf of others or we could entertain a quasi-understanding of what is right, what is just, is over. And if we would like to continue to play a role in society we should allow ourselves to be open, to be understood, to be criticized, also by those we think we talk about, al so by those. It is a pity that through campaigns we are still trying to speak on behalf of especially coloured Afrikaans speakers. We can, to be very honest, speak for ourselves."
The days of the 70's, 80's and 90's are long gone, says Van Rooi. “The challenges facing the University are significantly different from the University's challenges even in the 90s and early 2000s. These are massive challenges. These are challenges that put the University in a much better position to make a greater impact in the larger society. It will ask of us, if we want the institution to make that impact, to allow this institution to critically engage with the questions at hand in the South African society and indeed for this institution to fulfil its role and mandate as an asset to South African society."
- Read more about the results of the Convocation election here.
