Sustainability is, in addition to the extension and enhancement of Stellenbosch University's knowledge base and the increased diversification of the staff and student components, one of the University's four focuses for the next few years.
Sustainability can be defined as the ability to provide in current human needs and to enhance and develop quality of life without increasing the consumption of materials and energy more than the current support systems can tolerate. The support systems can also be renewed per se so that the ability of future generations to provide in their needs and to enhance and develop their quality of life is not prejudiced.1 Therefore there is a balance among nature (ecology), people (community of social networks) and the economy which transcends one generation.
This is aligned to the University's commitment to the international development agenda, as embodied in the HOPE Project. Stellenbosch University selected five development themes and systemic sustainability relates to the fifth theme: promoting a sustainable environment and a competitive industry. Stellenbosch University's sustainability initiatives form part of its Transformation objectives and its positioning as a university of the 21st century.
Click here to read more about sustainability at Stellenbosch University.
1 Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future, Transmitted to the General Assembly as an Annex to document A/42/427 - Development and International Co-operation: Environment (http://www.un-documents.net/wced-ocf.htm)
