| The Stellenbosch University of the future | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9799 | | The Stellenbosch University of the future | Petro Mostert | <p></p><p>I heard on the radio someone says that the only way one could change something in South Africa is to disrupt like taxis blocking the N2 or a week-long stayaway from work. Is that true? Do we want to resort to negative disruptions to create the future we want? I hope not.</p><p>I would like to think that we at Stellenbosch University are in the box office seats to create the future we aspire to, the university of the future, which will be more flexible, personalised, collaborative, and technology-driven than traditional universities. A place where we will prioritise the development of critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, which are essential for success in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.<br></p><p>I spoke to our IT colleagues recently and shared with them what ChatGPT generated for me when I typed in words: "Explain how the university of the future will look".<br><br></p><p><strong><em>ChatGPT wrote:</em></strong></p><p>"The university of the future is likely to be characterized by several key features, including:</p><p>Online and hybrid learning: Universities are likely to offer more online and hybrid learning options, with greater flexibility for students to learn at their own pace and in their own time. This will also enable more students to access education, regardless of their location or schedule.<br><strong>Personalisation:</strong> The university of the future will likely use advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to personalize learning experiences for each student. This will involve tailoring curriculum and teaching methods to each student's individual needs and preferences, making education more engaging and effective.<br></p><p><strong>Interdisciplinary focus:</strong> With the increasing complexity of the world's problems, universities will likely focus more on interdisciplinary education, encouraging students to explore and integrate knowledge across different fields and disciplines.<br></p><p><strong>Collaborative learning:</strong> The university of the future will likely emphasize collaborative learning, with students working together on projects and assignments both in-person and online.<br></p><p><strong>Virtual and augmented reality:</strong> The use of virtual and augmented reality technologies in education is expected to increase, allowing students to experience simulated environments and interact with digital objects, enhancing their learning experiences.</p><p><strong>Lifelong learning:</strong> The university of the future is likely to place a greater emphasis on lifelong learning, providing education and training opportunities to individuals throughout their careers, as the pace of technological change continues to accelerate.</p><p><strong>HESU</strong></p><p>I see our core challenge for higher education in achieving two things: high impact and efficient scale. I would like to summarise it with the acronym HESU - a high-impact, efficient, scalable university.</p><p>This year we struggled to find housing for our students, given the curveball from NSFAS putting a cap on accommodation fees. For uncertainties like these incidents, we must find efficient scalability as we expand our impact.</p><p>Scalability refers to an organisation's ability to perform well under an increased or expanded workload. It means we need to work smarter (not just harder) to face the increased demand. That we do this through process innovation, standardisation, and algorithmic thinking, and applying technology. Modern technology allows us to achieve personalised experiences if the technological application is sufficiently algorithmic, just like ChatGPT.</p><p><strong>Customer-centric</strong></p><p>For this future, we need to be customer-centric: designing our processes with the students and staff members who will be using it in mind. The human experience is at the centre of design thinking: the concept where we work backwards from what the customer wants and not forward from the perspective of an outsider consultant or specialist.</p><p>There is no such thing as the best solution without considering cost-efficiency. I never want to hear a design solution of a project plan where cost is not part of every decision. There is a trade-off, colleagues and you and I are co-responsible for every time we spend in this university. We should be very concerned if we ever spend resources on a solution that is sub-optimally used thereafter.</p><p>HESU will require substantial adjustment and change management for the entire university. Let me leave you with two lessons for change management:</p><p>Firstly, make sure you understand the problem by doing at least the following: </p><p>· Get key stakeholders involved;</p><p>· Find a change agent to drive the process; and</p><p>· Ensure you can answer the why question regarding the change you want to effect? As well as all the other details in your strategy.</p><p>Secondly, create a sense of urgency:</p><p>· This is an act of persuasion. It is you who must motivate the organisation to change with you.</p><p>Many (even most) attempts at change management fail here at these two points. It is your responsibility to persuade the organisation; it is a sobering lesson that most change leaders under-communicate.</p><p>Colleagues, I want to roll up my sleeves to work with you as we realise a high-impact efficient, and scalable Stellenbosch University. It cannot be done without you. It must be done.<br><br></p><p><strong>Stan du Plessis</strong></p><p><strong>COO: Stellenbosch University</strong></p><p><br></p> |
| The Stellenbosch University of the future | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9800 | | The Stellenbosch University of the future | Petro Mostert | <p></p><p>I heard on the radio someone says that the only way one could change something in South Africa is to disrupt like taxis blocking the N2 or a week-long stayaway from work. Is that true? Do we want to resort to negative disruptions to create the future we want? I hope not.</p><p>I would like to think that we at Stellenbosch University are in the box office seats to create the future we aspire to, the university of the future, which will be more flexible, personalised, collaborative, and technology-driven than traditional universities. A place where we will prioritise the development of critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, which are essential for success in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.<br></p><p>I spoke to our IT colleagues recently and shared with them what ChatGPT generated for me when I typed in words: "Explain how the university of the future will look".<br><br></p><p><strong><em>ChatGPT wrote:</em></strong></p><p>"The university of the future is likely to be characterized by several key features, including:</p><p>Online and hybrid learning: Universities are likely to offer more online and hybrid learning options, with greater flexibility for students to learn at their own pace and in their own time. This will also enable more students to access education, regardless of their location or schedule.<br><strong>Personalisation:</strong> The university of the future will likely use advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to personalize learning experiences for each student. This will involve tailoring curriculum and teaching methods to each student's individual needs and preferences, making education more engaging and effective.<br></p><p><strong>Interdisciplinary focus:</strong> With the increasing complexity of the world's problems, universities will likely focus more on interdisciplinary education, encouraging students to explore and integrate knowledge across different fields and disciplines.<br></p><p><strong>Collaborative learning:</strong> The university of the future will likely emphasize collaborative learning, with students working together on projects and assignments both in-person and online.<br></p><p><strong>Virtual and augmented reality:</strong> The use of virtual and augmented reality technologies in education is expected to increase, allowing students to experience simulated environments and interact with digital objects, enhancing their learning experiences.</p><p><strong>Lifelong learning:</strong> The university of the future is likely to place a greater emphasis on lifelong learning, providing education and training opportunities to individuals throughout their careers, as the pace of technological change continues to accelerate.</p><p><strong>HESU</strong></p><p>I see our core challenge for higher education in achieving two things: high impact and efficient scale. I would like to summarise it with the acronym HESU - a high-impact, efficient, scalable university.</p><p>This year we struggled to find housing for our students, given the curveball from NSFAS putting a cap on accommodation fees. For uncertainties like these incidents, we must find efficient scalability as we expand our impact.</p><p>Scalability refers to an organisation's ability to perform well under an increased or expanded workload. It means we need to work smarter (not just harder) to face the increased demand. That we do this through process innovation, standardisation, and algorithmic thinking, and applying technology. Modern technology allows us to achieve personalised experiences if the technological application is sufficiently algorithmic, just like ChatGPT.</p><p><strong>Customer-centric</strong></p><p>For this future, we need to be customer-centric: designing our processes with the students and staff members who will be using it in mind. The human experience is at the centre of design thinking: the concept where we work backwards from what the customer wants and not forward from the perspective of an outsider consultant or specialist.</p><p>There is no such thing as the best solution without considering cost-efficiency. I never want to hear a design solution of a project plan where cost is not part of every decision. There is a trade-off, colleagues and you and I are co-responsible for every time we spend in this university. We should be very concerned if we ever spend resources on a solution that is sub-optimally used thereafter.</p><p>HESU will require substantial adjustment and change management for the entire university. Let me leave you with two lessons for change management:</p><p>Firstly, make sure you understand the problem by doing at least the following: </p><p>· Get key stakeholders involved;</p><p>· Find a change agent to drive the process; and</p><p>· Ensure you can answer the why question regarding the change you want to effect? As well as all the other details in your strategy.</p><p>Secondly, create a sense of urgency:</p><p>· This is an act of persuasion. It is you who must motivate the organisation to change with you.</p><p>Many (even most) attempts at change management fail here at these two points. It is your responsibility to persuade the organisation; it is a sobering lesson that most change leaders under-communicate.</p><p>Colleagues, I want to roll up my sleeves to work with you as we realise a high-impact efficient, and scalable Stellenbosch University. It cannot be done without you. It must be done.<br><br></p><p><strong>Stan du Plessis</strong></p><p><strong>COO: Stellenbosch University</strong></p><p><br></p> |
| This is the year for SUNFin | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9801 | | This is the year for SUNFin | Petro Mostert | <p>By Manie Lombard</p><p>My fellow finance colleagues, I look forward to team-up with you for a successful 2023!<br></p><p>We have an extraordinary year ahead of us with the go-live of Oracle Cloud Financials in our SUNFin project, replacing our trusted but dated “Terra"-system. You are a magnificent team of people working together to bring us to this significant milestone – the digitalisation of SU through SUNFin and SUNStudent. </p><p>Prof Stan indicated in our recent strategic planning session on 20 February that our Responsibility Centre's vision for 2023 is HESU – to strive for a High Impact Efficient Scalable University. Hereafter we held our division's strategic session on 27 February, where we discussed and agreed on the Division's strategic objectives:</p><p>Implement Oracle Cloud Financials (OCF) in July 2023 according to the approved SUNFin project plan (including the optimal training and support tool or platform for SUNFin; optimal alignment of finance division's structure with new best practice processes, workflows, and securities according to OCF).</p><p>Successful implementation of student fees and bursaries modules in SUNStudent for a transformative financial student services experience; and the development, implementation, and monitoring of an effective communication strategy and plan for student financial services, including the new NSFAS decisions.</p><p>Evolution of the SU (RC)-Budget Model and balancing the SU budget for 2024 and beyond to ensure the financial sustainability of SU. </p><p>To successfully obtain these objectives, we added staff wellness and transformation to our objectives as these are non-negotiables to reach our stated goals.</p><p>I look forward to each member of our Finance Team's contribution to making this a great year and Stellenbosch University an exceptional place.</p><p><br></p> |
| Are we in October already? | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9802 | | Are we in October already? | Petro Mostert | <p></p><p>By Nicolette van den Eijkel</p><p>Is it October already, or are we still in March? The year has been very busy, and the summer holidays seem distant memories. SUFM has been busy with many activities, particularly during the student welcoming with Environmental Sustainability and Campus Security. Of course, property services have had to ensure that everyone had the backup generators they needed. The Business Management department finished their year-end activities and ensured we had the proper budgets allocated in the right cost centres for our “business" to run smoothly. Facilities Services have been busy settling in many new staff members and are in constant liaison between our clients and the Property Services team to keep up with load-shedding stages. <br></p><p>Also, we are so proud that the biggest project in the higher education sector in South Africa to date, the BMRI project, reached practical completion in February. The teams behind that deserve great compliments. </p><p>We hope we get through 2023 despite the stress that the energy crises could bring. While considering our shortcomings, we will find ways to learn and improve. This year we will also reflect and enjoy the many successes we achieve daily and be grateful for working for a great institution such as Stellenbosch University.</p><p><br></p> |
| You can make a real difference on our campus | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9803 | | You can make a real difference on our campus | Petro Mostert | <p></p><p>By Anita Nel</p><p>I am incredibly privileged to lead one of SU's most dynamic and successful divisions. There is not a university on this continent that offers the quality of accommodation, technology transfer expertise, student centres, support for short courses, and commercial activities that SU does. This is the result of an excellent team of people with a "can do" attitude, a shared strategic vision, an incredible work ethic, loyalty to SU, and an exceptional ability to deliver the goods. </p><p>In your roles, you can make a real difference on our campus. Whether it's providing a safe, comfortable, and healthy living and social space for students, creating an educational botanical garden focused on the conservation of near-extinct species, transferring university inventions to the benefit of society, protecting the intellectual property and trademarks of the university, supporting our stakeholders to further their education through short courses at SU, sweating the university's assets or providing excellent transport services - your work has an impact far beyond the walls of the university.</p><p>These achievements are a team effort, and I look forward to another year of excellence with the wonderful colleagues in our division!</p><p><br></p> |
| A holistic and diverse experience through sport | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9804 | | A holistic and diverse experience through sport | Petro Mostert | <p></p><p>By Ilhaam Groenewald</p><p>Last year we enjoyed a great time on and off the field; our strategic objectives and decision-making remain aligned with the vision of Stellenbosch University and the Maties Sport vision "To be the leading university, contributing towards a holistic and diverse experience through sport". This year we will focus on the following: <br>· Develop and maintain a winning team: we remain committed to building our holistic and high-performance programme through player recruitment, development, and retention. <br></p><p>· Sport club management: monitoring and tracking all the systems aligned to our key focus areas and looking into programme renewal for our cluster programmes. <br></p><p>· Expanding the Centre for Sport Leadership (CSL): we are working on getting 15 research fellows for our centre, expanding our sport research footprint. We will investigate partnering with two African universities this year. <br></p><p><br></p> |
| Full steam ahead | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9805 | | Full steam ahead | Petro Mostert | <p></p><p>By Denisha Jairam-Owthar</p><p>I'm thrilled and excited to see Information Technology Division's team 'full steam ahead' at the start of 2023. IT's digital strategy has been approved, giving us the roadmap to follow on our digital journey at Stellenbosch University. We have much work to do, and there are many critical deliverables. </p><p>This year we will see SUNFin going live in July, Cybersecurity becoming a priority and its response plan to be implemented, and IT reviewing various systems to carve out flight plans for improving those technologies. We will re-align our roles to deliver and stabilise “mission-critical" projects, conduct system reviews, start new projects, embrace the cloud in significant ways, roll out the usage of Jira by more people, and renew our network.</p><p>With lots of IT engagements planned for the year ahead, 'all hands-on deck' is our current ethos to realise the benefits of what we have been working on for some time. In the spirit of creating a thriving Institution whereby digitisation is a prioritised game-changer, it puts IT at the forefront. Let's go forth with passion, doing all things and tasks with excellence while working together as one of SU's best teams.</p><p><br></p> |
| SUFM maintenance team's rapid response saves millions in insurance claims | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9806 | | SUFM maintenance team's rapid response saves millions in insurance claims | Petro Mostert | <p></p><p>Boxing day 2022 came with a massive punch with a flood in Stellenbosch University's Admin A building after a pipe burst on the third floor. Within minutes after security staff saw water streaming out of the building, Facility Management's maintenance teams were on site and doing what they do best. Seven days later, staff could return to their offices – in time to welcome students for registration on campus. Their rapid response and efficient way of cleaning and drying the 2 400 m2 area in such a short period brought down the initial estimated R20 million insurance claim to R2,4 million.</p><p>"Our campuses do not shut down when staff and students go on holiday in December. Generators need fuel, and pipes burst, electricity trips and what breaks, must be fixed," says Aloma Fourie, maintenance planning manager, and Robert Todkill, a technical advisor in Facilities Management's property services. "It's like a big brother who must keep his eye on everything that could go wrong while the rest of the University's staff and students are holidaying somewhere," says Todkill.</p><p>He says a security officer saw water streaming out from under the doors opening on the Rooiplein at 7 am on 26 December last year. He immediately contacted Facilities Management's maintenance teams. The maintenance teams were on site within twenty to thirty minutes. They closed taps, opened windows and doors, swept up water, moved furniture, boxes of paper, and equipment away, and brought in dryers and dehumidifiers.</p><p>Within three days, the building was dry again, and the teams — consisting of SU staff members and service providers— could start repair work. Fourie says it is astonishing how fast the teams managed to dry out the entire building. "This is why we had to replace so few floors or carpets. The insurance company said they had rarely experienced this at any other university in South Africa. Therefore, they said, they wish they could phone the SU team the next time they have floods at another university!"</p><p>Todkill said they had to hand over the building on 3 January 2023 for student registration; therefore, the teams even worked on 1 and 2 January when the rest of South Africa was enjoying time off. "One of the guys even checked in every two hours to empty the dehumidifiers. The commitment from the teams was astonishing."</p><p>He said that while they were in the building fixing flood damage, such as electrical circuits, alarm detectors, and fire alarms, they even repaired other faults while on site. The result was a building in a much better state than before the flood.</p><p>Todkill said SU had invested much time and resources in electronic monitoring systems for utilities, such as water and electricity. "We have people monitoring these systems 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that faults are detected immediately, and teams are alerted to go out and repair them. These systems are saving the University a lot of money, and we cannot work without them."</p><p>They and the planned and reactive maintenance managers say it is unbelievable what they experience when staff and students leave the campus to go on holiday. "People should think of the University as their home. Taps were running, and lights, boilers, and other equipment were still switched on. When you go on holiday, you ensure you've switched off appliances and closed the taps at home. Why not do the same when you leave SU for holidays?" says Fourie.</p><p>Fourie had her fair share of flooding when heavy rains caused flooding of residences Huis Marais, Huis Visser, Eendrag, and the library earlier in December last year when we experienced unseasonably heavy rain. Again, the teams were on site immediately to save what they could – even putting down sandbags to prevent further flooding. Even Stellenbosch municipality was called in and cleared some drains to prevent future flooding.</p><p>Usually, builders get a breather and go on their annual builders' vacation in December. However, during this time, Fourie takes the opportunity to get a lot of work done with her teams on a quieter campus. This year, she and her teams embarked on a significant cleaning exercise, using high-pressure hoses to clean our buildings. Instead of paying to paint these buildings, she managed to save SU almost R3 million by using this cleaning method. She and her teams plan to continue this project throughout the year.</p><p>Fourie and Todkill work side by side, looking after maintenance teams consisting of permanent SU employees and service providers, with which they have built up excellent relationships over the years. Where Fourie looks after planned maintenance issues, Todkill ensures that any reactive requests get the urgent attention they require. "Our phones are on all the time; it is just how it is," they agree.</p><p>Together they believe in fostering trustworthy relationships with stakeholders such as the municipality of Stellenbosch. Because of these relationships, our team gets reaction times of 2 minutes.</p><p>Director of property services, Nadeem Gafieldien, said he is immensely proud and thankful to the property services teams that worked around the clock to keep SU operational over the holiday period. "The managers, foreman, teams, and service providers responded quickly to the floods and prevented millions of water damage. They save us millions in maintenance costs and insurance claims. In doing this, they sacrificed their valuable family time to ensure the campus can open on time to welcome students and staff for 2023."</p><p>For Nicolette van den Eijkel, Chief Director: Facilities Management, her thoughts at 08h36 on Boxing Day were definitely not on removing gallons of water from a building. Throughout the day, she received updates. By the evening, she realised how many of her staff and their service providers' personnel did not spend Boxing Day with their families – and likely would not spend the following days with them, as the deadline was looming.</p><p>"Over the next seven days, I got updates, gave advice, and did check-ins, and not once did anyone complain or say how horrible it was to work at this time and be away from family and friends. On 2 January, just after five, I received confirmation: "job done; the building is ready for staff and students." My WhatsApp response seemed inadequate: "I am so very impressed with FM. Thank you to all that managed to pull this miracle off. Thank you, Robert, for taking the lead and making it happen. While we were relaxing and celebrating, you and the team there worked like crazy. We cannot say enough thank you. I am very, very proud of you all."</p><p>“The University is indebted to Robert Todkill and Alfonso Baily from Tsebo for the incredible work they and their teams did to prevent massive damage and get the wheels turning within less than a week," said van der Eijkel.</p><p>SU gives a massive shout-out to Fourie and Todkill's maintenance teams and service providers for their incredible work around the clock to keep the lights on and the water out.</p><p><br></p> |
| Learners can access SU Advantage for only R99pm | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9722 | | Learners can access SU Advantage for only R99pm | Petro Mostert | <p>Stellenbosch University's SUNCOM division, in partnership with its Centre for Pedagogy (SUNCEP), offers high school learners access to its supplementary educational platform SU Advantage for R99 per month for a year as an introductory offer for 2023. SU Advantage augments the high school learning experience and supports grade 10, 11, and 12 learners.<br></p><p>With SU Advantage, learners have access to a combination of short, animated video lessons and long-form, in-depth lessons summarising essential aspects of each topic learners would have covered across eleven subjects. These video lessons aim to enhance what learners were exposed to in the classroom and explain how they can expect the work to be assessed in tests and examinations.</p><p>The platform also boasts bi-weekly live lessons. The live lessons are presented in a way that helps learners get a glimpse into how specific topics might be assessed in exams. During these sessions, learners can engage with teachers to better understand the work they would have done by that point in time in class. </p><p>"Our goal is not to replace traditional mainstream schooling, and SU Advantage is therefore not an online school. Instead, SU Advantage can enhance and amplify what learners are exposed to in classrooms. This is what is meant with supplementary education," says Gary Muizenheimer, Operations Director of Stellenbosch University's commercial unit, SUNCOM. </p><p>The University created SU Advantage using a unique and tested pedagogical approach to facilitate effective online learning. After each video lesson, learners can do an online assessment to test their understanding of the material they have studied. If they require further exposure to specific topics, SU Advantage offers digital<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>workbooks with accompanying memos in each subject that elaborate on critical concepts.<br></p><p>SU Advantage was launched in 2022.</p><p>"SU Advantage is Stellenbosch University's response to some of our country's education system's challenges. In line with Our Vision 2040, our University is inclusive, innovative, and advancing knowledge in service of society. We believe this tool gives learners the advantage they need to improve their marks and become our next-generation students at SU," says Professor Wim de Villiers, SU Rector, and Vice-Chancellor.</p><p>All resources available on the platform have been created by experienced educators who have excelled in their teaching careers. Simply put, the learning material available on SU Advantage is of high quality and designed in such a way that it ensures a holistic understanding for learners.</p><p>"From our market research, the youth has high expectations regarding the digital content they prefer to consume. That's exactly why the learning content on SU Advantage is short, to the point, and attention-grabbing," Muizenheimer said.</p><p>Although any learner can subscribe to SU Advantage, various corporate sponsors made funds available to ensure that learners in under-resourced communities can reap its benefits.</p><p>"Since its inception, SU Advantage has been used by hundreds of learners from schools with limited resources, at no cost, across the country, and this number continues to grow as we partner with more role-players in the private and public sectors," comments Muizenheimer when asked about the societal impact of their solution.</p><p>The University's platform is forward-looking. SU Advantage does not purport to be a short-term solution for learners. Instead, it's a platform to help learners perform better in school, life beyond, and future careers. Ultimately, they have upward economic mobility in mind. </p><p>"We've made it our mandate to make tertiary education a reality for more South African youths. By providing foundational support to high school learners in the senior phases of their educational journey, SU Advantage can help them improve their chances of being accepted into tertiary learning institutions," adds Muizenheimer. </p><p>For the month of February 2023, subscriptions to SU Advantage can be purchased for R99 per month. Learners who have joined the platform using the promotional price will continue to pay R99 in coming months too.<br></p><p><br></p><p>To see what the buzz is all about, go to <a href="http://www.suadvantage.co.za/">www.suadvantage.co.za</a>.</p><p>Or visit their social media sites on Facebook <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://www.facebook.com/SUAdvantage&data=05%7c01%7c%7cba2d75439d91448cc31208db051f183c%7ca6fa3b030a3c42588433a120dffcd348%7c0%7c0%7c638109403350003313%7cUnknown%7cTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7c3000%7c%7c%7c&sdata=iXGQihVZQom079gxOM2%2BniH3XhQ5okvNrnNreY/z%2BHU%3D&reserved=0">here</a> and Instagram <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://www.instagram.com/suadvantage/&data=05%7c01%7c%7cba2d75439d91448cc31208db051f183c%7ca6fa3b030a3c42588433a120dffcd348%7c0%7c0%7c638109403350003313%7cUnknown%7cTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7c3000%7c%7c%7c&sdata=VJFklS9r1%2Bp0lgFH6GMuho9XKoUd5kNKLgro4hYNXRQ%3D&reserved=0">here</a>.<br><br></p><p><strong><em>This is what some learners said about SU Advantage:</em></strong></p><p>"It's an excellent tool to assist me with my schoolwork and understanding of the work. It helps me learn things before we learn them at school and broadens my knowledge on the topic I am learning about." Risendran Naidoo - Earlington Secondary School, Ethekwini, KwaZulu-Natal.</p><p>"Everything I require is easily accessible and has a user-friendly interface on SU Advantage. It has aided my preparation for tests; I use it to review my work and even prepare for class. The videos are well explained and easily understood." Aasiyah Davids - Pelican Park High School, Cape Town, Western Cape.</p><p>"The small quizzes that follow a lesson also help solidify what we learned in each lesson. It's conducive when it draws near to exams, as the short lessons help us recap much quicker. Iman Norodien - Head Girl at Pelican Park High School, Cape Town, Western Cape.</p><p><br></p><p>"I am seeing a difference in my results," Sibabalwe Maweza - SA College School, Pretoria, Gauteng.<br></p><p> </p><p><strong><em>This is what some educators from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said about SU Advantage:</em></strong></p><p>"The lesson material is excellent; it has good detail and is simple to understand. The lessons follow a good logic sequence." Keenan Rasmus - Physical Sciences: Advisor; Mark Dokter- Mathematics: Advisor (Subject advisors: Garden Route district).</p><p>"I experience your content as useful and a novel way for learners to engage with their learning material. The lessons are well thought through and can only benefit those who try to log in regularly." Jenny Bridgeman - Head: Curriculum support (Overberg district).</p><p> "SU Advantage is truly a valuable resource for self-guided and independent learning. The resources are spot-on and relevant to what is taught in grade 12." Hein Adonis - Subject advisor: Life- and Natural Sciences (Overberg district).</p><p>"I love the platform. I look forward to utilizing it regularly." Keenan Moses- Senior Education Specialist: Accounting (Central Karoo district).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For SU Advantage queries:</p><p>info@suadvantage.co.za </p><p>021 879 5803 </p><p> </p><p>For Media Enquiries:</p><p>Petro Mostert</p><p><a href="mailto:petromostert@sun.ac.za">petromostert@sun.ac.za</a></p><p>M 0823346193</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br></p> |
| Creating a Stellenbosch University where everyone feels welcome | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9672 | | Creating a Stellenbosch University where everyone feels welcome | Petro Mostert | <p><br><br></p><p>This year started somewhere where two years of all that was COVID-19 left us. We hopped off one train onto another and kept rolling while we tried to catch up on all fronts.</p><p>For me, 2022 had tremendous highlights. One of them was reading Booker prize winner Damon Galgut's <em>The Promise</em>. Accoladed as "literary fiction at its finest", I cannot agree more. This novel takes you on a journey of a white family's decline during South Africa's transition out of apartheid. It is about a promise made, and for generations not kept, until the past could be laid to rest and (some of) the old wounds healed.</p><p>In a year in which Stellenbosch University (SU) once again made headlines for racist incidents and was found to be an "unwelcoming place" for black students and staff, this book was very relevant. Our priority from now on is to ensure our University becomes an environment where everyone feels welcome: where we can learn, stay, work, and teach together as the top research-led university in the world – a place connected to the world.<br><br></p><h2><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-5">Building on five years</span><br></h2><p><br></p><p>In January I will start my second, five-year term as Chief Operating Officer at SU. It's a privilege and honour to be given additional time to build on what our team started in 2018 when I stepped into this new role – wide-eyed and filled with excitement and ambition to creatively tackle the University's operational challenges and build a strong foundation for growth, learning, and prosperity.</p><p>It was exciting times, despite the curveballs: drought, fire, budget constraints, COVID-19, inflation, war internationally, and lately, cybersecurity incidents. We responded to all these challenges in characteristic fashion: we do not merely replace, restore, or repair, we build better.</p><p>We've created a magnificent greywater system and, together with behaviour change achieved a sustained 45 percent reduction in potable water consumption on campus. After a devastating fire at Huis ten Bosch in 2019, students moved into a much-improved space this year. We've survived COVID-19 and ensured two successful academic years despite various degrees of lock-down while accelerating our digitalisation strategy in creating a high-tech hybrid learning and teaching system.</p><p>We've improved residences and faculty buildings, built magnificent new buildings that attracted world-renowned researchers, paid carbon tax (to keep the campus running during loadshedding), and launched our environmental sustainability plan. We played soccer on the Danie Craven stadium, our student-athletes claimed gold at the Olympics, and are the Varsity netball champions. We've incubated new companies, won an international award for being an entrepreneurial university, got rid of the Inetkey, and made big strides toward doing our finances in the cloud – all of this while ensuring we stay within the goal posts of a sound financial budget. </p><p>Coming back to promises made, our RC adopted a well-defined employment equity plan in 2018 and there is considerable diversity in the staff component. From 2018 until 2022, we made 152 full-time appointments in our RC, of which 130 (86 percent) were BCI appointments. Over the same period, 123 colleagues were promoted, including 81 (66 percent) BCI colleagues. We will double down on these efforts. The RC has a succession grid and through training and development as an active strategy to advance staff transformation at all levels, I believe our transformation strategy will bear fruit in the years to come.</p><p>My vision for the second term has three major dimensions, and I'd like to share them with you:</p><p>The need to expand SU's academic footprint beyond the constraints of the public sector, both to more students and to more programmes for the same students;</p><p>The digitalisation of business processes, offers the most dramatic opportunity to change the University's administration in a long time;</p><p>The proactive mitigation of two great risks: cybersecurity and financial sustainability.</p><p>As COO, I give you my commitment to lead our RC, as in the past, with discipline, creativity, and an awareness of risks while I repeat my commitment to an optimistic and collaborative leadership style. Let's create a Stellenbosch University together where all South Africans will aspire to study and work.</p><p>I wish you and your families a blessed and well-deserved, holiday. Celebrate the festive season with vigour, stay safe, and join me next year to take on the challenges with renewed energy and passion.</p><p>With best wishes and gratitude,<br></p><h3><span class="ms-rteForeColor-1" style="">Prof Stan du Plessis</span><br></h3><p><br></p> |
