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The Rector and Vice-Chancellor

​​​The HOPE Project​​


The HOPE Project of Stellenbosch University (SU) is led by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Russel Botman, together with his management team and the Deans of the University's Faculties.

Prof Botman sees the HOPE Project as follows:

"SU has a proud tradition of excellence in teaching and learning, world-class research and active involvement in communities, aimed at changing the world significantly and for the better. The next step is to establish SU as a knowledge pioneer that is tackling Africa's greatest challenges by means of its proven academic and research expertise.

"This compels us to strive for sustainable solutions to our continent's needs, which vary from democracy, governance and leadership to communication, education, health care, food security and water.​

"This is not a deviation from our higher education mandate. We are also not turning SU into a 'community university'. We decided to concentrate our research programmes on five themes with which we can make the most significant contribution to the national and international development agenda.

"These themes are the eradication of poverty and related conditions, and the promotion of human dignity and health, democracy and human rights, peace and security, as well as a sustainable environment and a competitive industry.

"Our researchers and students joined forces and came up with more than 20 innovative academic initiatives focused on our development themes. The HOPE Project themes and initiatives constitute the cornerstone of our strategic direction for the next decade – together with the goals to continuously improve our staff and student success and to provide facilities and infrastructure that will cement our position as a pioneering institution of the 21st century.

"Our development themes and initiatives have significantly strengthened our science-for-society approach. We call this the HOPE Project because future generations deserve better."

Read more about the HOPE Project >