The FVZS Institute was officially launched in March 2011 as one of the HOPE projects of Stellenbosch University. The Institute pays homage to a great (South) African leader, critical thinker, thought leader and son of Stellenbosch University, the late Dr Frederik van Zyl Slabbert. (Insert link here to more information about Van Zyl)

Through our program offering the Institute creates various platforms through which students and young people can expand their learning experiences and leadership skills.

At the core of what we do, we are committed to staying engaged with an ever changing South African and global context. Through our offerings we strive to remain relevant, critical and encourage collaboration and partnerships locally, across Africa and beyond. We believe in remaining future focused and innovative in our approach, understanding the need to be a significant role-player in creating inclusive spaces for dialogue on hope and reconciliation, justice, activism and decolonization.

The program offering of the FVZS Institute is structured and aligned to our strategic goals 2016 -2020 around the following pillars:

• Leadership, Active Citizenship and Social responsibility

• Democracy, Justice and Human Rights

• Repositioning SU as a New African University

• Critical Engagement, Innovation and Inclusivity

Currently the Institute offers various short courses and programmes which form part of the co-curricular curriculum and includes 14 offerings in total

• 3 Faculty Specific courses (Law ; Education and Medicine and Health Sciences)

• A Graduate Programme aimed at final year students

• 2DO Programme (Second years development programme)

• Global Citizenship in partnership with the Post Graduate and International Office

• Leadership through Community Interaction (open to all students and student leaders run in partnership with Maties Community Service)

• African Leadership Development Programme (online platform)

• 1 residence specific course : Meta Leadership Course

• 5 courses open to students and the broader public namely : Women in Leadership ; Just Lead! ; Facilitative Leadership ; Democracy and Citizenship ; Leadership Beyond Borders