Stellenbosch University
Welcome to Stellenbosch University
Communication from Council (meeting of 26 September 2018)
Author: Corporate Communication / Korporatiewe Kommunikasie
Published: 28/09/2018

​The Stellenbosch University (SU) Council convened for its third scheduled meeting of the year on Wednesday 26 September 2018.

Council approved the University's mid-year financial report and noted the proposed remuneration and student fee adjustments for 2019. We were also updated on progress with the Faculty Renewal Plan as well as the revision of the Statute.

In addition, we approved a new Teaching and Learning Policy for the University. The policy aims to create an enabling environment where staff and students' potential is maximised, effective teaching and learning is encouraged, and suitable provision is made for the support of SU's diverse student body and the professional development of academics for their teaching role. This policy will further enhance the standing of the University as a globally recognised institution of higher learning, having featured in the rankings of five international higher education rating agencies over the past three years.

Council is pleased that the University is doing well, as appears from the reports we received from the Rector and Vice-Chancellor (click here to download), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy and Internationalisation as well as the Chief Operating Officer.

Please read on for more details.

Kind regards

George Steyn
Chairperson: SU Council

Mid-year financial report

Council approved SU's mid-year financial report for submission to the DHET. It covers the University's financial performance for the period 1 January to 30 June 2018.

The report shows that the 2018 budget was successfully managed over this time. The institution is financially sound and has increased its available funds and net asset value. Private donations for the period exceeded expectations, and investments performed relatively well, given the generally poor market conditions.

However, certain risks need to be taken into account, such as the unknown effect of the expected change in the state subsidy formula on the University's first-stream income, the impact of the global and local economic outlook, as well as pressure on student finances.

Council noted the University's continued commitment to sound financial planning and management aimed at securing the long-term financial sustainability of the institution.

Proposed remuneration adjustments

Council received a report from its Remuneration Committee on remuneration adjustments for 2019.

  • The report recommended a general, inflation-linked adjustment of 6,3% for all staff members who had achieved a performance mark of 3 or higher in the 2018 evaluation cycle.

The committee reported on developments regarding basic remuneration levels (BRLs) at SU:

  • The proposed BRLs for 2019 – excluding those for post levels 19 and 18 – were accepted.
  • A new model for differentiated remuneration adjustments was also accepted. The model implies that the past two instead of three years' performance marks would be taken into account to consider whether an employee qualifies to be taken up to 100% of the BRL concerned.
  • Moreover, it was proposed that the remuneration of all employees currently remunerated at below 90% of their BRL be raised to 90%, subject to adequate performance, and that 90% be implemented as the new minimum appointment level for all funding streams.

Final decisions in this regard are subject to approval of SU's 2019 budget at the last Council meeting of the year on 26 November, as well as the final state subsidy allocation.

Proposed adjustment of student fees

In line with Council's request in 2017 for an indication of planned student fees adjustment prior to final budget proposals, points of departure in this regard were shared with Council on Wednesday. No final decisions have been taken as yet, since the 2019 budget will be tabled to Council on 26 November only.

While SU appreciates that government has made significantly more funding available to higher education, not all the University's costs are covered. Inflation-linked increases in student fees are essential to ensure the institution's long-term financial sustainability, world-class academic qualifications and research outputs, and a significant positive impact on society.

  • Using the higher education price index (HEPI) as a guideline, SU proposes to raise tuition fees for 2019 by 7% across the board without any differentiation.
  • A similar approach will be followed for accommodation fees, but since the budget must reflect costs, it may be necessary to motivate for a larger increase.

Council received the assurance that SU remained committed to support academically deserving students in financial need, and that the University's bursaries would be increased in line with increases in student fees.

These points of departure have been communicated to faculties and student representatives at a joint meeting, as well as to the Students' Representative Council (SRC). Regular communication with various stakeholders will continue in the run-up to final budget submission to Council at its last meeting of the year.

Faculty Renewal Plan

Council received an update on the Faculty Renewal Plan, which aims to assist the faculties of Education as well as Arts and Social Sciences to become more systemically sustainable.

Prof Hester Klopper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy and Internationalisation, has been leading the process. She assured Council that the University held both faculties in high regard, since they contained immense expertise and delivered among the highest research outputs at SU.

Monthly steering committee meetings have been taking place in the two faculties, where task teams have been working on aspects such as academic programme renewal, student enrolment and graduation, research outputs, academic and staff matters, as well as finances. Various recommendations have already been implemented to good effect.

Final proposals will be tabled at the next Council meeting on 26 November.

New Teaching and Learning Policy

Council approved a new Teaching and Learning Policy for the University, including amendments proposed by its Executive Committee, Social and Business Ethics Committee, and the Institutional Forum. Senate too had recommended that the policy be approved.

The policy aims to promote an enabling institutional environment where quality teaching and learning can flourish. It is premised on the notion that teaching and learning is a shared endeavour with reciprocal responsibilities between students, academic staff, support services and management bodies.

The policy is further premised on the principle that quality teaching and learning should be informed by scholarship, and provides for the professionalisation and ongoing development of academics in their teaching role through a range of learning opportunities. It also affirms that SU places a high premium on the recognition and reward of scholarly teaching.

The new policy commits the University to creating enabling physical and virtual learning environments that support and encourage quality teaching and effective learning at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

It provides for the continuous renewal of academic programmes to ensure alignment with the changing world of work, the broader social context as well as the SU graduate attributes. This will enhance graduates' contribution to society – locally and globally – and their potential as professionals.

The policy owner is the Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching, while the Senior Director: Learning and Teaching Enhancement serves as curator. Senate will monitor the implementation of the policy. The document will be published on the SU website as soon as possible to guide staff and students towards creating innovative learning environments.

SU in world university rankings

Council welcomed the fact that SU had cemented its place among the world's top universities based on the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. Prof Hester Klopper announced that SU had moved up to the 301-350 category in the 2019 version, which happened to be released in London while Council was meeting. This is an improvement on last year and places SU in the top 1% of all universities worldwide. A total of 1 258 institutions from across the globe feature in THE's 2019 rankings. They were evaluated based on teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income.

The Rectorate accepted a report on rankings on 19 September. Since 2015, SU has featured in the rankings of five international higher education rating agencies: THE, Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities, QS World University Rankings, QS BRICS University Rankings and CWTS Leiden Ranking.

Despite their shortcomings and limitations, rankings do serve as an important performance indicator. They also play a role in attracting students and academics from across the world to SU and facilitating effective collaboration with other universities, institutions and organisations. SU maintains a nuanced approach to university rankings in general – given the current realities of the institution, our country and our continent, as well as the methodology of the various rankings, on which there are well-documented differences of opinion. However, the University will continue to make every effort to provide accurate information to selected rating agencies.

Enrolment figures

According to the annual June census, SU's total student numbers have risen to 31 765, a third of whom are postgraduate. Enrolments by black, coloured, Indian and Asian students have grown to 13 182, or 41,5% of the total. Compared to 2017, the number of coloured students has increased by 0,7%, black African students by 5,9%, and Indian/Asian students by 10,2%.

Revision of SU's Statute

Council received a progress report on the review of the Statute of the University, which commenced in August 2017. A task team led by the Registrar, Dr Ronel Retief, has been working on a new document in collaboration with experts and based on inputs gathered through stakeholder consultation and public participation. Apart from 12 workshops held to date, University structures such as faculty boards, Senate, the SRC, the IF as well as Council and its reading committee have also provided inputs. A final draft will be submitted to Council via the relevant SU structures in November, after which it will be forwarded to the Minister of Higher Education and Training for approval.

Report on Strategy and Internationalisation

Council received an annual report (cli​ck here) from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy and Internationalisation, Prof Hester Klopper, covering the divisions of Strategic Initiatives, SU International and Information Governance. Highlights include the following:

Strategic Initiatives (SI)

  • The SI Division has successfully rolled out most of SU's Centenary commemoration events planned for 2018.
  • Concluding a two-year process, SI coordinated the process for the development of the University's new vision and strategic framework, which Council approved in June.
  • In collaboration with the Transport Department, SI has successfully concluded an integrated transport plan for the University.

Internationalisation

  • Over the past year, an Institutional Advisory Committee on Internationalisation was established at SU, consisting of representatives from all the faculties and relevant support environments.
  • SU International celebrated 25 years of international relations in 2018.
  • The Africa Centre for Scholarship facilitated five doctoral and scholarship development schools.
  • The Global Education Centre prepared the first cohort of BCom (International Business) third-year students for their compulsory international semester at partner institutions, which kicked off in August 2018.
  • As an active participant in the Africa Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), SU was named host of the ARUA Energy Centre of Excellence. The secretariat will be located in the Centre for Collaboration in Africa.

Information Governance

  • A Technology and Information Committee has been established to facilitate institutional coordination of these important areas at the University.
  • The SUN-i business intelligence system is being expanded to provide holistic management information in support of decision-making at primarily middle and senior management levels.
  • SU is part of a task team of Universities South Africa (USAf) responsible for developing a code of conduct in relation to the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) for all South African universities.

Report of the Chief Operating Officer

Council received an annual report (click here​) from the Chief Operating Officer, Prof Stan du Plessis (click here to download). He manages the responsibility centre of Operations and Finance, which consists of the divisions of Finance, Facilities Management, Information Technology (IT), Innovus and Maties Sport. Highlights include the following:

Finance

The Finance Division successfully manages SU's R6 billion budget, with five income streams. It was lauded by an external panel of reviewers earlier this year for the University's sound financial position despite severe pressure on the financial viability of public universities in South Africa.

Viable sourcing

SU's viable sourcing model strikes a sound balance between the provision of dignified jobs on the one hand and financial sustainability on the other. In 2017, seven contracts were successfully allocated to external companies subject to SU's code of conduct, and three have been awarded this year to date. In some instances, the rigorous tendering process has pointed to internal services divisions as the preferred option.

Facilities Management

The Facilities Management Division manages the buildings, infrastructure, sports fields and related services across all SU campuses. It employs 215 people and, through a business model of in-house and contracted service provision, manages 477 buildings comprising 775 000 m2 of useable space. The portfolio includes residences, office buildings, commercial spaces, classroom facilities, laboratories, research facilities, and recreation and sporting venues.

Campus Security

Although security remains a risk on all SU campuses, reported crime incidents in the second quarter of 2018 were the lowest on record. Campus Security has taken the lead with visible security, improvements in infrastructure, partnerships and awareness.

Innovus

Innovus is responsible for SU's intellectual property and trademark portfolio, and supports SU researchers, staff and students to commercialise their expertise and research in order to generate benefits for the University and society. The revenue from intellectual property transactions in 2017 was R7,2 million, while the number of SU spin-out companies has grown to 24, and their total number of employees to 267.

IT

The IT Division is working hard to turn SU into a smart, technology-enabled institution. To that end, it is implementing a service engagement model to improve the visibility and management of workflow.

Maties Sport

Sport is considered of strategic value at SU. One of the many achievements by Maties Sport recently has been Maties Rugby winning the Varsity Cup in SU's Centenary year. But also note that Maties Sport high-performance student athletes achieved a first-year throughput rate of 84% in 2017, in line with the SU average

Council Members

Council welcomed Prof Johan Fourie, who had been re-elected by permanent academic staff members in the category for non-Senate members for the period 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2020. At the meeting, Prof Fourie was also elected to serve on the University's Investment Committee, which functions as a subcommittee of Council.

In addition, Council welcomed Ms Gwen Ngwenya as a new member, having been appointed SSR3.jpgby the Western Cape premier for the period 1 August 2018 to 31 July 2022 to replace Mr Andricus van der Westhuizen. Ms Ngwenya holds an MSc in Finance from the University of London and a master's degree in International Economics from the University of Paris. She is a member of Parliament, as well as a former SRC president of the University of Cape Town.

Finally, Council also congratulated SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers on his 59th birthday, which coincided with Wednesday's meeting. He and the Registrar, Dr Ronel Retief, were also congratulated with participating in the Cape Town Marathon in the fight against student hunger as part of SU's # Move4Food campaign.

Next meeting

The next Council meeting is scheduled for Monday 26 November 2018, which will be the last for the year.

PICTURES, HENNIE RUDMAN:

TOP: SU Council members at the meeting on 26 September 2018, from left (back), Messrs Wayde Davidse and Charl Cillié, Profs Eugene Cloete and Johan Fourie, Messrs Lwando Nkamisa and Jannie Durand, Prof Nico Koopman, Deputy Chair Mr Ainsley Moos, Profs André Coetzee, Aslam Fataar and Usuf Chikte, and Adv Jean Meiring; (front) Profs Joan Hambidge, Arnold Schoonwinkel, Stan du Plessis and Wim de Villiers, Chair Mr George Steyn, Ms Khungeka Njobe, Prof Amanda Gouws and Ms Gwen Ngwenya.

ABOVE: New SU Council member Ms Gwen Ngwenya.