​​​​​A large research-led University requires the collaboration of many colleagues and students within the organisation as well local and even international external stakeholders. Some business schools use symphony orchestras to demonstrate the challenges and gains from such collaboration. We all appreciate the majesty of a fine symphony orchestra performing a grand classical score. The precision, timing and intonation come together in a collective wave of inspiring music.

The Responsibility Centre (RC) of Operations and Finance, which incorporates the divisions of Finance, Facilities Management (SUFM), Information Technology (IT), Innovus and Maties Sport, has worked tirelessly to improve the University this last year.

On our five campuses construction work to the value of R2,2 billion is ongoing, a University Technology Fund has been established with the leadership of Innovus, IT is tuned into creating and implementing the optimal service delivery and governance model, Maties won the Varsity Cup and we are on our way to the cloud with our financial and administration systems.

Preparing for the next generation's learning experience

"Imagination creates reality." - Richard Wagner:

While there are still cranes, dust and noise on the campuses where we will welcome our new first years in 2020, we are making considerable progress to developing and creating more and better spaces for research, study, recreation and living to the benefit of the SU community as a whole.

The Campus Renewal Project (CRP) is valued at R4,2 billion, of which R1,4 billion is currently in construction, as well as capital projects to the value of R800 million. Altogether 26 construction projects were completed this year, and 74 new ones commenced this year. Approximately 47 projects will be completed next year, which includes the Decanting facility (R128m) and Silvertrees parking project (R37m), a part of the Biomedical Research Institute building (R974m), which will become our first 4-star rated green building, the GG Cillie building upgrade (R17m) and the upgrades to the Mechanical and Mechatronic Building (R109m) as part of the bigger Engineering Campus Renewal Project (R729m). We are also looking forward to the completion towards the end of 2020 of the new Jan Mouton learning centre and the upgrading of Huis ten Bosch residence after the devastating fire earlier this year.

Between all die construction activities, SUFM is also planning to launch a first of its kind Interactive Map for students in the new year – an application that will enable students to navigate their way around campus more effectively.

SUFM's implementation of an automated greywater system earlier this year at residences on campus has already seen a 35% reduction in the use of water, as well as a decrease in energy used to heat water for showers.

Thank you to all the brand warriors at SUFM for completing and keeping projects on time and within budget.

SUNFin shifting to the cloud

In their support of SU's strategic theme of “a thriving Stellenbosch University," the SUNFin team is steadily stepping out of old technology to embrace the powerful opportunities which lies in the new Oracle Cloud Financials (OCF). Our Finance Divisions's staff have been working hard since April to help the project take off and are grateful for the many colleagues in faculties and PASS divisions who have worked with them on this important project.

There is a massive amount of financial data involved in this project, which will have to migrate to OCF.

Between 1 January and 31 October this year, there were more than 2,3 million general ledger entries made, 167 408 orders to the value of R3,2 billion placed and 69 663 payments to the amount of R3,2 billion made. There are currently 27 759 different cost centres on our financial system and 869 366 cost centre-account combinations with entries. By January 2021 all of these data will be transferred to OCF in various stages and formats. 

Well done to our finance team for reaching their second milestone of evaluating the first iteration of OCF and staying on track with this large project.

Top LaunchLab in Africa

For the second year in a row, the Nedbank Stellenbosch University LaunchLab was honoured and recognised as the top University Incubator in Africa by UBI Global, the Stockholm-based intelligence company.

Two of Innovus's companies incorporated in 2018 – CubeSpace and GeoSmart – declared dividends after their first financial year. Another spin-out company, Stellenbosch Nanofibre Company (SNC)'s and its international partner Taiki USA's first client product - Artis Phantom Cleansing Silks, a 3-in-1 facial cleanser - has been listed as one of Time Magazine's 100 best inventions for 2019.

"There was no one near to confuse me, so I was forced to become original."

 - Joseph Haydn

Innovus and the game-changing LaunchLab's contribution to creating a knowledge region within the greater Stellenbosch are noteworthy. No wonder that they were instrumental in the launch earlier this year of the Stellenbosch Network – a cross-sector and inter-disciplinary membership platform aiming to bring people together to meet each other, share ideas and encourage collaboration and partnership.

Innovus also took centre stage in designing the model for and raising more than R150 million for the first phase of the University Technology Fund (UTF) from the SA SME Fund. The UTF will invest in both early-stage development projects and early-stage venture capital stage projects and the founder universities are Stellenbosch University and University of Cape Town.

SUNOnline going live

SUNOnline, SU's new short courses online platform, has gone live this year and is ready to provide a seamless learning experience to students on the more than 540 available courses. From next year all short courses will be hosted on the new platform. This was not an easy project, and we are grateful to the many colleagues who were involved in making this a success story.

New central events and conferencing office coming

Staying on the innovation and entrepreneurship melodies, our Innovus and SUNCOM teams have successfully piloted a project to rent out the Adam Small theatre complex in collaboration with the Drama department. Since they they became involved with this function in June last year, they secured rental income of around R2.7m for SU. This pilot project was the first step toward the coordination of all short-term bookings for facilities on campus via central events and conference office. This new unit is being launched early in 2020 and will expand to include rentals at the Conserve, Sport and film shoots as part of the second phase of the pilot.

As part of the conferencing activity of this new unit, next year will also see them host a number of international conferences that were successfully bid for, including, XI International Symposium on Grapevine Physiology & Biotechnology and the Joint ASM – MYTOX-SOUTH 2020, both in collaboration with SU's Agri Science faculty, Wesgro and SA Tourism. The beginning of more to come, so watch this space.

The IT thread running through

One can think about SU's IT Division as a kind of iceberg where most of the mass of work is done beneath the surface. From new financial and administrative system developments to newly built facilities, from creating innovative products to providing platforms for hybrid learning, there is a line you can draw to IT who empowers stakeholders with ICT systems, services and infrastructure.

The past year saw the IT Division growing into a mature, capable entity geared to deliver excellent ICT support services in collaboration with their partners. The division successfully concluded a service delivery model review process which culminated in a new service delivery model to be implemented over a period, starting with four implementation projects. ​

For every helpdesk query being successfully solved, to installing an integrated network in a newly built environment, I thank the IT team for another year of seamless service delivery across faculties, business units and the more significant SU student community.

#Inetkey is falling

“I said to the orchestra, 'If there are discords we must always play them as beautifully as we know how." – Herbert von Karajan

Next year SU's infamous Inetkey, which serves as a gatekeeper to keep track of individual internet usage and facilitate the collection of funds to afford the service for staff and students, will be phased out by June 2020. From January next year, Inetkey will no longer be used for billing, but only for collecting data usage and for technical purposes. Users will no longer be charged for internet via Inetkey. In anticipation of a sharp increase in internet demand, the IT Division made arrangements to substantially increase the available bandwidth, with possible future additions as the need arises.

Sporting ambassadors

Earlier this year, SU was the proud host of the 2019 University Sports South Africa Games where our athletes were among the stars of this annual highlight on the University's sports calendar. The year also saw Maties win the Varsity Cup for the second year in a row.

Maties Sport's high-performance student-athletes achieved a first-year throughput rate of 85%. Altogether 31 of the 50 athletes that graduated this year enrolled for postgraduate programmes.

The division is managing 30 sporting codes serve as excellent ambassadors for the University, offering opportunities for recreational, competitive and high-performance participations, as well as research and social impact activities. Thank you, Maties Sport, for keeping this ensemble in shape.

The conductor Bernard Arnault said: “From time to time, the Vienna Philharmonic could play without a conductor because they are so good." I believe our responsibility centre staff is as good as any orchestra in the world and I look forward to a year in which we will work together even more harmoniously.

Thank you for your hard work this year and best wishes for the Festive Season and a happy and prosperous 2020.

Stan du Plessis

Chief Operating Officer

Gustavo Dudamel:  “My education was sitting in an orchestra.  And what a beautiful model fora society.  Everyone together, listening to each other, with one goal.  This is the best way I can think of to build a better world.