Welcome
to the website of the Stellenbosch University Faculty of Military Science.
As you browse through our website, you will
discover that Stellenbosch University (SU) is the custodian of our Faculty
through a contractual agreement with the South African Department of Defence
(DoD). The Faculty is located within the SA Military Academy in Saldanha Bay on the West Coast of South Africa.
On our Campus, civilian and uniform members work together and learners are
members of SA Army, SA Navy, SA Air Force, SA Military Health Services and
members of the broader DoD. We are an institution privileged to develop the
future military leaders of South Africa
and our international partners such as Botswana,
France, Mozambique and Namibia.
The
Faculty of Military Science is a Faculty rendering service to the DoD by
providing professional military education to primarily, but not exclusively,
candidate and commissioned officers of the DoD. Our residential learners have
already completed their officer’s formative training, but we still devote
thirteen percent of the learners’ time to Military Leadership Development in
order to enhance their military competencies.
Upon graduation, we feel confident that we are
returning wise warriors to their respective military units. They are ready for
deployment as military leaders for the various peacekeeping and border patrol
operations required of the SA National Defence Force, proud thinking soldiers
fit to be 21st century military officers! The Faculty pride itself
with our alumni sailing the oceans on our frigates and submarines, our pilots
flying fighter aircraft, our army students conquering the challenges of the
African terrain, or the Military Health professionals playing their part during
operations.
We
are proud of the fact that we are the only Faculty of Military Science in South Africa
and that our Faculty members have the opportunity to develop expert knowledge
in their respective academic disciplines. Of major significance is the fact
that all our academic programmes are fully accredited by the Council for Higher
Education and that we own an accredited research journal (Scientia Militaria).
Our Faculty members are engaged in teaching,
conducting security-related research and being involved in community
interaction with the DoD, academic institutions and civil society. We are
building capacity to encourage Faculty members to integrate service learning
into the curriculum. Furthermore we seek out opportunities for
exposure to cutting-edge knowledge through the conceptualisation and planning
of academic conferences and through empowering our Faculty members to present
academic papers at national and international conferences.
Approximately
thirty percent of our learners are women in a male dominated career and are among
our top performers in our Faculty. We are excited about this as we target some
of them as future academics through our “grow our own timber” strategy. The
Faculty of Military Science is encouraged by the fact that we are a preferred
destination for many international military institutions eager to learn more
about us and to explore opportunities for collaboration. In addition, various
state organs visit us for benchmarking purposes and possible partnerships. There
are many other interesting facts you may discover as you journey through our
website, for instance greater access is given to civilian and military staff
members to study through our Interactive Telematic Education Programme. So,
thanks for your interest and enjoy your electronic visit to our Campus, where
our motto is “Arm yourself through knowledge” and where we enjoy a Military culture,
steeped in tradition.
Prof
M.S Tshehla
Dean, Faculty of Military
Science
Military Academy Saldanha
