The Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) was abuzz with academic pride recently, as Stellenbosch University (SU) hosted its annual Celebrating Excellence in Teaching-Learning-Assessment event. The festive occasion brought together educators, institutional leaders and scholars to honour the dedicated individuals who continue to transform teaching-learning-assessment at the University and beyond.
Prof Lis Lange, Acting Senior Director: Learning and Teaching Enhancement, opened the evening by welcoming guests and acknowledging the importance of partnerships between faculties and the division she leads. She introduced the keynote speaker, SU's Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Deresh Ramjugernath who highlighted the essential role of teaching-learning-assessment in achieving the University's Vision 2040.
“We are on a journey of transformation," said Ramjugernath. “Our curriculum, programmes, methodologies and our pedagogies must be relevant and in keeping with the times, but importantly, in terms of producing the kind of graduates the world needs today and into the future."
He praised the honourees for their creativity, scholarship and unwavering commitment to inclusive, transformative education. “Your efforts are not merely about imparting knowledge," he told the audience. “They are about shaping futures. That is what you do as academics in this institution. You shape futures by building confidence and ensuring that our students thrive, both academically and personally," Ramjugernath said.
He also affirmed the significance of the University's Teaching Fellows and the national Teaching Advancement at University (TAU) fellows. “They serve as flag bearers … reminding us that teaching is not a static craft. It is an ever-evolving practice driven by curiosity, critical inquiry, and a commitment to excellence."
Following his address, the programme shifted to recognising recipients across a number of prestigious teaching awards and fellowships, introduced by Dr Nicoline Herman, Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
The first group celebrated were the winners of the 2024 Teaching-Learning-Assessment Awards: Dr Sophia Brink, Munira Hoosain, Dr Ruenda Loots, Dr Marietjie Lutz, Dr Rhoda Meyer and Prof Lungiswa Nkonki. Through a video montage, each honouree shared insights into their teaching philosophies – emphasising reflective practice, inclusivity and innovation.
Next, two scholars who recently completed SU Teaching Fellowships were recognised: Prof Deborah Blaine and Prof Taryn Bernard. These fellowships support in-depth research projects that impact teaching-learning-assessment at the University and nationally. The current holders of the SU Teaching Fellowships are Dr Marnel Mouton, Prof Nicola Plastow, Dr Mariëtte Volschenk, Sybil Smit, Prof Debra Shephard and Dr Rhoda Meyer.
Further recognition was given to the University's TAU Fellows, part of the national University Capacity Development Programme. Current fellowship holders Prof Elize Archer and Prof Shantal Windvogel were acknowledged, while two new fellows were welcomed: Profs Bronwyne Coetzee and Simone Titus-Dawson.
In the national category, two SU academics were honoured for their impact: Prof Faadiel Essop, who received a 2024 TAU Fellows Award for his work in multilingual medical education and challenging scientific elitism; and Prof Nicola Plastow, who received a commendation in the 2024 National University Teaching Awards (NUTA).
Faadiel, who couldn't be at the event, said in a video message that to be recognised by the TAU Fellows Award was a “great honour and privilege". He reflected on his journey from medical researcher to the scholarship of teaching. Emphasising critical consciousness, human potential, and curricular transformation, he advocates for interdisciplinary learning, storytelling in the classroom, and a more contextually grounded approach to medical education. “Where there's a will, there's a way," he said, as he called for deeper reflection, creativity, and a humanising pedagogy rooted in justice, curiosity, and compassion.
Plastow, associate professor in Occupational Therapy and a past recipient of both a SU Teaching Fellowship and a Distinguished Teaching Award, offered a deeply personal and impactful address. Standing beside a patchwork quilt she had sewn for her daughter, she drew a parallel between the craft of quilting and the academic journey.
“When we intentionally sew together the pieces of being an academic you get a product that is more than the sum of its parts," she explained. Plastow spoke about teaching, research, community work and parenting, reflecting especially on her passion for social participation and occupational justice. One of her most poignant examples involved supervising a PhD student from Gaza.
“Academic life is a legacy project, it continues beyond our time here," Plastow noted. “It's really important that we recognise that the work that we're doing is going to leave an indelible mark on students who we work with," she concluded.
Academic staff who completed different short courses were also recognised at the Celebrating Excellence in Teaching-Learning-Assessment event, as well as the winners of the ROCTAS Awards (Recognition of Contributions Towards Academic Success) that was held earlier this year.
The evening concluded with a thought-provoking address by Prof Richard Stevens, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching. He addressed the complexity of contemporary students and the moral and pedagogical imperative of recognising them as individuals.
Drawing on poetry and literature, Stevens urged the University to move beyond rigid academic structures. “We need to define academic renewal and operationalise it meaningfully – looking at how our programmes reflect changing knowledge bases, global trends, and the needs of society," he said. He emphasised that curriculum renewal must be more than administrative compliance; it must be holistic, coordinated and centred on student success. “Our challenge is to provide enabling environments within faculties so that academic renewal is a success and an ongoing process," Stevens said.
• Some of the winners recognised at the event will be profiled in SU's Women's Month coverage in August. Look out for their stories on the SU website.
