News

Innovus celebrates their CEO’s	https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9264	Innovus celebrates their CEO’s	Petro Mostert	<p>Every year Innovus celebrate the outstanding work the Chief Executive Officers and staff of Stellenbosch University's group of companies do.<br></p><p>In his address to the guests, SU's Chief Operating Officer, Prof Stan du Plessis, reminded them about Tom Hockaday's book "University Technology Transfer: What is s and how to do it" and the word SYZYGY – meaning "conjunction, or a pair of connected or correlated things".</p><p>"Hockaday argued that launching a company from a University requires Syzygy, that is to say, alignment between many parties: the researchers, the tech transfer office, managers of the company and the investors. The interests of these parties are not automatically aligned and require much work and mutual trust to achieve Syzygy. A vibrant research culture, tech Transfer office, a business incubator, and a University Technology Fund can be crucial in achieving the required conjunction."</p><p>Prof Stan said SU is incredibly fortunate to have such high-quality teams in our faculties, at Innovus, at USE, at the LaunchLab, as well as our partners at the UTF. "You allow us to attain Syzygy."</p><p>He referred to the pandemic times that tested big and small companies and is grateful that most of SU's companies managed to survive the troubled times.</p><p>"As a university, we are delighted to see this growing group of companies. Each of these companies represents a massive social impact from SU, locally and internationally. When we succeed in the difficult task of creating a viable product, or service, or business process out of a research idea, we turbo charge the impact that a research-intensive University can have on society."</p><p>Prof Stan also thanked the University Technology Fund for their confidence in the companies they have funded to date. He said that in addition to the UTF investments, the University's Investment Committee has also started investing in later-stage rounds to build the University's own equity portfolio in USE companies.</p><p> </p><p><br></p>
Lost and found items will be donated if not collected	https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9260	Lost and found items will be donated if not collected	Petro Mostert	<p><br><br></p><p>Campus Security offers the service of managing lost and found personal items. Students and other members of the campus community regularly hand items to campus security found on or around campus. Security staff regularly identify the owner of items handed in and then contact the owner to collect their belongings. Owners are required to provide details that correspond with where an item was lost to ensure that the rightful owner receives his belongings back. Owners of the lost property also enquire at the security desk and, in many cases, are reunited with their precious belonging. </p><p>"We are concerned that there are many items that nobody comes to collect. As we are running out of storage space, our security staff will be left with no alternative but to donate personal belongings that have not been claimed or collected to a local welfare organisation," says Melany le Roux, manager security systems and intelligence.</p><p>"Campus Security appreciate the assistance of student leaders to spread the message to the wider campus community that lost items could potentially be found and handed in at the security office at 62 Merriman Street, Stellenbosch."</p><p>Le Roux says the office is open day and night throughout the year.</p><p>"People regularly accept that it is a lost cause to receive a stolen phone, pair of spectacles, brush, purse, memory stick or even a whole bag. The reality is that there are still many people around that will do the right thing to hand found items in rather than keep them. Campus Security regularly observes astonished owners of items when they receive their belonging back."</p><p> </p><p> <br></p><p><br></p>
Residence students learn the ropes of using a fire extinguisher	https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9261	Residence students learn the ropes of using a fire extinguisher	Petro Mostert	<p><br><br></p><p><strong></strong></p><p>With more than 30 000 students enrolled at Stellenbosch University, of which approximately 10 000 reside on and around campus, there is a good chance that the first person who discovers a fire and responds to it will be a student. </p><p>"As many people have not had the opportunity to use a fire extinguisher, it is possible that the first person on the scene of the fire is not familiar with using a fire extinguisher. Although it is not difficult to use, practicalities such as unhooking a fire extinguisher from the wall or removing the safety pin is much easier the second time than the first time," says Melany le Roux, manager security systems and intelligence.</p><p>Le Roux says Campus Security recently arranged a practical demonstration for student leaders. The established partnership with the Stellenbosch Fire Services contributed to the Fire Services agreeing to familiarise student leaders with some basics about fires and using fire extinguishers. "We used the parking area behind Campus Security to start a mock fire which students then extinguished. The primary gain was the shared knowledge and experience, while the fun the students had was a bonus," said Le Roux.<br></p><p> </p><p><br></p>
Bicycle theft on campus still a headache	https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9262	Bicycle theft on campus still a headache	Petro Mostert	<p><strong></strong></p><p>A student once complained to a security staff member that his third bicycle was recently stolen. Although Campus Security, along with bicycle owners and student leaders, have over many years cooperated to reduce the number of bicycle thefts, bicycles still get stolen.</p><p>"Members of bicycle theft syndicates and many thieves have been caught so many times that the Court have no option but to sentence them to imprisonment. Sadly, many of these bicycle thieves continue stealing bicycles once they finish their term," says Melany le Roux, manager security systems and intelligence.</p><p>Although there will probably always be attempts to steal bicycles, le Roux advises bicycle owners to ensure their bicycle is the most difficult one to steal.</p><p>"If possible, always leave your bicycle in a lock-up facility, like a house, office, garage or shed. When you leave it outside, always lock it with a high-quality lock, preferably a U-lock," says le Roux. The photo shows how to lock your bicycle with a U-lock through the frame and the wheel. "If you have an expensive sports bicycle or a collector's bicycle, you could even consider using two U-locks to secure the front and back wheels to the frame."</p><p><br></p>
I am because we are	https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9251	I am because we are	Petro Mostert	<p></p><p>The past few weeks have been an emotional time on campus. Deep wounds of discrimination, inequality and inhumanity surfaced again, to remind us of an unhappy past. Sometimes one thoughtless event is all you need to disrupt and undo all the good from the past.</p><p>I wish I could say this will never happen again. Our country bears the scars of a deeply divided past that lives on in the present, and it will be our future leaders that are currently sitting in our lecture halls that will have to work hard to close this divide effectively and create a country where people are not discriminated against because of the colour of their skin or any other source of division.</p><p>Have you ever walked in a restaurant where there are people of different races, and suddenly realised how one group ignore the other, almost as if they are not there: invisible? I have. This act of inhumanity happens in our country. Not acknowledging a person for who and what they are (a person) is nothing more than inhumane. They are black. They are white. They are coloured. Not invisible. Not ghostly figures.</p><p>Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (which translates into a person is a person through other persons) is the basis of Ubuntu and should be the mantra we carry in ourselves and in the way we live. Nelson Mandela found that the power of Ubuntu, the inner core of every person's humanity, could move mountains. And so can we if we live by it.</p><p>I am confident that retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe's Commission of Enquiry into “Incidents of racism at the University, with reference to the recent occurrences at Huis Marais and the Faculty of Law's Law Dance" as well as “The current state of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the University campus culture, with specific reference to racism" will help us to understand these difficulties and will make practical recommendations to help us become the University we aspire to be. </p><p><br></p>
Five years in the making	https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9252	Five years in the making	Petro Mostert	<p><br><br></p><p>Facilities Management's property services team recently celebrated the launch of Stellenbosch University's first comprehensive design criteria documents (DCD). It took Nadeem Gafieldien, Director Property Services, colleagues Robert Todkill and Aloma Fourie and the rest of the team five years to develop the DCD, which provides detailed criteria, principles and rationale for all installations on campus.</p><p>"The DCD will ensure the collaborative and uniformed design and implementation for the standardisation across all business units, ensure compliance to legislation and standard practice and assist our teams with the maintainability of all installed equipment," says Gafieldien.</p><p>For the launch of the DCD, Facilities Management invited suppliers, contractors and other stakeholders for live demonstrations of how they will implement the DCD on campus. There are a complete set of DCD documents for mechanical, electrical, gas, utilities, civil, fire alarms and gardens and grounds.</p><p>The photos above captured some of the demonstrations done by team members. Some lucky guests also walked away with great prizes.</p><p>The team also created a fantastic video to showcase how the DCD processes work. Unfortunately, the video was too big to upload, but we will showcase a shorter version in the following newsletter. Well done to the team of Property Services and to Robert and Aloma, our hosts who made sure the day ran smoothly.</p><p><br></p>
Forthcoming: The newly revamped Neelsie Cinema	https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9255	Forthcoming: The newly revamped Neelsie Cinema	Petro Mostert	<p><br><br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The next time you go to the Neelsie, remember to take a peek into the newly-revamped Neelsie Cinema which boasts a beautiful new look. The newly renovated multi-purpose space featuring two theatres – a 121-seater and a 98-seater – both boasting a projector, powerful surround sound and lighting. The luxurious seats with fold-away writing tablets, will add to the multi-functionality of the venue and enhance the overall visitor experience. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The auditorium is intimate enough for all types of celebrations and an ideal space to host a wide range of event types, including private screenings of films, corporate meetings, talks, workshops, fundraisers, launches, birthday parties (from kids to milestone celebrations), and so much more. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">It is the vision of Stellenbosch University to use the space to its maximum advantage, and in turn provide an unforgettable experience through a high-tech multi-functional venue for both students - as an integral part of the art community and film society - as well as to the rest of the campus and corporate business partners. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">“We are in the process of planning all types of exciting events, including a film festival in the next couple of months," says Catherine Channing, manager of CECO (Central Events & Conferencing Office). </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The iconic cinema will remain the hub for the Pulp Film Society and regular film screenings for its members will continue. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">“The support so far has been wonderful," adds Channing, “and we are genuinely excited to see how the community utilise this beautiful space." Bookings are open for events from 15 June onwards. Please email <a href="mailto:events@sun.ac.za">events@sun.ac.za</a> for any enquiries or fill out the online form <a href="https://cecoevents.co.za/contact-us/">here</a>. </p><p><br></p>
A big thank you to the Finance team	https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9254	A big thank you to the Finance team	Petro Mostert	<p><br><br></p><p>By Lizanda Lucas</p><p>On entering La Sala, every table placing was marked with an upright, brown paper packet.</p><p>After a minute's silence of remembrance for friends and family lost to Covid-19, Prof Stan du Plessis, named the newest members to the Finance Division, and each was welcomed by a warm round of applause from those assembled. With the 2021 financial year-end tasks concluded, the division was now poised for upcoming projects, and SUNFin – due to go live in June of next year – being one of the biggest. Prof Stan reminded us of its OPRA essence (Ownership; Performance; Respect; Accountability) – and that we'd not only be '<em>in</em> the cloud' but '<em>on</em> the cloud' too.</p><p>He then expressed a heartfelt yet simple 'Thank you', adding that though the sentence was short, it acknowledged each person's hard work and contribution to the division.</p><p>It was then time to tuck into the contents of the brown paper packet: a deliciously filled bagel, a juice and a cupcake treat. And to catch up with colleagues in a relaxed and social setting.</p><p>See you at the next Finance Forum – the option of a spit braai was mentioned …</p><p><br></p>
Stock up for winter at Maties Shop	https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9256	Stock up for winter at Maties Shop	Petro Mostert	<p><br><br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Winter loading! The Maties Shop - the official carrier of Stellenbosch University's branded merchandise - has a gorgeous new collection of comfy winter gear. Grab a warm cuppa, curl your feet up on a couch and tuck a blanket all around while you browse the new <a href="https://matieshop.co.za/">online shop</a>. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">If you prefer seeing the gear up close and personal, then visit the flagship Maties shop on the first floor of the Neelsie or the newly opened store on the Tygerberg campus. The Maties Mobile Shop is also getting a lot of traction, and chances are you'll be able to snatch some much-loved merch at the next SU-hosted event. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Whether you're shopping online or in-store, you'll surely find a piece of clothing or accessory that will show off your Matie spirit—encompassing the <em>gees</em> that is unique to Stellenbosch University. And we're not talking branded pens; we're talking branded leather accessories, quilted laptop bags, one-of-a-kind designs, and superb quality. Talking about designs, did you see the SU Creative winning <a href="https://matieshop.co.za/af/product-category/su-creative/">t-shirt design</a>? It's stunning. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">To keep up with new product launches, promotions, and competitions, you can follow Maties Shop on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sun.matieshop">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/matieshop/">Instagram</a> in real-time. You don't want to miss the special collab with ALUMNI for this year's Home Coming in September, just saying. </p><p><br></p>
Cape Epic Riders kick off “relay” for #Move4Food and #BridgeTheGap to raise funds for Stellenbosch University	https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9078	Cape Epic Riders kick off “relay” for #Move4Food and #BridgeTheGap to raise funds for Stellenbosch University	Operations and Finance	<p></p><p>On 27 March 2022, Stellenbosch University staff members Robert van Staden, and Francois Swart finished the gruelling Absa Cape Epic after 657 kilometres and 16 900 meters of climbing over 8 days to raise awareness for Stellenbosch University's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/move4food?__eep__=6&__cft__%5b0%5d=AZW9KvkNDUoU8_DDc-fQSq2JaSSD3zCv3hOERr6EoUxvyTAJa1QND8OAvBsfwjuiEIRa69KcrjQuWrst1F301_sva-hv6lCQPLVTPhAPVd_z4Zx3bPHNxo1YiSP0mn7-hm6HRHBcCR_uGyRMCZ-QRcr1XST-xcL2x7P6oKSramkY6A&__tn__=%2aNK-R">#Move4Food</a> campaign.</p><p>Swart, at Facilities Management, and Robert van Staden, at the Faculty of Education, had to keep the wheels rolling throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to keep fit for this race. They are now giving over the #Move4Food baton to Maties alumni Petro Mostert and her riding partner Vibeke Moore who will be riding the 990km, 9 day, Joburg2C mountain bike adventure from 22 to 30 April 2022 from Heidelberg to Scottburgh on the South Coast of KwaZulu Natal. The pair will take over from Van Staden and Swart to raise awareness for the campaign that the Epic team started.</p><p>But the relay does not stop at Scottburgh, as the Joburg2C riders will then hand over to a team of four adventure racers racing the Adventure Race Croatia from 14-22 May 2022. The team consists of three Maties Alumni, Tamaryn Larkman, Caroline de Villiers and Ryan Larkman, all three from Elgin. Their fourth member is Harold Smook from Onrus River. Their 550 km race over 4 days will include mountain biking, paddling, running, roping and navigation. As part of their effort, they will be raising awareness for Maties Alumni's Bridge the Gap campaign.</p><p>“Fundraising to help students is a proud Matie tradition with staff members keen to get involved," says Stellenbosch University's Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers.</p><p>“I do the Cape Town Cycle Tour every year with colleagues, students, alumni, and friends. This year, I must admit, I suffered a bit! It is all for a good cause: #move4food, SU's campaign to raise funds to improve food security for our students." </p><p>#Move4Food is one of the priority initiatives under the University's annual fundraising campaign, Bridge the Gap. This Annual Fund aims to remove the obstacles hindering Maties on their road to success.</p><p>Our SU relay teams want to raise funds to provide immediate relief to curb student hunger on SU's campuses and ensure that no student will have to study on an empty stomach.</p><p>They challenge all other cyclists, SU staff, students, donors, alumni, friends of the University, and the general public to open their hearts and wallets and donate towards this worthy cause. </p><p>Mostert and Moore urge their supporters to please donate to the campaign started by the Epic riders. </p><p>Go to: <a href="https://www.givengain.com/ap/francois-robert/">https://www.givengain.com/ap/francois-robert/</a></p><p> </p><p><br></p>