| Stellenbosch Innovators Celebrated at Cape Chamber and CHEC Innovation Awards | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11375 | | Stellenbosch Innovators Celebrated at Cape Chamber and CHEC Innovation Awards | Petro Mostert | <p></p><p>Three outstanding members of the Stellenbosch University (SU) community were honoured at the prestigious Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC) Innovation Awards, held at Cape Town City Hall on Tuesday, 10 June 2025.</p><p>Anita Nel, SU's Chief Director of Innovation and Commercialisation, Mike-Alec Kearney, CEO of SU spinout company CubeSpace, and Prof Johann Kirsten, Director of the Bureau for Economic Research, were recognised as leading innovators in the academia category.</p><p><strong>Celebrating excellence</strong></p><p>Nel received the award for her exceptional leadership in managing the University's vast innovation ecosystem. She oversees a portfolio of 35 spinout companies, hundreds of patents, SU's Technology Transfer Office, the SU LaunchLab business incubator and the Institution commercialisation office, SUNCOM. Under her guidance, the University has successfully commercialised numerous technologies, building a successful platform that fosters entrepreneurship, innovation, and real-world impact. </p><p>Kearney and his team of CubeSpace, which specialises in building advanced control systems for satellites, were celebrated as the most successful spinout company among the four Western Cape universities. The company currently serves more than 250 customers across 30 countries worldwide.</p><p>Prof Kirsten was recognised for leading the Karoo Lamb Consortium, a 20-year initiative that culminated in the official protected status of Karoo Lamb as South Africa's first Geographical Indication. The Consortium operates as a non-profit company and showcases the intersection of innovation, tradition, and regional identity in South African agriculture.</p><p>The CCCI and CHEC awards recognised innovators across various sectors of society – academia, business, and public office. They honoured men and women who continue to push boundaries in the pursuit of progress and highlight the importance of innovation in driving economic growth and reducing poverty. Innovation were celebrated across the categories of academia, industry, business and public office.</p><p>“Innovation is as much about attitude as it is about technical expertise," said John Lawson, CEO of the CCCI. “It's a mindset that focuses on solutions. The more we innovate, the more we actively shape the future we want to see."</p><p>Prof. Eugene Cloete, a board member of the Chamber and the Chief Executive Officer of CHEC, said these awards celebrate what becomes possible when academia, government, and the private sector come together. “Universities are the engines of research, knowledge and fresh thinking. The private sector brings speed, skill and courage to take risks, and the government provides a platform for policy, investment and support to turn innovation into impact. This year, we received a remarkable number of high-quality innovations across all categories, a key indication that innovation is alive and thriving in the Western Cape."</p><p>The event underscored the need for collaboration between academia, the private sector, and government to foster innovation and create a competitive, inclusive economy.</p><p>Attending the whole event, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Cape Town's mayor, Gordon Hill-Lewis, both highlighted the importance of continuous innovation, collaboration and recognition in driving regional development and job creation. They enhanced the importance of facilitating stronger connections and collaborations between universities, academia, businesses and government to enable and support innovation in the region.</p><p><br></p> |
| SU says farewell to Prof Stan du Plessis after 25 years | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11327 | | SU says farewell to Prof Stan du Plessis after 25 years | Petro Mostert | <p>"Stan cares about our institution immensely, and it is this love for Stellenbosch University which has driven his passion for the operations, and especially for the sustainability of our organisation."<br></p><p>With these words, Stellenbosch University's (SU) Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, celebrated Prof Stan du Plessis, our Chief Operations Officer, after 25 years. Du Plessis will join Stadio Higher Education in August as Chief Executive Officer.</p><p>"Stan is many things. A macro-economist, a gifted academic, a respected institutional leader, and someone who has served SU with incredible consistency, depth and integrity," said Ramjugernath at a special function on Nooitgedacht Estate on Friday, 23 May 2025.<br></p><p>"Over the past four and a half years, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Stan. What has always stood out to me is his presence, his clarity of thought, and the way he brings energy and focus to any situation, even in the most complicated ones; whether it's a tough policy debate or a complex operational challenge, Stan's contributions have been invaluable. He listens, he weighs options up carefully, and then, with his trademark precision, he offers a solution that's both strategic and considered. For most of a quarter of a century Stan has been a significant contributor to this Institution, and one may say that over the last decade, a cornerstone of Stellenbosch University, leading with integrity, teaching with passion, and influencing generations of professionals, students and peers, it is rare to find someone who embodies leadership and scholarship with such unwavering commitment," said Ramjugernath.</p><p>"He cares about impact, not just outcomes, and in so doing, he helped build a more thoughtful, responsive, but importantly, resilient University. Stan, I want to thank you for your leadership, your tireless work ethic, your insight and your humour. You've given more in your time here, your thoughtfulness, your steady hand, and, importantly, your heart to SU. On behalf of the Rectorate of the leadership of Stellenbosch University and the wider university community, I want to express our deepest appreciation. And for all that you've done for this Institution, and hopefully will continue to do for the Institution, this may be the end of your chapter as the Chief Operating Officer at our Institution. Still, your legacy is part of the fabric of Stellenbosch University."</p><p>Addressing the guests, Prof Stan thanked the University, his colleagues and friends for a long and varied career at "this University we love so much". "I am desperately romantic about universities and have been since I was in primary school, visiting my first University: the Empire Road campus of Wits. That visit left me with a lasting impression of the grandeur of our enterprise."</p><p>Sharing his experience of SU, Du Plessis quoted Alfred North Whitehead, an English mathematician and philosopher, who wrote that a university's true purpose is not just to transfer information but to connect it with the joy of life. It brings together different generations in imaginative and passionate learning and transforms mere facts into meaningful and inspiring ideas. Without this creative and energising spirit, a university loses its reason for being.</p><p>"Soon, I will get the chance to lead the development of a new university, which is an opportunity I relish. The objective is to ensure that we impart knowledge imaginatively and strengthen the connection between knowledge and the joy of life," Du Plessis said.</p><p>For him, SU should relentlessly uphold its two core priorities: academic excellence and institutional integrity. "As an academic institution, our impact on society stems from the quality of our scholarship and the opportunities we create for students. That must always come first. However, academic excellence is only possible if we are equally committed to protecting the integrity and independence of the institution through sound governance, smart operational decisions, and unwavering ethical standards. Without both, we risk losing what makes a university truly valuable."</p><p>Du Plessis thanked the University, colleagues and stakeholders – his management team - for their support and collaboration over the years, especially over the past seven and a half years as COO. "A really rewarding aspect of this position was the chance to meet colleagues in the University who rarely, or possibly never, cross your path as an academic but are some of the most expert and committed people who make the university function. I think of people like Niven Adonis and Chantal van Rooi, Doris Peters, Keegan van Aarde, Lizzy de Beer, and many others."</p><p>Master of ceremonies, Ronel Retief, SU's Registrar, honoured Du Plessis for his incredible contribution to SU, mentioning "his incredible energy, his integrity and courage, his towering presence, both intellectually and physically, and his red or orange ties that make him impossible not to notice".</p><p>"Stan reads macroeconomic policy papers for leisure. He makes a conversation about monetary theory sound like a fireside story. And trust me, only Stan can turn fiscal policy into something that holds your attention between starters and dessert. Mind you, he can speak on almost anything and hold your attention. His general knowledge is legendary. If you've ever stood outside his office, you would know that the classical music coming from inside, whether a Gregorian chant or a triumphant organ, directly correlates to his mood. His enthusiasm about life is contagious."</p><p>Toasting his career at SU, Prof Eugene Cloete took the audience through a whirlwind of challenges Du Plessis had to endure: #FeesMustFall, Day Zero, load shedding, buildings and residences that went up in flames and COVID-19, amongst others – all of which happened in eight years. "Your leadership was calm and courageous. Your strategic insight, grounded in academic excellence and a pragmatic understanding of operational realities, has helped steer this University through some of its most defining moments."</p><p>Cloete honoured Du Plessis for winning the award for exceptional academic achievement as one of SU's top 50 researchers three times in a row while being COO. "You saw the big picture but never overlooked the fine details or the people behind them. Your door was always open, your words measured, and your actions always guided by a deep sense of responsibility to this University and the community it serves. You have reminded us that leadership is not a position but a service. You served with dignity, discipline and vision. As you now turn the page to new chapters, know that those chapters will be as fruitful as the ones you've had at Stellenbosch University. We want to know you, to know that your legacy here is secure," Cloete said.</p><p>In a special tribute to Du Plessis, Professor Emeritus Anton van Niekerk highlighted his contributions, including "his impressive capacity to apply his quite considerable knowledge of the history of economic thought to the needs of our current day knowledge economy".</p><p>Ramjugernath ended the evening proceedings by handing a special gift to Du Plessis: a mantelpiece clock, symbolising his dedication and legacy at the Institution. The clock was donated initially to Professor MacDonald in 1896 (a mathematics professor at Stellenbosch), and it had been in Du Plessis's office for eight years. "Stan's love for clocks is well known. He's taken it upon himself to restore just about every masterpiece or timepiece that he has been able to find, and it's found its way into Admin B. And we are most grateful for this, Stan. It has been beautiful over the last few years to hear the chimes of these fabulous antique clocks brought back to life by your determination and love for these timepieces," Ramjugernath remarked.</p><p>In his concluding remarks, Du Plessis said: “For my final words I speak again through those of Whitehead: 'More than two thousand years ago, the ancients symbolised learning by a torch passing from hand to hand down the generations. That lighted torch is the imagination of which I speak. The gift which the University has to offer is the old one of imagination, the lighted torch which passes from hand to hand.'</p><p>"It was a pleasure and honour to carry this torch in Stellenbosch for a while, and now I hand it to you, confident that you will care for it and allow it to shine brightly," Du Plessis concluded.</p><p><br></p> |
| Prof Stan say farewell to Stellenbosch University | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11331 | | Prof Stan say farewell to Stellenbosch University | Prof Stan du Plessis | <p><br><br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Dear Colleagues of the RC Operations and Finance,<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">This is my final newsletter as Responsibility Centre Head for Operations and Finance and as Chief Operating Officer for Stellenbosch University (SU). Please join me in welcoming Professor Nicola Smit, who will serve as the acting COO and Responsibility Centre Head until the position is filled permanently. I am sure you will give her the same tremendous support I enjoyed over the last seven years.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">My career at SU began in the previous century, in October 1999, and I completed 25 years as a staff member last year. I enjoyed a long, happy, and varied career at this University we love so much. My friends know that I am desperately romantic about universities and have been since, as a primary school kid, I first saw a university in real life at the Empire Road campus of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). That visit left me with a lasting impression of the grandeur of our enterprise, and I could hardly believe my luck when I first saw the Stellenbosch campus.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Almost a century ago, the British philosopher Alfred North Whitehead captured the University experience that I also enjoyed in memorable prose. He wrote: "The justification for a university is that it preserves the connection between knowledge and the joy of life by uniting the young and the old in the imaginative consideration of learning. The University imparts information, but it imparts it imaginatively. This atmosphere of excitement, arising from imaginative consideration, transforms knowledge. A fact is no longer a bare fact; it is invested with all its possibilities. It is no longer a burden on the memory: it is energising as the poet of our dreams and as the architect of our purposes."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">That is how I experienced Stellenbosch University. Soon, I will get the chance to lead the development of a new university, and that is an opportunity I relish. The objective is the same, though: to strengthen the connection between knowledge and the joy of life.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">I am grateful for the many opportunities offered to me at this University. As a student, I learnt the powerful perspective on society one obtains through the analysis of Economics. As you know, that is still the framework I use most comfortably to make sense of the world. SU allowed me the freedom to pursue my academic interests and to do so with brilliant students.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">I am grateful that the University's executive gave me the chance to develop a leadership career, first as a vice dean and some years later as Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, a job I truly loved, even though buildings went up in flames, and others got ransacked by protesters. There was a far greater excess of HR to deal with than I had ever imagined.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Undoubtedly, the highlight of my career at SU was the seven years as COO. In this position, I had the opportunity to serve on the University's Council and work at an interesting interface between the management and governance structures of the University, as well as between internal and external stakeholders. It was a pleasure to work with the Rectorate, the Deans and the General Managers, and an outstanding privilege to work with all of you, my colleagues in the five divisions of the Responsibility Centre, as well as in my office.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">It was in this role as COO that I learnt about aspects of the University that you don't always (or perhaps even never) see as an academic. Here, I met colleagues who work with tremendous skill and commitment to ensure the smooth running of this University. We are all part of the academic project, delivering essential aspects of the student experience and the research capacity required for the excellence of SU.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">I was deeply impressed and inspired by your resilience during the most challenging moments we faced these last seven years: budget cuts, drought, fires, and the pandemic. You worked with the outstanding leadership in our five divisions to lead the University through these difficult episodes. I am proud of how you led with concrete transformation as the outcome of a clear commitment and deliberate planning and effective implementation. You are an example to the University, and I honour and thank you for it.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">I will not forget the kindness and spirit of our staff. Wherever I go on campus, I am greeted by friendly staff, who are remarkably dedicated and experienced, and that inspired me in my work as well. I am going to miss working with you. Thank you for your superb contribution to an ever more excellent Stellenbosch University. I am confident that you will continue to strengthen the connection between knowledge and the joy of life.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">In my new job, I will no doubt think of you often and wonder how you would have handled a particular situation. Thank you for all that you have taught me.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">With my best wishes to you and to Stellenbosch University</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Stan du Plessis</p><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><p><br></p> |
| The Scholar, The Mentor, The Leader: The Life and Leadership of a Remarkable Man | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11332 | | The Scholar, The Mentor, The Leader: The Life and Leadership of a Remarkable Man | Petro Mostert | <p>When Prof. Stan du Plessis, Stellenbosch University's Chief Operating Officer, enters a room or steps onto a stage, he fills it. Then follows that familiar warm smile, eyes sparkle, an energised greeting, and you know his sharp mind is ready to engage, inspire and challenge (when needed).<br></p><p>Prof Stan's go-to film is The Big Lebowski; he can quote as readily as he can any 20<sup>th</sup> -century philosopher or economist like David Ricardo, Adam Smith, Friedrich von Hayek and of course, Karl Popper, who — just like him — believe that while our understanding of the world is inheritably limited, there is the constant need to explore and learn: "We know a great many things, but our ignorance is boundless and sobering."</p><p><strong>The early years</strong></p><p>After completing his matric at Kempton Park High School, Stanislaus Alexander du Plessis enrolled in 1991 at Stellenbosch University for a B.Com in Mathematics, dead set on becoming an actuary. Of course, he finished with distinction after his first year but then got <em>economically</em> sidetracked in his second year when the legendary economic lecturer Prof Sampie Terblanche gave him his first glimpse into the history of economic thought. The series of lectures commenced with the teachings of Saint Augustine (354-430 AD), who laid some ethical foundations that would later influence medieval and modern economic thought, followed by St. Thomas Aquinas, David Ricardo, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Karl Marx, with Mary Wollstonecraft in between them "because of Sampie's quirkiness", and so on. Says Prof Stan: "By the time we got to Hobbes and Locke, my actuarial science career was ruined. I didn't know that anything could be as interesting as this."</p><p>Prof Stan finished his actuarial science degree with distinction after adding economics as an extra major with actuarial science and mathematics, which was crucial as technical background for his studies at the University of Cambridge, Clare College, where he enrolled for an MPhil in Economics (with a scholarship from the Oppenheimer trust), which he achieved in July 1996.</p><p>Prof Stan loved Cambridge. "I've always been a romantic about universities. From the first time I set foot on a university – the Empire Road campus of Wits, a majestic campus. Universities were always part of the discussion in our house. I'm so fortunate that all my grandparents studied." His great love for history was greatly influenced by his grandmother's encyclopaedic knowledge and incredible passion, making her a remarkable storyteller."</p><p>"My grandmother was a very dynamic and sort of unstoppable force. She shared with us the impression that the world is a fascinating place, and you should find out about it. I spent a lot of time as a kid reading encyclopaedias. I always thought a trip to the library was a highlight.</p><p>"Education was always a part of what we valued, and universities were part of that. We knew that universities like Cambridge and Oxford- and their study of economics are were the summit of the discipline." He says Cambridge is incredibly famous to Economists because of John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946), one of the most influential economists of modern times who studied there.</p><p>"I spent most of my time there studying the teachings of Marx and Ricardo. I was a very left-wing student, hanging out with the lefties and studying with my supervisor, one of the world's greatest Marxists, Lord Eatwell – a tremendous scholar. At Cambridge, I learned how to be a good scholar and scientist. Science is not just brute facts – you don't just throw your work on the table and say, there. Being a scientist means you can compellingly ask a question and be able to answer it persuasively, something I also learned from Lord Eatwell. I was so lucky to be his only student, as in Cambridge you often have just one student per lecturer. In my college for example. We had 500 academics and 400 students."</p><p>"Lord Eatwell's room was at Trinity College, next door to Isaac Newton's room, where he studied at Cambridge in the 17<sup>th</sup> century. "So, I would knock there, and then he would tell me to mind my head because people were shorter when this building was constructed. He was also a very tall guy. I had such an intellectually stimulating time learning how to be a scholar."</p><p><strong>Life in London</strong></p><p>After Cambridge, Prof Stan joined Old Mutual International Asset Managers (UK) in London in March 1995, first as a research analyst and later as an economist. "I absolutely loved my job. I was basically paid to read the newspaper and think about the world and share these thoughts and insights with the audience. "It was thrilling to be invited to be the 'morning investor' on CNBC business television, having to talk for an hour in the morning with the news anchor. I would start in Japan and take them through the entire global map. It was also an incredible time in the world economy during globalisation in London, with London very much in the centre of that."</p><p>During his three years in London, he continued studying with an older colleague and brilliant economist, Nigel Morgan, who was also a student of Karl Popper at the Londen Stock Exchange (LSE) in the 1950s. "Until today, I believe Nigel – a brilliant economist – significantly influenced my economic thinking. "He instantly demonstrated to me that all the Marxist stuff was wrong. So, we relearned economics together.</p><p>"By this time, I was no Marxist and left-wing, and from an ideology perspective became alienated from my other great influence, Prof Sampie, who – like me – think the greatest book we had ever read is Lord John Acton's book: <em>Lectures on Modern History (1906)</em>. "It is undoubtedly the book I will read if I'm only allowed to take one book to a desert island. I have a copy next to my bed that is so heavily annotated, and there are notes on every single page that stick out. It is an unbelievably outstanding book. When I gave it to him the first time to read, he spent all night with it. He came to my office with red eyes the next morning, and he gripped the book and he said: 'ek het nie geweet enigiets kan so goed wees nie'" (<em>I didn't know anything can be this good.</em>")</p><p><strong>Time for change</strong></p><p>While in the UK, SU approached him to apply for a teaching position at the Department of Management Sciences (EMS), he was immediately interested in pursuing an academic career. He thought he will evaluate this decision at the end of every year. "But as you can tell, the evaluations always came out positively. "Every time I said: 'No, I'm loving it here, I enjoyed it. It was a fantastic switch" – one that lasted over 25 years."</p><p>"The Department of Economics is an extraordinary group of people, and when you only know one department, you don't always appreciate how special they are because you just think all departments are like that. Later I learnt that they were not just another department; they were exceptionally collegial. It really was a team effort, and I was fortunate that that was the department where I was both a student and later a colleague."</p><p>After completing his PhD at SU in 2003 he became a distinguished macroeconomist and academic leader, Prof Stan held various roles at SU: Professor of Economics, Vice-Dean for Research the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences and Chief Operating Officer, steering SU's operations and finance through some stormy waters since January 2018 when he stepped into this challenging position. Recognised as a leading scholar in Monetary Economics in South Africa, he was often invited as a keynote speaker during the SA Reserve Bank's international conferences.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Though he is a specialist in Monetary Economics, Prof Stan has been an interdisciplinary scholar for most of his career. "Many of the world's problems require an interdisciplinary approach, and I have benefitted from collaboration with colleagues in many fields."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Beyond Economics, he has published in disciplines such as Philosophy, History, Law and Public Theology. As an academic at SU, he received the University's highest research award on four occasions, including twice during his tenure as COO. Over his academic career, he published 45 papers in peer-reviewed journals and wrote 17 chapters in various books.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Last year (in May 2024), Cambridge University Press published his latest book, entitled <em>Reconsidering Central Bank Independence</em>.</p><p><strong>EMS on the rise</strong></p><p>The SU he found here in the early 1990s was not as research-intensive as today, Prof Stan says. His vision was that SU should change the direction of the economics department. "I thought, well, we should become the best in the country, and the way to do that is to raise the quality of our programmes to the international level. So, I came back with a vision that our best students should be able to go to Cambridge and Oxford and Harvard, which meant that we needed a technical intensification of our work."</p><p>After a very intensive and highly contested debate in the department, a significant culture shift followed, particularly in the postgraduate syllabus, which was initially very controversial. "But once we implemented it and saw the results after the first year, it became clear it was the right move. After seeing the impact, UCT asked me to teach their postgraduate macro course as well. Initially, some believed such a syllabus couldn't be taught in South Africa, but we proved it could. I also organised a regional postgraduate student conference with Stellenbosch, UWC, and UCT, where our students' performance helped solidify the change. It all came down to shifting perspectives."</p><p>By the time Prof Stan became a full professor at SU in 2006, at 33 years old, he was the youngest professor in Economics in many years and the youngest member of SU's Senate, mainly because he had built up a substantial research portfolio while he was teaching. He was an NRF-rated researcher. He mentioned the impact of another significant figure, Prof Servaas van den Berg, who helped steer the department towards research-intensive teaching at an international level, creating opportunities for students abroad. "On their return, they were exceptional professors – something that really changed our department. Four of my PhD students received the "Founder's Medal" from the Economic Society of South Africa for the best PhD in South Africa in a particular year."</p><p>According to him, EMS students never received the Chancellor's Medal until 2002/03, when Gideon du Randt became the first student to receive this award. He is now at the Reserve Bank. "It was like the dam wall broke. Suddenly, the University looked differently at our faculty, and several awards followed. I had the opportunity to lecture to some outstanding students."</p><p>He loved being Dean of EMS, says Prof Stan, "because I love the faculty so much, and it was a time to lead the faculty and help them build some confidence inside the University. What's more, we've built a postgraduate school where students can now be full-time PhD students – a move that saw the number of PhD students grow to as many as forty at a time, compared to a maximum of three a year when I graduated."</p><p><strong>Changing course</strong></p><p>When Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen retired as SU's COO in 2017, Prof Stan made the difficult decision to leave his academic career. "But this was an opportunity to be involved in the leadership of the Institution, and if you love Stellenbosch University like I do, then this opportunity is extraordinary. Our University is full of inspiring people and is in a great location. We are good." For him, who regards himself as on the liberal side of the ideological spectrum – people who love change – being part of the executive team leading SU on a path of transformation and change was a fascinating place to be.</p><p>"I was fortunate to work with people from whom I could learn – my team of Chief Directors who are all specialists in their fields."</p><p>In 2017 Prof Stan attended The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for an advanced management programme, which he regards as one of the most remarkable educational experiences of my life. "The content was brilliant, and I also saw how intellectually interesting the management world is. Trying to lead a big organisation is an intellectually interesting question, not just a practical one. There are deep and interesting questions to think about, and I've been wrestling with them ever since. Working and thinking about the University remains thrilling to me – it is never boring."</p><p>Quoting Karl Popper when he said, "All life is problem-solving," Prof Stan says we live in a world of problems, which he is very comfortable about. "That is why I have a sculpture of a dung beetle on my desk. "To be a scholar and scientist, whether a social or a natural scientist, the first thing you must be able to do is identify and be comfortable with problems. Then you say: 'Okay, can we solve them and how?' And the solutions are always partial and inadequate, generating further problems. So, the job is never done." What the dung beetle does is address something that is a problem for society, and they do that with a lot of energy. They solve it, but it's never done because there's more to do the next day."</p><p>Referring to a book by the Italian writer Piero Sraffa, Prof Stan says it took the author, one of the most brilliant economists of the 20<sup>th</sup> century, forty years to write this small book of 100 numbered paragraphs with the weird title of <em>The Production of Commodities by means of Commodities</em>. "It is the perfect book, and nobody could ever criticise it. But, as the great Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Samuelson said: 'Piero Sraffa has given us a diamond. There is nothing to criticise in this book. My only regret is how many rubies he could have given us instead over forty years. They would have been imperfect but would have been better for this world than this one."</p><p>"You are not trying to be Newton. You are trying to be part of a scientific discussion, which requires you to deliver many good things and be involved in a discussion as a good scholar. Still, you will not deliver this one silver bullet for society; striving for that is a mistake. The correct perspective is, how can I give a better answer to what we had before, not the perfect answer," says Prof Stan. "All life is problem-solving. The tentative solution we put in place will create more problems for us next year, and we must do better again the next year."</p><p>And that is precisely what he did year after year since he took over the demanding role of COO seven and a half years ago.</p><p><strong>Steering SU through turbulent times</strong></p><p>As COO, Prof Stan du Plessis and his management team, the Chief Directors of Finance, Facilities Management, Maties Sport, Innovation & Commercialisation, and Information Technology, over the past years, implemented a responsibility centre model that locates responsibility for planning and execution at the local level – a model that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation, while providing an incentive for solid financial management.</p><p>Despite many challenges — including the Day Zero drought of 2017–2018, the Huis ten Bosch fire and its subsequent reconstruction, ongoing load-shedding, the student uprising during #FeesMustFall, and the complexities of managing the COVID-19 pandemic at SU — he and his team consistently steered the university safely through turbulent times.</p><p>"In my role as COO, I constantly had to be aware of risks and challenges while managing the University's response. Over the years, I have developed a mature risk management methodology, including identifying opportunities. Where possible, we mitigated risks proactively and always worked to improve the system while mitigating the consequences of the adverse event," he said.</p><p>One of his guiding principles was that SU, as one of the finest public universities in South Africa, must be accessible to students and staff from all South African communities and regions. One of his latest contributions was playing a facilitating role and providing resources in establishing the Thuthuzela Care Centre, which houses a Gender Based Violence Centre for the victims of gender-based violence within an SU facility in Ida's Valley.</p><p>Over the years, his colleagues have seen and acknowledged that he does not shrink from complex issues. He would always explain his convictions and was open to criticism and suggestion. "I have the conviction to stand up for my convictions and the courage to change my view when persuaded of a better alternative," he said.</p><p><strong>A new kind of university awaits</strong></p><p>Prof Stan will join Stadio Higher Education, a private education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate qualification through contact and distance learning, as Chief Executive Officer from 1 August this year. "Our challenge at Stadio is to solve a triple problem: how can we provide high-quality access to higher education efficiently and at scale?"</p><p>"In South Africa, and I've written about that a lot, there are inherent scale problems in the public sector. At SU, we have excellent quality education, but access is problematic, and it's becoming more so because of the rising cost and limited spaces. Furthermore, the entry requirements for a university like Stellenbosch keep increasing. Stellenbosch can provide quality but limited access and not much scale, whereas Stadio can do scale and access and do so efficiently. The real challenge for me, then, is to ensure we can have efficient quality education at scale," said Prof Stan. "I am convinced that we can achieve this to serve a huge section of the country, and eventually even the continent, with a scalable system to address our country's biggest education system, namely that of quality, access and scale." He believes there is an opportunity for collaboration between SU and Stadio, as Stellenbosch offers quality and Stadio scale.</p><p><strong>What I will miss</strong></p><p>Prof Stan says what he will truly miss is this university that he truly loves. "It is very hard to leave this Institution, and I will miss it tremendously. And, of course, in my job, I had the chance to lead the best team at the University. We have improved SU a lot during the past decade, and it is a much stronger institution now. Being part of it for so long was such a privilege."</p><p><strong>It must be meaningful</strong></p><p>For him, SU should relentlessly uphold its two core priorities: academic excellence and institutional integrity. "As an academic institution, our impact on society stems from the quality of our scholarship and the opportunities we create for students. That must always come first. However, academic excellence is only possible if we are equally committed to protecting the integrity and independence of the institution through sound governance, smart operational decisions, and unwavering ethical standards. Without both, we risk losing what makes a university truly valuable."</p><p>Prof Stan believes it helps not to take himself too seriously. He believes it is essential to have goals not only about yourself. "I think to be happy, we need to do meaningful work. If people remember the work that I did, I hope they will remember only one thing: that I was committed and serious about my job and tried to do it as best I could."</p><p>We wish Prof Stan all the best with his new adventure, including a fantastic holiday ahead that he will be sharing with his wife Helena and daughters Julia and Lara. Of course, he will make enough time to work on his golf handicap, a sport he adores. He says: "It fills your soul to hit a beautiful golf shot. It's one of the most thrilling things to see the ball fly off your club in that majestic arc, just as you wanted, or perhaps even better than you intended. That is an extraordinary thing, and you always hope that all your shots will soon be like that. Of course, that never comes, but the hope is never gone. And in the meantime, it is it is a tremendously fun game because everybody can compete."</p><p>And if we may… The Dude Abides!</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br></p> |
| Stellenbosch University is growing rapidly, as is its economic impact | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11282 | | Stellenbosch University is growing rapidly, as is its economic impact | BER | <p><br></p><p>· <em>SU spent </em><em>R4.2 billion in the Stellenbosch economy in 2024</em></p><p>· <em>Spending contributed approximately 13% to local GDP</em></p><p>· <em>“</em><em>Universities have always played a uniquely powerful part in economic development, a process by which we become more prosperous and live qualitatively different lives from earlier generations"</em></p><p>· <em>Students with NSFAS bursaries and living in Stellenbosch spent an average of R35 347 per year in town (excluding accommodation costs), compared to R51 123 for students who do not receive NSFAS bursaries.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>Stellenbosch University (SU), its students, staff and visitors spent R4.2 billion in the Stellenbosch economy last year. This spending contributed approximately 13% to local Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supported 13% of formal sector jobs within the Stellenbosch municipal region. </strong> </p><p>This is the main finding of a recent economic impact assessment of the University conducted by the Bureau for Economic Research (BER), an independent economic research institute within SU. Big changes have occurred in the University's student body composition since the BER's previous economic impact assessment in 2017.* </p><p>Most significantly, student numbers have expanded over the past two years – by 3.4% in 2023 and 5.1% in 2024. Over the past decade, student numbers grew by an average of just 1.8% per year</p><p>The Stellenbosch campus now has 28 922 students – 17% more than in 2017. In total, roughly 35 000 students are enrolled at SU across all five campuses. </p><p>Most striking is that the number of white and coloured students has dropped marginally while the number of black African students has grown by 50%, from 5 025 in 2020 to 7 572 in 2024. The latter now accounts for 21.6% of all 35 000 students. </p><p>White students – which numbered 16 254 in 2024 down from 16 529 in 2020 – remain the largest cohort at SU, accounting for roughly 46% of all students. </p><p>Another important change between 2017 and 2024 is an almost six-fold increase in the number of government-sponsored National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) students enrolled at the University – from 853 students in 2017 to just over 5 000 in 2024. In percentage terms, NSFAS students have grown from 2.7% to almost 14% of the student body. Last year, one in seven SU students received an NSFAS bursary. </p><p>Prof Stan du Plessis, SU's Chief Operating Officer, said SU aspires to be a cosmopolitan university of the world as well as a university for all South Africans, and is pursuing successful and deliberate transformation strategies to achieve this.</p><p>“We are deliberately increasing the opportunities for all students, especially from communities who previously had limited access to Stellenbosch," says Du Plessis. “We create these opportunities with the help of our fundraisers and provide extensive financial aid to those in need because we believe the student experience is an essential dimension of transformation at our institution."</p><p>“Universities have always played a uniquely powerful part in economic development, a process by which we become more prosperous and live qualitatively different lives from earlier generations," Du Plessis adds. “Access to tertiary education offers an irreversible entry into this process of economic development for the student and her family."</p><p>“As it stands, thousands of students of all ages would benefit tremendously from SU programmes, but they cannot join for various reasons, one of which is financial. Through special meal allowances, bursaries, loans, and other innovative supporting projects, SU is constantly aiding students' access to higher education, a process that will irreversibly change their lives and their families for the better."</p><p><strong>Population dynamics shape local spending patterns.</strong></p><p>These evolving student population dynamics also shape local spending patterns. According to the BER, students living in Stellenbosch who are not recipients of NSFAS bursaries spent an average of R51 123 per year in town, excluding accommodation. Those in private accommodation spent an additional R99 506 on housing-related costs such as rent, utilities, housekeeping and fibre. In contrast, NSFAS students spent R35 347 annually in town and R68 656 on housing and related costs. On average, total spending by NSFAS students living in Stellenbosch amounts to 69% of that of their non-NSFAS peers. </p><p>After adjusting for inflation, the average student paid 19% higher rent in Stellenbosch in 2024 than in 2017. </p><p>After spending on housing-related costs, groceries are the top spending category for most students. Averaged across the cohort, students' mean monthly grocery spending in Stellenbosch was R2 049 per person (or R1 454 for NSFAS students) in 2024. </p><p>The average spending on public transport for students living in Stellenbosch has more than doubled in real terms since 2017. This aligns with the increase in the CPI of passenger transport services at a national level, which reflects the demise of public transport like passenger rail, and the growth in costlier alternatives, like ridesharing. NSFAS students, in particular, are affected by this (see figure), especially those living outside Stellenbosch. </p><p><img src="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/Student_spending_new%20graph%20to%20use.png" alt="Student_spending_new graph to use.png" style="margin:5px;" /><br><br><br></p><p> <img src="file:///Users/petromostert/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image001.png" alt="" style="width:403px;margin:5px;" /> <br></p><p><em>Note: Values shown in the graph are averages across the student cohort. Actual spending on specific items is pulled down by students who do not spend any money on a particular item.</em> </p><p>Though the student population has grown rapidly, the University has seen a 3.6% decrease in full-time equivalent jobs since 2017. However, the share of total operating expenditure spent on staff grew from 47% in 2016/17 to 52% in 2023/24. In other words, although the University employed fewer staff, staff costs increased. This speaks to the difficulty of attracting and retaining staff in a competitive market for highly skilled labour. </p><p>Approximately R666 million of SU's total operating expenditure was spent on roughly 900 local suppliers of goods and services in Stellenbosch. This was 18.7% more than the University's spending in the local Stellenbosch economy in 2016/17. </p><p>The biggest beneficiary was the<strong> </strong>Stellenbosch Municipality, which absorbed roughly 28% of SU's spending in the local economy in the form of rates and service charges, followed by the finance and insurance sector (12.7%). In third place was the catering and accommodation sector (12.6%), which includes spending on restaurants, guest houses and hotels, and other providers of private short-term accommodation. </p><p>In total, students spent 40% more in the Stellenbosch local economy last year than in 2017 (in real terms). This was primarily driven by increased student numbers. Staff, however, spent almost 30% less in Stellenbosch. </p><p>BER senior economist Helanya Fourie, who led the study, attributes these trends to technical improvements in the study design and changing consumption patterns. For instance, the availability of online study material has, on average, lowered expenditure on textbooks and extra tuition. </p><p>The study results also suggest that staff and students spent less money buying clothes from Stellenbosch retailers in 2024 than in 2017, which may indicate a pivot towards online shopping. </p><p>The slight decrease in the total number of staff and a smaller share of staff living in town contribute to lower overall local spending by staff. In 2017, just over half of the staff who worked at the Stellenbosch campus lived in Stellenbosch. The latest study finds that this share has dropped to 42%. Stellenbosch's high property prices and the increased availability of neighbouring property developments most likely contributed to this trend. </p><p>In short, the actual spending by SU, students, staff, and visitors in the town totalled R4.22bn in 2024 – a real increase of 21% over 2017. This generated R5.83bn in local economic activity (output)**, which generated 13% of the town's GDP and supported 13% of formal sector jobs. </p><p>ENDS </p><p>· Liaise with Celeste Booysen (BER) at <a href="mailto:cbooysen@sun.ac.za">cbooysen@sun.ac.za</a> for more information.</p><p> </p><p><strong><em>Note to editors:</em></strong><strong> </strong></p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><em>*The 2017 study focused on students and staff at the Stellenbosch campus (and Elsenburg). The 2024 study includes SU's other campuses (e.g. the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in Tygerberg and the Business School in Bellville) based on the assumption that these students and staff occasionally visit Stellenbosch. These and other technical enhancements mean the 2017 and 2024 studies are not strictly comparable. Even so, the broad strokes reveal fascinating changes over the past seven years.</em> </li></ul><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><em> The BER study follows an expenditure-based approach to quantifying the economic benefits (the additional spending and direct increase in economic activity throughout the local economy) generated by the University's operational and capital expenditure, as well as local expenditure by staff and students, and visitor spending. It is based on a comprehensive 2024 supply-use table analysis of the Stellenbosch economy developed and maintained by Quantec Research.</em> </li></ul><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><em>** This includes direct impacts (t</em><em>he immediate economic activity generated by a project or investment)</em><em>, indirect or secondary effects (like increased demand for materials and services from local businesses), and induced effects (such as workers spending their wages from the direct and indirect activities).</em> </li></ul><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li><em>The terms “town" or “local economy" refer to the Stellenbosch municipal region, including Pniel and Franschhoek.</em> </li></ul><p><br></p> |
| Maties Sport Annual Report 2024: Celebrating Impact, Inspiring the Future | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11262 | | Maties Sport Annual Report 2024: Celebrating Impact, Inspiring the Future | Kimara Singh | <p></p><p>Maties Sport is proud to share our 2024 Annual Report, capturing a year of remarkable growth, resilience, tough times, and achievement across all spheres of university sport at Stellenbosch University. This publication reflects our deep commitment to empowering student-athletes, fostering excellence, and creating a lasting impact through sport.</p><p>As we reflect on the past year, we remain focused on our long-term vision:<br><strong>“To be the leading university, contributing to a holistic and diverse experience through sport."</strong><br></p><p>Looking ahead, our Chief Director's new vision will continue to guide us in realising the ongoing investment by the #MaroonMachine over the next five years, with 2025 marking a pivotal year in our journey in the following ways:</p><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li><p><strong>Advance Participation and Performance: </strong>We continue strengthening our high performance and competitive sport structures while promoting inclusive participation through recreational and active lifestyle programmes.</p></li><li><p><strong>Foster a Healthy Organisation: </strong>We aim to build a resilient and future-ready Maties Sport team through leadership development, succession planning, and staff wellbeing initiatives.</p></li><li><p><strong>Enable a Sustainable Business Model:</strong> By forging purposeful partnerships, enhancing fundraising efforts, and leveraging our world-class facilities, we continue to advance Stellenbosch University as a destination of choice supported by operational excellence and innovation.</p></li><li><p><strong>Drive Research for Impact: </strong>Anchored by our Centre for Sport Leadership (CSL) and the South African Centre for Olympic Studies and Social Impact (SACOSSI), we will advance research, training and development, and social transformation through sport.</p></li></ol><p>This report celebrates our milestones, not only for 2024 but a decade of visionary and resilient leadership by our Chief Director. It outlines our unwavering commitment to sport as a transformative force within Stellenbosch University and the higher education sector.</p><p>Access the full report <a href="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/Maties%20Sport%20Annual%20Report%202024-Eng.pdf"><img class="ms-asset-icon ms-rtePosition-4" src="/_layouts/15/images/icpdf.png" alt="" />Maties Sport Annual Report 2024-Eng.pdf</a></p><p>#MatiesSport #AnnualReport2024 #ExcellenceThroughSport #FutureFocused #StellenboschUniversity</p><p><br></p><p> </p><p><br></p> |
| SU students, staff join in celebrating Earth Day 2025 | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11257 | | SU students, staff join in celebrating Earth Day 2025 | Petro Mostert | <p></p><p>Stellenbosch University's (SU) students and staff took to the streets on campus to celebrate Earth Day 2025 with a walk and clean-up on 22 April 2025, committing to this year's theme of #OurPowerOurPlanet — calling for everyone to unite around cleaner renewable energy so that we can triple clean electricity by 2030.</p><p>The participants ended the walk and clean-up on the steps of SU's Library, where they all signed a memorandum and called on SU to deepen its commitment to Environmental Sustainability by establishing an integrated, unified, campus-wide sustainability network. Accepting the memorandum on behalf of SU, our new acting Chief Operating Officer, Prof Nicola Smit, reminded us that Environmental Sustainability is one challenge that confronts and unites us all — across every faculty, service department and field of study. “It is not just a buzzword: it is about building a future where all living creatures and our planet can thrive. We no longer ask how this is going to affect us. The question is rather, how we (collectively and individually) will respond. Because environmental sustainability starts here, with each one of us," she said.</p><p>Prof Smit said SU is taking action to move from sustainability as a strategic priority and enabler to a responsibility shared by all. “Through our Environmental Sustainability Plan, we're aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The good news is that we are already making inroads across our campus, which houses more than 487 buildings, where we are shifting to solar energy and launching water-wise initiatives, reducing waste to landfill across our campuses, and our faculties are researching green solutions.</p><p>“But the real power lies with you," she said. “As students and staff, we are here together to shape our future. Let's heed the call that rivers weep and forests fade beneath the weight of choices we make."</p><p>Handing over the memorandum to Prof Smit, SU's Student Representative Council's sustainability portfolio manager, Ocean Postman, said SU is a place for students to develop holistically, have enriched academic experiences and become well-rounded citizens. “Climate concerns us all and we would like to make this pledge along with the University to commit to sustainability goals, as individuals and as a collective."</p><p>Christine Groenewald, SU's engagement officer for sustainability development, and our environmental sustainability manager, John de Wet, from Facilities Management, organised this celebration together with the SRC and other organisations on campus.</p><p><br></p> |
| R45 Food Sock Meals Now Available at Maties Coffee Hub | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11211 | | R45 Food Sock Meals Now Available at Maties Coffee Hub | Rentia Smal | <p></p><p style="color:#0e101a;background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><br></p><p style="color:#0e101a;background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"></p><p style="color:#0e101a;background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">Students at Stellenbosch University now have access to nutritious, easy-to-prepare Food Sock meals, available at Maties Coffee Hub in the Matie Shop at the Neelsie. The R45 meal kit serves up to four people, offering students an affordable and convenient meal solution. </span></p><p style="color:#0e101a;background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">This initiative is part of SUNCOM and Factory 209’s efforts to address the rising food insecurity challenges among the student community. </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">Malnutrition and not knowing where your next meal will come from can </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">place significant stress on students</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">.</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> SU aims to solve this challenge with a flavourful and nutritious one-pot-wonder that only requires water.</span></p><p style="color:#0e101a;background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">Founded in 2023 by Carl van Blerk, Food Sock was developed to tackle food security and loadshedding challenges in South Africa. The meal kits are designed for convenience, ensuring students enjoy wholesome meals despite financial challenges.</span></p><p style="color:#0e101a;background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">Each meal has been developed with inputs from culinary experts, including renowned Chef Francois Ferreira and celebrity chef Nataniel, to guarantee taste and nutritional value. Various flavours are available, including chicken pasta, tomato bredie, chakalaka samp and beans, mac and cheese, mutton stew, chicken veg soup and even traditional </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">melkkos</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">.</span></p><p style="color:#0e101a;background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">To purchase your Food Sock meal kit, visit Maties Coffee Hub at the Neelsie today.</span></p><p style="color:#0e101a;background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><br></span></p><p style="color:#0e101a;background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"></p><p style="color:#0e101a;background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><strong style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">About Factory 209 (Pty) Ltd</strong></p><p style="color:#0e101a;background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">Factory 209 (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of Stellenbosch University </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">enterprises</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> (USE), serves as the commercial vehicle for SUNCOM. It oversees multiple business initiatives, including Matie Shops, the Central Events and Conference Office (CECO), and Gradlinc. CECO manages event spaces, rentals, and conference facilities, while Gradlinc </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">functions as</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background:transparent;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> an employment platform connecting SU graduates with potential employers.</span></p><p><br></p> |
| Universities face significant disruption | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11204 | | Universities face significant disruption | Prof Stan du Plessis | <p>Universities have existed for over 1 000 years and have changed a lot over many centuries, but not as severely as in recent years, when they have faced significant disruption. Consider declining government funding, the rise of alternatives to traditional academic programmes, and the high costs of sustaining undergraduate teaching and research.<br></p><p>If we compare our situation to the likes of Harvard and Oxford, for example, one realises that in Harvard's budget, the recurring revenue (fees) pays only 55 percent of their operating expenses, including salaries. The rest comes from investment income on their $54bn endowment and direct donations this year. As Oxford's retiring vice-chancellor said: “We lose money on every student we admit, and we lose money on almost every research tranche we take…"</p><p>We at Stellenbosch University (SU) do not live in that world; we cannot absorb loss-making activities without ending in the same way as four or five elite institutions in the world can, with endowments so wildly extravagant that they can afford not to consider economic realities. Even with over 800 years of accumulation and privilege behind them, Oxford does not even serve as many students as we do.</p><p>Furthermore, we have our own unique disruptive challenges: the collapse of NSFAS, declining government subsidies and a stagnant economy. Within this challenging environment, we must work towards creating a new kind of public university in South Africa. One thing is for sure: South African universities will have to work smarter, not harder, to ensure that we are sustainable and can increase our beneficial impact on society.</p><p>While I am now looking into my crystal ball, I am arranging my thoughts according to the acronym HESU, which I've mentioned to you before. It stands for High Impact, Efficient Scalable University.</p><p><strong>Education changes families</strong></p><p>I love to use VS Naipaul's inspiring 1961 novel <em>A House for Mr Biswas</em> to explain how education changes families. Born in rural Trinidad, the grandson of immigrants who came from India as indentured servants (almost slaves), Mr Mohun Biswas could maintain a sense of himself as a man with possibilities and options and in a position to set limits on what he will put up with — also living in a society that will let him survive with this attitude.</p><p>Somehow, Mr Biswas survives, marries, supports a family after a fashion, and passes on to some of his children this sense of living in a world with possibilities. This world can reward those who accept the challenges it offers. By the end of his life, his oldest son, Anand, had become a scholarship student at Oxford. Between Anand and his grandparents is the “entire gap in living standards between the wealthy and poor parts of the world today."</p><p>Once Anand had gone to Oxford, the Biswas family - who had been poor for centuries, and Anand's great-grandfather had been a near-slave would never be poor again.</p><p>To similarly impact South Africa today, and more so in a decade from now, for high-impact, we need three things:</p><p><strong>Embrace interdisciplinary learning</strong>: to address complex global challenges will require that we cross disciplinary boundaries;</p><p><strong>We need lifelong learning</strong>; therefore, universities must offer continuous education beyond traditional degrees; and</p><p><strong>Instill collaborative learning</strong>, as fostering teamwork prepares students for an ever-changing and evolving job market.</p><p>For efficiency and scalability, we need to embrace factors such as hyper-automation, hence streamlining our operations with the help of digitization and AI. Personalisation should be centred in our strategy, utilising AI-driven learning tailored to individuals' needs. We need student success analytics — data-driven interventions so that we can improve our academic outcomes. Lastly, we must build on our progress with hybrid and online learning by expanding students' access to flexible, technology-enhanced education.</p><p>The University of the Future can embrace these changes if they are willing to invest in technology and enable a mindset shift; faculties should see hybrid learning to enhance impact, not a burden.</p><p>We need to build sustainable, transformative universities to ensure education remains a driver of social mobility and economic progress. Together, we can make HESU a reality and realise the impact we as a sector can have at an even greater scale in this country.</p><p>The future is bright.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br></p> |
| A year to explore | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=11192 | | A year to explore | Petro Mostert | <p><em>By Nicolette van den Eijkel, Chief Director: Facilities Management</em></p><p>Our focus this year must be on ensuring that we are "future-fit" by embracing innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence. We need to work on having a culture and structure of adaptability and continuous improvement so that our campus facilities and the services we provide are functional today and ready to meet the evolving needs of tomorrow's students and staff while meeting the objectives of Vision 2040. I am excited about the year ahead and the opportunity to realign and assess that we are doing the right things in the right way with the right people and the right resources. Let us see that in December 2025, we can say: “We are (al)right".</p><p>To achieve this, in 2025 the Facilities Management Division will focus on:</p><p>The Campus Renewal Project: namely:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Refurbishment of Admin A</li></ul></ul><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Refurbishment of Admin B</li></ul></ul><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Development of the Central Campus Renewal project and the relocation of parts of Agrisciences Faculty to Welgevallen</li></ul></ul><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Continuation of the existing CRP projects</li></ul></ul><p>Implementing the six-year Capital Plan to get approval from Council for funding for infrastructure needs</p><p>- Providing a welcoming environment for all students and staff</p><p>- Improving operational efficiency by</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Aligning the structure of SUFM to ensure that it is “future-fit" and has the right resources in the proper structure; and<br></li></ul></ul><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Understanding our funding and budgets and ensuring that the right budget is used for the right purposes.<br></li></ul></ul><p>- Harnessing our digital assets and systems to ensure that we improve sustainability and efficiency.</p><p>The start of 2025 is good! The Chinese New Year was on 29 January, and we are entering the year of the wood snake, billed as “a year to explore, get inspired and share your light". I hope we are all inspired to explore and make SU the best university in South Africa.</p><p><br></p> |
