Stellenbosch University (SU) has a vision to be established as a leading research-intensive university on the African continent by pursuing excellence and remaining at the forefront of its chosen focus areas, by gaining national and international standing on the basis of its research outputs, by being relevant to the needs of the community, and by being enterprising, innovative and self-renewing. SU is one of the top research-focused universities in South Africa.
RESEARCH FOR IMPACT IN NUMBERS
Research outputs
According to the Department of Higher Education and Training's official report regarding the 2022-publication year outputs, SU received the second highest number of book publications (397,5 subsidy units), the second highest number of conference proceedings (107,1 subsidy units) and the fifth highest per-capita research output (1,74). SU was placed fourth in terms of overall institutional units received for this output year. This includes journal articles, books, chapters in books and conference proceedings. Stellenbosch University (SU) is also one of the most successful institutions nationally in terms of number of creative outputs submitted and subsidy awarded. According to the outcome of the 2019 submission to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), SU came first nationally with a total of 87 submissions and 53.6 units received, whilst for the 2020 submissions we submitted a total of 39, with 34.45 units awarded. For the 2021 submission we again submitted the highest number of submissions (a total of 40), SU was awarded 38.53 units. The Music subfield has accounted for the highest number of accrued units in 2021. For the 2022 submissions we again submitted the highest number of submissions (a total of 41), SU was awarded 37,1999 units.
Distinguished researchers
The University has 47 Research Chairs of which 21 are National Research Foundation (NRF) SARChI chairs (South African Research Chairs Initiative), funded by the Department of Science and Technology. SU has one of the highest number of NRF-rated scientists in the country – 509 in 2023.
More than 342 postdoctoral research fellows were hosted at SU in 2023.
Networks and partnerships
SU has well-established, far-reaching, multi-layered networks of international partners, with 341 partners in 64 countries on 6 continents. SU also has 35 partner institutions in 23 countries in Africa.
Innovation and research contracts
105 Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications were submitted since 2014. This is more than any other entity in South Africa. We have launched 31 spin-out companies since 2014. More than 1450 research contracts were processed in 2022, compared to 956 in 2018 (a 66% increase in 5 years). In 2022, 70% of our research contracts funding came from international funders.
Rankings
Stellenbosch University ranks 3rd in SA and 283rd worldwide on the Quarelli Symonds World University Rankings. Additionally, SU ranks 2nd in SA and falls in the category 251-300 globally on 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
SU as a university rooted in Africa needs to bear fruit for the people of our continent. The challenge for us is to be locally relevant, with regional impact, while also globally competitive. To achieve this goal, we need to continuously focus on the unique areas in which we have developed expertise over time and build collaborative networks as a knowledge partner in South Africa, the rest of the continent and further afield.
