The recently crowned  SA U23 cross-country champion, Maties Cycling's Frankie du Toit, will leave for Australia on her 20^th birthday – 2 September – to compete in the UCI MTB World Championships in Cairns.

This trip became a reality after she managed to raise all the funds necessary to represent her country internationally. Due to Cycling South Africa's (CSA) new self-funding policy, Frankie initially thought she would not be able to go. However, after mentioning her plight on social media she managed to raise enough money to cover the cost of her trip.

“I was overwhelmed with support. I didn't expect this kind of response," she says.

“I am so excited about this trip. It is always such an honour to represent your country. I am hoping for a top 20 finish, but we will see how it goes."

This first-year BA Sport Science student from Wartburg, a small farming town outside Pietermaritzburg, started racing seriously when she was 15.

“I got involved in cycling because my parents ride, and my sister and I would go with them when they went to local races. I was super competitive so I would always go as hard as I could. My sister wasn't so competitive, but now she's in Maties Rowing's A Crew so maybe cycling just wasn't her sport."

In 2015, Frankie won SA titles in all the major cycling disciplines: Cross Country, Marathon, Time Trial and Road. Cross Country (XCO) remains her favourite event, though.

She loves being part of the Maties Cycling Club and made a big impression at the recent University Sport South Africa (USSA) competition, where she won the women's category.

“We have the Varsity MTB Challenge coming up at the end of September and I'm also doing a stage race – the Cape Pioneer Trek – with Nicky Giliomee, chairperson of Maties Cycling, which I am very excited about." 

Frankie enjoys cycling in the Stellenbosch area.

“There are so many options to ride. I think my favourite would have to be the G-spot, a local trail. It's amazing."

Frankie is not only a High Performance (HP) student-athlete, but also an IMAS (Integrated Medicine and Science) bursary holder.

This bursary is awarded to athletes who have shown exceptional performance in their sport, and assists the athlete to enhance his/her performance through integrated interventions across the areas of sport medicine, performance enhancement and empowerment.

“The IMAS bursary is amazing. It gives me access to services that help me be in the best shape for my riding. It's the extra push that I need."

She trains between 12 and 16 hours a week and stay on top of her work by paying close attention in all her lectures.

“When I'm away I try and get some studying in too," she adds.

Her role models are two female cyclists: Jenny Rissveds from Sweden an Annika Langvad from Denmark.

“They're both amazing athletes who are very good at keeping calm during races and focusing on what they need to do. Both of them are also very versatile riders."​

Photo credit: JB Badenhorst

​Persons who wish to undertake invigilation duties during the SU examinations from Tuesday 24 October to Saturday 02 December 2017 have the opportunity to apply till Thursday 14 September 2017.

Minimum qualification is Matric, but preference will be given to graduated SU staff members and post graduate students. Undergraduate students unfortunately do not qualify. Lecturing staff should obtain permission from their Deans but are not required to apply for leave.

Remuneration is R72,00 per hour, plus an additional half hour per examination session for invigilators, and an additional two hours per examination session for convenors. Remuneration for all invigilation until 15 November 2017 will be paid on 14 December 2017 and for the period thereafter at the end of January 2018.

Application forms are available at the Information Desk, Admin A. Closing date for applications is Thursday 14 September 2017 at 16:30. First time applicants must submit a certified copy of their Matric Certificate or post-Matric qualification with the application form. Submission of an application form does not guarantee appointment.

Contact Miriam Walters at 021 8089111 for further enquiries.

As we celebrate Casual Day (1 September) with people with disabilities, we should make sure that we pay equal attention to the different disabilities that people may have, writes Dr Marcia Lyner-Cleophas of the Disability Unit at Stellenbosch University in an article published in Cape Argus on Thursday (31 August 2017).

• Read the complete article below.
  

Celebrating our diversity, disabilities and all

Marcia Lyner-Cleophas*

Every year on the first Friday of September, South Africans from all walks of life celebrate Casual Day to raise funds for and create awareness about people with disabilities. Together with other campaigns aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities, Casual Day shows that society is increasingly becoming more responsive to acknowledging that people with disabilities are like all people - they just happen to have a disability too.  

Having a disability is not just about someone who might be using a wheelchair or crutches to move about or having a guide dog to assist with arriving safely at a place. Disabilities are much more diverse. For example, many people have health difficulties, which include mental health challenges such as debilitating Depressive Disorders or Neurodevelopmental Disorders, that can become quite disabling at times. Such disabilities are rather silent, as one cannot visibly see them. It is this diversity in disability that we are celebrating on Casual Day.

The importance of recognising diversity in disability and striving to be truly inclusive of people with disabilities was also something that I tried to address in my recent doctorate in psychology at Stellenbosch University (SU). The study specifically reflected on the experiences of SU staff who support students with disabilities as well as on students' understanding of the support received at the university. It also examined practices of inclusion and exclusion from the perspective of people with disabilities.

Interviews with staff across campus revealed a clear understanding that diversity and disability are intertwined. For example, one staff member said: “…diversity does not refer only to colour, it also refers to disabilities…the designated groups… in addition to ethnicity and gender, and there is a disability category. So if we talk diversity we also talk disability."

Staff who engaged with students with more diverse disabilities gained a better understanding of the disability and how best to support the student. Their experience of support was enriched with new knowledge which they could then use as part of the subsequent academic support for that particular student.

This also encouraged and gave other staff members the confidence to support students and engage further with their disability. As one staff member noted: “…we learn out of experience from our current students. If we accept a student, each year there are challenges. We have a student this year who sits with a camera in class…he must focus on the board and the camera zooms in on the board, and then on a screen in front of him and he can see what is there…But if I get such a student next year again, then I will know how I will manage such a student; which bench or which seat I will typically reserve for such a student…but because we have a bit of experience of what happened this year or what happened last year, we try to bear this in mind and do a bit of forward planning."

What my study also highlighted was that some students face ongoing struggles regarding the impact of less visible disabilities on the academic functioning. One student said: “In general, people on campus are not accessible if your sickness is not observable. I struggle much with my studies and have missed classes and tutorials as a result of circumstances".

Another student commented: “My disability prevents me from studying late at night, given that sleep is needed to prevent attacks. Sometimes I get attacks created by flickering lights, too little sleep, a broken down immune system…and this makes it difficult to attend classes and to write tests. My chronic migraines that I also experience resulted in my missing lectures recently." What these accounts show is that there is diversity in disability and that we must also recognise those disabilities that are not visible.

That is why the 2017 Casual Day theme “Celebrating Diversity" is so significant. This theme aims to open our minds to the diverse ways in which disability is represented in society and how we respond to this, (sometimes) unwittingly, by disregarding and not fully understanding the severity of functioning in different contexts.  It also wants to remind us of how society is sometimes disabling us and actually the cause of disability.

We should embrace Casual Day as a chance for us to think more holistically about each other and the different and unique ways we function in this world. It's a good opportunity for us to show that we are indeed serious about the inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in all spheres of society. 

*Dr Marcia Lyner-Cleophas heads the Disability Unit at the Centre for Student Counselling and Development in the Division Student Affairs at Stellenbosch University.

“Well done to all of you. I'm very proud of you and it's a pleasure to work with all of you. It is a particular source of pride for me that our researchers are so productive."

With these words, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU) Prof Wim de Villiers on Thursday (31 August 2017) congratulated a large number of SU researchers who received new ratings from the National Research Foundation (NRF) in 2017. They were rated for research excellence in their respective fields.

A total of 81 researchers received new ratings in 2017. Together with this new crop, SU now has 430 rated researchers of which 12 have an A-rating because they are regarded as world leaders in their fields. This places the University in the top three higher-education institutions in the country.

The NRF rates researchers in the five distinguished categories, namely researchers regard ed as world leaders in their fields (A-rated) ; researchers that enjoy considerable international recognition by their peers (B-rated); researchers regarded as established in their field young researchers (C-rated), with exceptional potential, that are likely to become future international leaders in their fields (P-rated) and young researchers with the potential to establish themselves as researchers within a 5-year period after evaluation.

The NRF rating system is a benchmarking system by which individuals that exemplify the highest standards of research, as well as those demonstrating strong potential as researchers, are identified by an extensive network of South African and international peer reviewers. Ratings are based on the quality and impact of recent research outputs over an eight-year period.

​Some of the advantages of being rated is that the rating is used as a national indicator of excellence. A successful rating also allows researchers the option of applying for incentive funding from the NRF.

Awards are valid for a period of six years. The next round for rating applications will open in September 2017 and will close on 15 February 2018.

• For more information on SU's internal process, or to find out more about NRF rating, contact Maryke Hunter-Hüsselmann at mh3@sun.ac.za or Aasima Gaffoor ataasima@sun.ac.za in the Division for Research Development.​​
  

On 11 September, Prof Calie Pistorius will deliver a lecture on Technological innovation: Managing the strategic business impact, opportunities and risks presented by emerging technologies.

The lecture will address the management of technological innovation from the viewpoint of the strategic impact, risks, opportunities and threats presented by the dynamics of technological change – particularly emerging technologies. The lecture will explore how the dynamics of technological change create strategic business opportunities and risks, and how this could be managed as part of an innovation strategy. A number of emerging technologies will be discussed as brief case studies.

Date: 11 September 2017 

Time: 13:00 to 14:00

Venue: Room 301, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Building

Click here for invitation 

​Biography of Prof C.W.I Pistorius

Prof Calie Pistorius, an Extraordinary Professor in the SU Faculty of Engineering, recently established DeltaHedron Ltd, a UK-based business consultancy firm with a global reach specialising in the management of technological innovation. He is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull (Sep 2009-Jan 2017) and former Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria (Aug 2001-Aug 2009). He was also the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (Jan 2000-Jul 2001), Director of the Institute of Technological Innovation (Oct 1994-Aug 1998) and Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Sep 1989-Sep 1994) at Pretoria; and is a former member and Chair of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) in South Africa.

Prof Pistorius obtained the degree BSc (Eng) (cum laude) in electronic engineering from the University of Pretoria in 1979 and the degree BEng (Hons) (cum laude) in electronic engineering from the same university in 1981. He obtained an MS degree in electrical engineering from the Ohio State University in the U.S. in 1984, a PhD degree in electrical engineering also from the Ohio State University in 1986, and a master's degree in the Management of Technology (SM) from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1994. He is also an alumnus Harvard Business School, having completed the AMP in 2003.

Prof Pistorius has published widely both nationally and internationally and has more than 100 academic publications to his credit, including a co-authored text book which was awarded the Bill Venter prize. He has received numerous awards and prizes including a Presidential (P) rating from the NRF, the prize for the best PhD dissertation from the ElectroScience Laboratory at the Ohio State University and a Centennial Medal for Research Excellence from the University of Pretoria.

​The recipient of the 2017 CGW Schumann medal for the best postgraduate student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences will leave for England later in September to further his studies at Oxford University.

Lewis McClean, who received both his BComHons (Economics) and MCom (Economics) degrees cum laude, was awarded this medal on Friday 1 September. The medal is named after the Faculty's first dean and has been awarded annually since 1986.

Over the years, Lewis had received numerous awards and accolades, among them the Cloete medal for the best postgraduate (honours & master's) student in Economics in 2014 as well as 2016.

According to Prof Andrie Schoombee, chairperson of the Department of Economics, Lewis' high-level econometric skills resulted in him being selected to represent Stellenbosch University (SU) at the highly prestigious World Championship of Econometrics presented by the University of Amsterdam three years in a row.

The Economics Society of South Africa also awarded him its Founder's Medal for the best Honours research assignment submitted by an economics student as part of the student's degree programme in 2014.

Lewis, who hopes to follow a career in academia, have gained entrance to both Oxford University (fully funded) and Cambridge University.

“I was very pleased to be accepted by both of these prestigious institutions. I've decided to attend Oxford's two-year MPhil in Economics, with the intent of continuing on to complete a DPhil in Economics at Oxford thereafter. Funding was the deciding factor for me - I've been awarded a Clarendon Fund Scholarship which, partnered with a Mary Somerville Graduate Scholarship granted by Somerville College, covers my tuition, college fee and living expenses for the duration of the two-year programme."

Ironically, Lewis had no intention of pursuing a career as an economist when he started his studies at SU in 2011.

“I'd actually applied to study music, but by the time I was accepted I'd grown disillusioned with the insularity that had manifested in me as a result of my singular focus on music. That's why I decided to enrol for a BA degree with the subjects Philosophy, Political Science and Economics.

“Initially I was primarily interested in Philosophy and History, but over the course of my undergraduate degree Economics emerged as the subject that continually challenged me in unique and exciting ways, and thus seemed to offer the greatest potential for continued personal development."

He successfully moved from an undergraduate programme in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to postgraduate studies in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

Lewis does not regret following this route: “It is my view that Economics is fundamentally concerned with the study of social phenomena, and that it should do this by any appropriate means available. My background in the social sciences helps me keep this in mind when I approach economic problems."

According to him, two things have been central to his achievements: an insatiable love for learning, and the support he received from among others family, friends and the university.

“I could not have asked for a more supportive learning environment than that provided by the Department of Economics. I would not have obtained my MCom had it not been for opportunities made available to me by members of the Department, who allowed me to lecture our undergraduate students, to tutor our postgraduate students and to get involved in a wide range of research projects, all of which collectively funded my last few years at SU."

• Main photo:  Prof Andrie Schoombee, chairperson of the Department of Economics,  and Prof Johan Malan, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, congratulate Lewis McClean, recipient of the CGW Schumann Medal for the best postgraduate student in the Faculty.

• 2nd Photo: Prof Stan du Plessis, economics professor and SU's COO designate, congratulates Lewis.

​​Students are fellow travellers on Stellenbosch University (SU)'s journey of inclusivity and of building a community for all.
This was the message of the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of SU Prof Wim de Villiers to student leaders in the Kruiskerk in Stellenbosch on Monday (4 September 2017). He was speaking at SU's annual Student Leaders' Conference (SU Leads) taking place from 3-4 September.

SU Leads, hosted by the Centre for Student Leadership and Structures in the Division of Student Affairs, annually offers a training and development platform to close to 1 500 student leaders in various structures throughout Stellenbosch University.

The Rector's speech formed part of a range of discussions on various topics taking place during the conference.

Mobile users click here

In his talk, Prof De Villiers described leadership as a journey and told students that the University wants to walk this journey with them.

“Leadership is a profound journey on different levels. I welcome you as fellow travellers, and I look forward to walking with you on the path of leadership here at this University.

“You folks have seized that opportunity … which is the chance we have as leaders to learn more about what is going on in the world around us, but also to influence things, to shape society, to make it a better place for all."

De Villiers emphasised the important input from students as SU moves forward in terms of its new vision and institutional strategy.

“Students are a key stakeholder, and your role as student leader is vital. We need to go forward together. For nearly 100 years, we have been learning, growing and moving forward together. May we as leaders at this university proceed in that spirit," he said.

De Villiers also encouraged the students to debate issues in higher education and at SU that affect them directly.

“We should have these debates, engage in an open conversation, but always do so in a value-driven way," he said.

• Photo: Prof Wim de Villiers speaking to student leaders at the SU Leads Conference.
  
• Photographer: Henk Oets​
  

Johané Nienkemper-Swanepoel, a PhD student in Mathematical Statistics and biometry lecturer at Stellenbosch University, recently received the International Federation of Classification Societies' (IFCS) Helga and Wolfgang Gaul Stiftung Award of €2000. It is awarded biennially to an outstanding researcher younger than 30.

This versatile lecturer and student says her objetive is to submit her PhD dissertation with the title Biplots for categorical data: focus on missing data, by the end of 2018 in order to graduate in 2019 – before she turns 30!

Her PhD supervisors are Prof Niël le Roux and Prof Sugnet Lubbe of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science.

• ​The following article was written by Engela Duvenage on behalf of the Faculty of AgriSciences and was published on 21 August 2017 on the faculty website:

“Missing data" makes Biometry lecturer tick

Johané Nienkemper-Swanepoel is a member of that rare breed of scientists who does research to help others do their own investigative work more thoroughly. This PhD student and lecturer at Stellenbosch University uses her skills in statistics, applied mathematics and computer programming to write appropriate software with which to handle and visualise incomplete or missing data. These visualisation tools will help other researchers make as much sense as possible from the data they have painstakingly collected, even when some much-needed bits of information are missing.

“By using applicable techniques to handle the issue of missing bits of data, it is quite possible to maintain and extract more information from for instance an incomplete questionnaire. It means that researchers do not have to make do with a smaller sample set that only includes complete blocks of data," explains Nienkemper-Swanepoel. She invited faculty members to provide her with relevant data that they would like to put to better use.

In July, the efforts of this biometry lecturer in the Department of Genetics was recognized through the Helga and Wolfgang Gaul Stiftung Award worth 2000 Euros. It is awarded biennially by the International Federation of Classification Societies (IFCS) to an outstanding researcher younger than 30 years. Nienkemper-Swanepoel has just returned from Japan where she presented some of her research at the IFCS 2017 conference. At the award ceremony, she also had the honour of meeting Prof Wolfgang Gaul, an eminent German academic, and his wife Helga. Her interest in mathematical conundrums stems from the inspirational extra maths classes she received in high school. She also remembers fondly how she used her basic knowledge of mathematics to complete her first science fair project in Grade 7 to establish whether there is a link between handwriting skills and the amount of time babies spend lying on their tummies.

“Looking back, this was a clear indication that I would one day become a researcher, passionate about the application of the subject of statistics," she uses the benefit of hindsight.

Passion for performing

It would however be a mistake to typecast Nienkemper-Swanepoel into the typical role of a maths boffin. Before setting her mind on studies in mathematical sciences at the University of the Free State, Nienkemper-Swanepoel played with the idea of studying medicine and even drama. At school at C & N Meisieskool Oranje in Bloemfontein, she received Free State colours for tap dancing, and also won six medals at the World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles. This avid performer was also vice-head of the Bloemfontein Children's Choir.

During her years at the University of the Free State (UFS) she still found the time to be her residence's cultural representative, and to be part of the women's A Capella group Amaranth Echo which came 5th in the international Varsity Vocals competition in New York in 2009. The group went on to launch a CD in 2011.

Doing research for the sake of other researchers

Her decision to combine her studies with her passion for chamber choir music during her honours year paid off. She went on to receive the Senate Medal for the best honours degree student at the

University of the Free State in 2012. In 2011, she was the youngest presenter at the South African Statistical Association (SASA) annual conference. She had the opportunity to explain to leaders in her field how to use a statistical method called paired comparisons to determine the optimal position in which members of an A Cappella group should stand to get their overall intonation, dynamics and balance just right.

She didn't miss a beat when starting off her MSc Mathematical Statistics at UFS. It only took her 18 months to complete her investigations on how to handle missing values in multivariate categorical data sets. She focused on how to rebuild incomplete questionnaires with missing bits of information in such a way that credible results could be obtained from the updated data. After receiving first prize for the annual best postgraduate paper submitted to SASA, she subsequently presented her work at the 60th International Statistics Institute (ISI) World Statistics Congress 2015 in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Her research has subsequently taken her to Spain, Italy and Portugal for conferences, and has allowed her to publish in the Journal of Classification.

This member of SASA enjoys collaborating with colleagues in the SU Department of Statistics on matters of interest. On an international platform, she has been elected to represent SASA's Multivariate Data Analysis special interest group (MDAG) on the council of the International Federation of Classification Societies (IFCS).

“It is an exciting opportunity to represent South Africa at meetings, to engage with fellow council members and to create awareness of the MDAG activities and the approaches to applying and teaching classification methods at South African universities," says Nienkemper-Swanepoel, who hopes that she will receive her PhD degree in Mathematical Statistics by 2019.

“I have received invaluable support and mentorship I receive from my supervisors, Prof Niël le Roux and Prof Sugnet Lubbe of the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Stellenbosch University. I will always be indebted to them for the time they invest in my future," declares Nienkemper-Swanepoel.

​Stellenbosch University (SU) has improved its position on the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. In the 2018 version, which has just been released (Tuesday 5 September), SU is now placed in the category 351 – 400.

More than a 1000 institutions from 77 countries feature in the rankings. Last year SU was in the category 401-500.

“Stellenbosch University is pleased with its new position on this particular ranking, but maintains a nuanced approach to university rankings in general – given the current realities of the institution, our country and our continent as well as the methodology of the various rankings of which there are well-documented differences of opinion," says Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Study.

“The fact that Stellenbosch is included in some of the most well-known rankings over the last few years, is however a strong indication of the institution receiving international recognition for the quality and stature of its teaching and research," he adds.

“We are also pleased with the fact that we have shown an improvement on the research pillar of the THE World University 2018 Rankings. This is a reflection of the University's research status in South Africa and on the continent."

According to figures of South Africa's Department of Higher Education and Training, SU has maintained the highest research output per fulltime staff member of all universities in the country for the last seven consecutive years.

 “Our clear point of departure is still that we do not place too much emphasis on rankings, that academic excellence is non-negotiable, that quality always comes first and that no attempt is being made to artificially influence any rankings," adds Cloete.

According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, research-intensive universities across all their core missions such as teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook are judged. 13 calibrated performance indicators are used to provide comparisons.

Tuesday (18 July) we celebrate Mandela Day. In opinion pieces in the media, the following staff and students at Stellenbosch University write about some of the lessons Mandela taught us. Click on the links below to read the articles:

• Prof Nico Koopman (Cape Argus)
  
• Mr Sibonelo Sosibo (News24)
  
• Dr Chris Jones (The Conversation)
  

The Sharksafe Barrier™ – a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional anti-shark devices developed by researchers from Stellenbosch University (SU) and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth – is one of the technologies that will compete for potential investment in the 'Pitching Den' during the SA Innovation Summit taking place in Cape Town this week.

The competition is part of the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP-SA) – an international initiative that aims to address the most pressing energy, environmental and economic challenges of our time through promoting clean and innovative new technologies.

Dr Sara Andreotti, a marine biologist in SU's Department of Botany and Zoology, will be doing the pitching. She developed the Sharksafe Barrier™ in collaboration with Dr Craig O' Connell (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), Michael Rutzen (white shark conservationist and shark cage diving operator) and Prof Conrad Matthee (head of the Department of Botany and Zoology at SU).

This innovative structure is composed of an array of black plastic pipes deployed in the ocean, to biomimic a kelp forest when viewed from within the water. The pipes are anchored to the sea-floor and are vertically buoyant.

“Our work indicates that kelp forests deter large predatory sharks and that they generally avoid swimming through them," explains Dr Andreotti.

Furthermore, to enhance the effectiveness of the barrier, ceramic magnets are arranged along the length of the artificial kelp forest. Previous work showed that magnets deter shark species, including great white sharks, bull sharks, tiger sharks and hammerhead sharks.

The concept has been tested in Gansbaai, the mecca of South Africa's great white sharks. The research team built an underwater exclusion zone of 13 x 13 metres, and attracted sharks to the middle using bait. After 34 trials, and with 255 hours of video footage collected over two years, not a single white shark entered the zone. Smaller fish, like skates, herring and mallets, did enter the exclusion zone and moved freely between the kelp-like structures.

The results from this project was published in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems recently, with the title “Testing the exclusion capabilities and durability of the Sharksafe Barrier™ to determine its viability as an eco-friendly alternative to current shark culling methodologies".

The Sharksafe Barrier™ concept has been patented by SU, and has been accepted in Australia (2013350811) and Europe (13821175.0), with applications pending in Brazil (BR112015012008-3), the USA (14/647,646) and South Africa (2015/04471).  (F2016/00959; F2016/00960; F2016/00961; F2016/00962). The Shark Barrier End Caps concept (F2016/00959; F2016/00960; F2016/00961; F2016/00962) has been granted as a functional design in South Africa.

Dr Andreotti says the technology addresses two major issues: the unjustified loss of human lives and the equally unjustified loss of marine life (whales, turtles, dolphins and sharks) due to the use of shark nets and drumlines: “Between 2011 and 2016 there have been 491 registered shark attacks worldwide, of which 43 proved to be fatal. Over the past 20 years, however, almost 4 000 sea creatures have been caught in shark nets lining the beaches of New South Wales in Australia alone."

Tourism is another important reason for protecting the world's great whites. In South Africa, the local white shark diving tourism industry is worth US$4.4 million a year: “The temporary disappearance of white sharks in 2017 has already forced one of the eight cage diving companies to suspend their activities" she warns.

The popular tourist destination, La Réunion Island, experiences on average a 40% loss in bookings after a shark attack. Between 2011 and 2016, there have been 19 shark attacks in this area, forcing the authorities to permanently close one of the beaches, she adds.

As part of the Global Cleantech programme, the public is invited to participate in an opinion survey about beach safety and people's perceptions about sharks and shark conservation. Click here to participate.

Photos: Daniel Botelho

Corruption and maladministration threaten to derail our constitutional vision of a better life for all, said Judge Mahomed Navsa of Supreme Court of Appeal on Tuesday (5 September 2017).

He delivered the 13th Annual Human Rights Lecture of the Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law at the Faculty of Law at Stellenbosch University (SU). The event was organised by Prof Sandra Liebenberg who holds the Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law at SU.

Judge Mahomed Navsa said corruption and maladministration divert state efforts and resources away from the poor and disadvantaged.

“The Constitutional Court is emphatic in its assertion that corruption and maladministration pose a threat to human rights."

Navsa added that corruption threatens the health of the nation and the very fabric of society.

He highlighted civil society's vigilance and determination; the independence and determination of constitutional watchdogs; and balanced media scrutiny as essential to hold government to account.

“Without these the constitutional vision is endangered and a bleak and a disastrous future will be the result."

“The protection and promotion of our democracy requires vigilance and constant agitation by civil society."

Navsa said we should use the country's laws and institutions to fight corruption and maladministration and to make our democracy a success.

“What is required in the fight against corruption and maladministration is an appreciation, instilled in the national psyche, concerning the importance of laws and institutions fundamental to the success of our democracy."

“Those of us cognisant of the heavy price paid for liberation, for whom the rule of law is paramount should make every effort to impress upon children, students and the populace at large that public representatives and office bearers serve at their pleasure and that the many constitutional and legislative tools at their disposal should be utilised to ensure that government and powerful interests are held to account."

“There should be on-going public education campaigns which bring home the point that ours is a democracy based on the rule of law and that we are a nation of laws and not of personalities."

“Institutions that were set up to ensure that the exercise of power is kept within legal and constitutional bounds must do their duty and fulfil their constitutional mandates."

Navsa encouraged all South Africans to become activist in promoting constitutional values and ensuring that particularly the poor and the vulnerable are not exposed to the corrosive effects of abuse of power.

He said that if the constitutional vision of a better society for all doesn't become a reality because of corruption and maladministration, our democratic experiment will have failed spectacularly.

• Main photo: Judge Mahomed Navsa delivering the Human Rights Lecture.
  
• Photo 1: Prof Sandy Liebenberg, Judge Mahomed Navsa, and Prof Nicola Smit, Dean of the Faculty of Law, before the Lecture.
  
• Photographer: TC Kieck
  

Every drop counts – not only when it comes to preventing water wastage but also saving the bank account from drying up. This is especially true for schools with already constrained resources and with limited tools available to affect savings.

Saving water and money at schools has been the focus of a project run by Prof Thinus Booysen and his team from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University. Through the use of smart metering technology, they have enabled schools, households and other institutions to limit water usage and minimise expenses.

Booysen said there are already five schools putting the technology to the test by the end of August. He hopes that more schools can get involved as a lot of water can be saved, especially since the cost of water for bulk users in Stellenbosch has more than doubled since July.

The smart water meter is simply attached to a municipal water meter, and then reports into a web server via cellular, NB-IoT or Sigfox networks. Information is made available on a web app and through daily emailed reports. Moreover, notifications of unexpected events are sent by SMS and email.

According to Booysen, after the installation of this solution, people become more aware of how much water they use. This awareness invariably leads to substantial reductions, with as much as 68% observed.

Shortly after the pilot project started at Laerskool Stellenbosch (Stellenbosch Primary School) a few months ago, their water consumption dropped from 35 kl. per day to 11 kl. per day. In fact, the savings per month is equal to the salaries of two junior teachers.

The moment there was a burst pipe at the school during the July holiday, an alarm triggered, the school was notified immediately and they were able to prevent an estimated loss of around 1 million litres” adds Booysen.

Jacques Horn, deputy principal at Laerskool Stellenbosch, said that the meter really works well. “We have already saved a lot of water and everyone is more aware of saving water. We have even adjusted the water supply to the bathrooms.”

A further solution was to connect the water supply to the toilets with a timer control system. In this way, the water supply to the restrooms could be closed late afternoon and opened again the following morning.

The project champion at Laerskool Eikestad (Eikestad Primary School), Dirk Coetsee, said that after the installation of the water meter, the school managed to save at least 3 kl. of water per day.

“We picked up there was water use over weekends when there was no one at school. Then we discovered a water leakage underground.”

Other schools like A.F. Louw Primary School, Hoërskool Stellenbosch and Hector Peterson Secondary School in Wallacedene have also come on board with the project.

The project is being commercialised by InnovUS, the University’s technology transfer office, and incubated by the Nedbank Stellenbosch University LaunchLab, SU’s business incubator, through a spin-off company, Bridgiot (Bridge to the Internet of Things).

• Visit Bridgiot at www.bridgiot.co.za for more information. See Laerskool Stellenbosch's smart water meter online dashboard here: http://lstellen.bridgiot.co.za and a real-time dasboard of schools here: www.schoolswater.co.za
  

Caption: Prof Thinus Booysen sits at his desk with the water usage data of a Stellenbosch school on his computer.

​“Witty", “energetic" and “dynamic" is how one of the top first-year medical students characterised lectures by Prof Hans Strijdom from the Division of Medical Physiology at Stellenbosch University (SU) when she nominated Strijdom as her most inspiring lecturer in 2016.

This is the eight consecutive year that Strijdom was honoured in this way at the First Year Achievement Awards. Dr Alwyn Louw, from the Centre for Health Professions Education (CHPE), and Dr Pieter Neethling, from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, were also nominated by top first-year students of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS).

“These awards not only accord recognition to the top-performing first-year students within each faculty, but also to lecturers who had a positive influence on the academic experience of first-year students," said Ms Jean Lee Farmer, Educational Advisor at the CHPE and the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL).

The three top-performing first-year students in 2016 were Theresa Brummer (MB,ChB), who nominated Strijdom, Lebohang Likole (MB,ChB), who nominated Louw, and Gabby Rautenbach, (BOccupational Therapy), who nominated Neethling.

In his nomination, Likole praised Louw for the care and concern he demonstrated towards his students. “For the entirety of our first year, you frequently came to check if we were still doing fine, attended to our concerns, and organised one-on-one contact sessions to see how we were coping. Thank you for making my transition to university a smooth one," Likole said.

Rautenbach thanked Neethling for his well-structured, interactive lectures. “The lessons I learnt from you not only influenced my first year of studying, but will be remembered throughout my studying career and life," she said.

This event, previously known as the Rector's Dinner for Top First-year Students and later the Prestige Dinner for Top First-year Students, was initiated in 2009 by Prof Susan van Schalkwyk when she was Deputy Director of the CTL. Under her auspices it has become one of the most prestigious nomination events at the university.

Caption: Dr Aalwyn Louw, Ms Theresa Brummer, Prof Hans Strijdom, Mr Lebohang Likole, Ms Farah Fredericks (Deputy Registrar, FMHS), Ms Gabby Rautenbach, Ms Jean Lee Farmer (Education Advisor: CHPE and CTL), Dr Therese Fish (Vice Dean: Clinical Services and Social Impact), and Dr Pieter Neethling.

​Mentors are senior students who are appointed in residences and Private Student Organisations (PSO's) to assist newcomers with their adjustment and transition to university life. Each new student has access to a mentor who already plays an important role during the welcoming period with general assistance regarding university life queries and psychosocial support, but is it ultimately a support structure throughout the first year at university. Through the mentor, the new students are introduced to the Wellness-programme and participate in engagement sessions that highlight the different dimensions of wellness that would contribute to their holistic wellbeing.

The Centre for Student Communities (CSC), as part of the Division of Student Affairs (DSA), recently completed its annual training programme for the newly appointed head mentors and mentors. The training sessions of the forty new head mentors, who lead all the mentors of their respective residences or PSO's, was aimed at building a mutual understanding within the team and using one another's strengths to achieve success. Ms Joy Petersen, the coordinator of the Mentor Programme, says the intention is to refine and strengthen their emotional intelligence, tap into the power of their teams and learn the art of communicating effectively within their communities.

The training programme for the six-hundred mentors was focused on the 'Listen, Live & Learn'-model, which forms part of a greater theme in CSC. The first session 'I Listen to You: Power of Communication' was aimed at creating spaces where students felt comfortable to express themselves, in order for others to listen to their stories. The 'I Learn from You: The New Normal'-session had the objective to equip mentors with the necessary skills to orientate new students in the environment which they will find themselves in – an environment that will soon become their new 'normal'. And the final session, 'You Choose How You Want To Live', was aimed at the BeWell-programme, a six-part programme which all mentors and mentees partake in, focused on the emotional, physical, intellectual, spiritual, career and social wellbeing of the new student.

The aims of the BeWell programme are:

1. Address and enhance wellness variables that impact the academic performance of first-year students;
2. Continuously use the system's tracking data to identify more wellness factors that may affect academic performance;
3. Individualise and optimise the overall development and experience of both mentors and mentees;
4. Investigate the possibility of using the programme as a vehicle to develop the university's graduate attributes and to equip mentors with valuable employability skills;
5. Track the personal growth of mentors and mentees;
6. Create a flourishing campus culture.

When new students arrive at a residence or PSO, a mentor should be allocated to them. Should a student not be allocated a mentor, or have any queries, please contact Client Services at (021) 808 9111 or info@sun.ac.za.

​​​​Stellenbosch University welcomes the appointment of Prof Sarah Howie as director of the newly established Africa Centre for Scholarship (ACS). Prof Howie, who is the Deputy Chairperson of the board of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) Board, will help drive SU initiatives to promote scholarship on the continent.

Located within Stellenbosch University International, the ACS will implement strategies for scholarship development in Africa. The centre houses the African Doctoral Academy (ADA) through which it participate in the South African System Analysis Centre with the University of the Western Cape, the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Limpopo.

Taking the helm at the ACS, Prof Howie will work closely with faculties to help stretch SU's reach in Africa and; building on the work the ADA has done since 2009. For almost a decade now the ADA has supported, strengthen and advance doctoral training and scholarship on the continent hosting biannual doctoral schools. The doctoral schools are open to current and prospective doctoral candidates, their supervisors and researchers in general. In 2016, the ADA presented joint doctoral schools at Makerere University (Uganda), the University of Malawi as well as the University of Ghana. Earlier this year it hosted its first doctoral school at the University of Namibia.

Prof Howie, who previously worked as Director of the Centre for Evaluation and Assessment (CEA) at the University of Pretoria (UP) comes with a long list of credentials. A former professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education at the UP, she is a NRF rated and National Science and Technology Forum award winning researcher having conducted many research and development projects, published widely internationally and supervised more than 40 doctoral and master's students.

 She is one of 12 SAQA Board members appointed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training to oversee the development and implementation of the National Qualifications Framework.  She is member of the Universities South Africa Admissions Committee and Umalusi's assessment and standards committee ensuring the quality of the national examinations, including the Grade 12 National Senior Certificate. She has been a member of the Academy of Science for South Africa (ASSAF) since 2006 and sat on numerous local (including two ministerial) and international scientific committees. Her previous work at the Human Sciences Research Council and the Foundation for Research Development (now the National Research Foundation) provided a further opportunity to gain an overview of and experience in research and its development in the national and international landscape.

Referencing collaborations with partner universities, Prof Howie says the ACS will set itself a mission to help promote, support and enhance scholarship and the development thereof on the African continent. 

“I am really looking forward to the new challenge of directing a new centre that focuses on supporting the development of scholarship and scholars in Africa and for Africa at Stellenbosch University."

Coordinating the activities of the Africa Centre for Scholarship, are from left: Diane Gahiza, Doctoral School Coordinator; Amalsha Galenhage, Intern; Prof Sarah Howie, Director; and Corina du Toit, Programme Manager of the ADA.

Photo: Hennie Rudman

​Twenty one postgraduate students from the Sociology and Social Anthropology Department in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences came together recently to participate in a Postgraduate Student Conference made possible thanks to funding received from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation through the Indexing Transformation project.​

In 2016 Indexing Transformation received a five-year grant of R11,2 million from the Mellon Foundation to support mainly student scholarships and a seminar series.

At the time of the launch of Indexing Transformation, Prof Steven Robins, the project leader said: "Indexing the Human [a previous project that was funded by the Mellon Foundation from 2014 to 2015} succeeded in catalysing critical reflection on the history of the human sciences in Stellenbosch, and in South Africa more generally. Our current project emerges out of this on-going concern with the nature of knowledge production in the human sciences. It is also the outcome of the recognition that our university spaces and intellectual work require serious examination in relation to persistent racial inequalities and obstacles to democratic, inclusive intellectual practice, a recognition amplified by recent student protests across South Africa."

The Postgraduate Student Conference forms part of the academic activities proposed as part of Indexing Transformation.

According to Dr Bernard Dubbeld, a Senior Lecturer in the department and the conference convenor, grants from major international donors like the Mellon Foundation have helped the department to nurture academic capacities among the university's students. This grant has allowed us to focus specifically on issues that pertain to contemporary transformation and produced analytical insights and understandings into pressing problems and challenges in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent.

“The aim of this conference was to offer a platform for Masters and doctoral students to present work in progress, to gain feedback from their peers and staff alike, and to give them experience in presenting in conference like scenarios," says Dubbeld. 

In addition, he noted, it was an opportunity to celebrate the quality and extent of student scholarship in the department. 

The conference featured 21 student presentations, focusing on a range of themes delving into contemporary issues in South African society, the African continent and globally. This included papers focused on:

• the social and collective conditions of xenophobia;
  
• witchcraft and witch hunts;
• new mechanisms of public participation focusing on real-life examples such as the public briefings of shale gas development in the Karoo;
• care, institutions and the dynamics of empowerment;
• ethnographies of the new economy, focusing on, amongst others the intersection of formal and informal economies and computer gaming;
• space, social transformation and citizenship focused on the reception of the SKA in Carnarvon and race, class and religion in Johannesburg; and
• formations of resistance, which dissected issues around student activism, Open Stellenbosch and Afrikaans as a creolised language.

“Conferences of this nature provide our students with an opportunity to further strengthen their research and academic presentation skills and thus their CVs and to disseminate their research work to a wider audience. A further aim of this conference will be the development of the papers presented on the day into proper journal articles that can be published in peer-reviewed journals in future," says Mr Jan Vorster, Chair of the department. 

Photo: Twenty-one Masters and PhD students recently participated in the Postgraduate Student Conference made possible thanks to funding received from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. In the photo are the students Stephanie Borchardt, Sallek Yaks Musa, Cassey Toi, Safiyya Goga, Crystal Farmer, Sune Butler, Menan van Heerden, Ashwin Phillips, Dianne Lombard, Anne Wiltshire, Natasha Solari, Michael Passetti, Jackie Roux, Vanessa Mpatlanyane, Robert Nyakuwa, Kristen Harmse, Claudia Janse van Rensburg, Saibu Mutaru, and Leza Soldaat. Amon Ashaba Mwiine and Neil Kramm also participated in the conference but where not present for the photo.​ (Lynne Rippenaar-Moses)

​

​A generous investment of R5 million from Absa Bank into a Scholarship Programme at Stellenbosch University (SU) is set to benefit talented and deserving students in need of bursaries in 2017. 

At a cheque handover ceremony on the Stellenbosch campus on Wednesday morning (21 June), Absa confirmed its R5m contribution and clarified their aim, as part of the Shared Growth strategy, to increase access to tertiary education for young people, thereby helping to realise Africa's potential and contributing to long term economic growth.

Using a combination of academic performance, subject focus, and financial need, the university will identify qualifying students and disburse the funds in consultation with Absa. The qualifying students will be selected largely from the "missing middle" category of students, those whose parents or guardians can at best only afford to pay a portion of the required university fees.

Dr Reaan Immelman, General Manager: Education and Skills at Absa Bank, said that the Bank recognises that as a significant economic player on the continent it has a responsibility to use its substantial resources and skills to build a more prosperous Africa for the next generation.

"The opportunities created by the Scholarship Programme will not only meet a pressing need, but is also critical to the future success of many students," he added.

Speaking at Wednesday's handover, Mr Clinton Clarke: Head of SA Coastal Regions, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking said: "Absa is proud to be able to make a difference in the lives of thousands of young South Africans by making university tuition more accessible to them and by offering them the skills development that will prepare them for a bright future.

"We are especially pleased to be able to make this donation to an institution where we have a long history of partnership. We thank you for the great work you are doing in preparing future leaders at Stellenbosch University. We are proud to partner with an institution that plays a role in ensuring our contributions are meaningful and that our impact is sustainable".

Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, of Stellenbosch University said there is a perception that Stellenbosch is a well-to-do university, attracting only affluent students. "But let me put the record straight. Substantially more than a third of our most recent graduates received some form of financial assistance during their studies, but more than 40% desperately need financial help. The need far exceeds what we are able to facilitate."

According to Prof De Villiers, the University disbursed close to R700 million to students last year. "Some of it from our own funds, some from the State, and the rest from donors."

He added that "if it weren't for donations such as the one we have now received from ABSA, not only would talented individuals be denied an opportunity to study further, but society at large would not get the benefit that well qualified graduates offer – skills for development, which we need very much.

"So, thank you. On behalf of all our students – the current ones, and the ones still to come."

Photographer: Anton Jordaan

“An investment in the future of a new generation of Maties.” This is how Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of SU, describes the bequest to the University. “It is the definitely one of the most significant donations the University has ever very received from one individual to date. We are very grateful and most appreciative of this bequest from Mr Ackermann,” he added.

Mr Ackermann, who passed away some years ago, bequeathed R8.4 million to the Stellenbosch University in the form of a share portfolio in 2006.

“The value of these shares has in the meantime grown from R8.4 million to R194.6 million. Subject to the conditions of the bequest from Mr Ackermann, this gift recently came to vest at full value at the University,” explained Mr Hugo Steyn of SU’s Development and Alumni Relations Division.

As stated in Mr Ackermann’s will, the University will use this bequest to establish the DW Ackermann Bursary Fund to benefit deserving students in the electronic and electrical engineering disciplines, invest the capital accordingly, and use the annual income for bursaries, which are to be awarded in terms of the criteria set out in his will.

“The fund will be managed as an endowment fund and will be sustainably used to benefit many students in future. The funds will be available soon and, after consultation with the faculty, we should be able to award bursaries from 2018,” said Steyn.

Total donations to SU in 2016 were up 53% from the previous year and also exceeded donations received in 2014.

“The assumption that all SU students are from affluent backgrounds is incorrect. Substantially more than a third of our most recent graduates received some form of financial assistance during their studies,” added De Villiers. “And it is fascinating to see how this has changed over time. In 2000, 28% of Maties received some form of financial assistance. By 2014, this was up to 38% of our students. And last year, 41% of our students were from the so-called missing middle, i.e. from households with a combined income of R600 000 or less per annum.”

At the beginning of 2017, SU received R1,1 million in philanthropic donations specifically earmarked for addressing financial need among students. These donations were aligned with the purpose and role of the ‘Register All’ bursaries administered by the SRC.

SU set three new records in the 2016 academic year. The final figures show that the University awarded a total of 8 348 qualifications, 5,6% more than the year before. These included 1 468 master’s degrees – the most ever awarded by SU. The same goes for the number of doctoral degrees awarded, namely 278, of which 47% (over against 39% in 2015) went to black African, coloured, Indian and Asian candidates. .

“This confirms SU’s valuable contribution as a national asset and it sends a strong signal to potential donors who have an interest in continued student success, and a desire to see a consistent output of graduates for the economy. Recent research also pointed out that we have done well in retaining donors and increasing the amount of money they are giving us,” commented De Villiers.  

“This is another of those historic moments when we revisit the past in order to create a different, more just future," Stellenbosch University (SU) Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers told the second group of Matie students to receive the University's Vlakte Bursary since its inception in 2015.

He was speaking at a celebratory event held in the Memory Room of the SU Archive on the Stellenbosch Campus on Friday afternoon (8 September).

De Villiers, who said that the Vlakte Bursary is very close to his heart, announced the establishment of the Fund at his inauguration in April 2015 as a means of restitution and development. Residents of Die Vlakte, an area close to the town centre of Stellenbosch, were mostly coloured people who were forcibly removed in the 1960s under the Group Areas Act.

“While the Group Areas Act and forced removals in Stellenbosch gave rise to much bitterness, it did not succeed in demolishing the awareness that in this town, we all share a history that cannot be easily disentangled. These days the University is working hard to become more inclusive, and both our student and staff bodies are slowly but surely becoming more diverse. We are also reaching out to the community to close the gap between us," De Villiers said.

Recipients

This year's new recipients are Kristen Adams, a Masters Degree student in Music; Ashley Solomons, a second year BA (Visual Communication Design) student; Aqeelah Hendrickse, a first year BA (Social Work) student; Ethan du Toit, a first year BCom (Financial Accounting) student and Daniel Adams, a first year MB, ChB (Medicine) student. Two of the 2016 recipients, Melissa Hector (MB, ChB) and Wesley Gabriels (BA), again received the bursary this year.

“It makes us proud to represent our families from Die Vlakte. It's an honour to receive the bursary and to make more of our studies," Kristen Adams said who also spoke at the event.

“It was quite overwhelming, the history, and especially to come into this room (the Memory Room) displaying the entire history of Die Vlakte that I have not spoken about with my family. It is quite emotional to know what my grandparents went through and to read there on the wall that they have been kicked out by students. It is heart-breaking."

“The bursary is an opportunity for us to honour our grandparents. It is taking a huge weight off our shoulders to be able to study," said Daniel Adams, Kristen's brother.

Ashley Solomons says she is thankful for the bursary and it is a tremendous help. “It is a nice feeling to keep the legacy going and honour your grandparents. I know of the struggle they went through and it is so evident in their lives still now. I do not think the bursary makes up for the hardship that people went through but it is an action in the right direction that people can benefit from."

Aqeelah Hendrickse is thankful for the bursary as it is paying for all her studies. Her father and grandfather were born in the Vlakte.

Prospective students who lived in the area, their children and grandchildren can apply for the bursaries. The bursary covers basic class fees for the minimum length of the student's chosen programme.

A community committee assists with the verification of applicants' association with Die Vlakte, and the allocation criteria were applied by the Bursary Committee consisting of three members from the community and three SU staff members. 

Photo: Prof Wim de Villiers and Kirsten Adams (Photo credit: Anton Jordaan)