​Imagine you're a 20-year old Matie and about to depart for an exotic location where you'll spend the rest of the year studying at a foreign university as part of your programme.

It may sound like a pipe dream, but for the first ever third-year class in BCom (International Business) at Stellenbosch University, this is a real and imminent prospect. During the next few weeks, 22 students will be leaving for 14 universities in eight countries across the globe.

According to Programme Coordinator Prof Pierre Erasmus, this programme is the first of its kind in South Africa and a pioneer in business education at undergraduate level in the country. “The four-year Bachelor programme addresses a need to deliver graduates that are equipped to be role players in the international knowledge economy. It gives students exposure to different settings and develops their global mindset through a comprehensive and internationally oriented curriculum."

He added that the structured exchange programme provides a multicultural experience and the opportunity to create a long-lasting network with students from different parts of the world. “Students may choose any one of 44 partner universities in 20 countries for their exchange semester."

Most students have selected to spend the next semester at universities in Europe, while one student has chosen Malaysia and two the Americas.

Anika Faul, who will soon be heading for the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, said her choice was due to the fact that she wanted to get out of her comfort zone. “I also really like Malaysia's diverse cultures and languages, and the fact that Singapore is just around the corner."

Fellow student Janco Marais will enrol at Maastricht University (UM) in the Netherlands after spending two months with a family in northern Spain, where he'll teach their young son English. “I'll still be in time for UM's orientation programme at the start of the new semester in September."

“Almost half of Maastricht's students are from abroad. I like being exposed to a multicultural environment and I am motivated to establish contact with as many students as possible from different countries."

He'll be taking two modules and looks forward to being introduced to problem-based Learning (PBL), an education model of which Maastricht is the European pioneer. PBL challenges students not only to learn their subject matter, but also to actively develop their talents and interests as well as skills such as self-reliance, assertiveness and problem-solving capacities.

Amber Moon and Danielle Kruger are the only students bound for North and South America, Amber for the University of North Carolina in Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) in the USA and Danielle for the Pontifical Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) in Brazil.

Amber's wish to experience the way of life in the USA first-hand, as well as the culture at a big American university, made her choice an easy one. “The modules that are offered really appealed to me because they are very different from the modules available at South African universities. I am looking forward to taking courses such as the Economics of Social Issues, as well as Gender and Communication."

“I would also like to discover how people's lifestyles differ from those of South Africans. Moreover, it is a huge opportunity for my own individual growth."

Although the BCom (International Business) programme introduces students to a foreign language, Portuguese is not one of the languages offered. (Students may choose one of Chinese, German or French.) According to Danielle, an intensive Portuguese course was therefore an important part of her preparations for living in Rio de Janeiro.

“Thereafter I'll continue taking Portuguese classes for 6 hours a week. I'm hoping to be fluent in Portuguese after the semester, when I'll go backpacking in South America for a month."

She explained that she'll take four to five modules including subjects such as International Negotiations, Introduction to Strategy in a global word, and Brazilian Foreign Policies, adding quickly: “And I want to take salsa dance lessons!"

Undergraduate training in international business may be relatively new to South Africa, but it is a well-known programme in many universities abroad, said Prof Erasmus. “We find that students in this programme are very focused and dedicated."

All four students said they were enjoying the course, and the combination of subjects from the Faculties of Economic and Management Sciences, Law, Arts and Social Sciences.

“I love the fact that the programme is so diverse: I loved doing Sociology, Intercultural Communications and the legal aspects of international business. Next year I'll specialise in Economics and Investment," Danielle said.

The module on International Business Communication in the first semester was one of Janco's highlights. “For me, the challenge is to integrate information from all modules."

After graduating, Janco, Anika and Danielle would like to enrol for postgraduate studies. Janco is interested in furthering his studies in international business, possibly specialising in negotiations. “My dream job would be to work in a capable, multi-disciplinary team of consultants."

Anika also wants to study further in international business, and plans a career as a managerial analyst. “I want to act as a consultant to firms who are expanding internationally, and help them adapt their new branches to their target markets."

Before embarking on a career in international trade, Danielle hopes to be accepted for a dual master's degree in Global Strategic Management. This new international programme offers two master's degrees by three business schools on three continents. Students divide their time between Lingnan (University) College in Guangzhou (China), the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia (USA), and ESADE in Barcelona.

Amber has no specific post-degree plans, but would like to have a career that allows her to travel and work in an international context. “I believe this degree will give me the skills I need to be able to do that. I would also like to focus on improving gender equality as I have a strong passion and interest in feminism."

• For more information about the BCom (International Business) programme, click here.

• Photo (by Anton Jordaan): After their final semester exam on Monday, 11 June, the third-year BCom (International Bussiness) class gathered for the last time for a photo with Prof Pierre Erasmus before leaving for foreign parts.

As was the case in previous years, Stellenbosch University (SU) will again be well represented at the 2017/ 2018 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)/South32 Awards. With six researchers among the finalists, SU stands a good chance of bagging a few awards.

The annual NSTF/South32 award ceremony recognises, celebrates and rewards outstanding excellence in Science, Engineering, Technology (SET) and Innovation in South Africa. The NSTF/South32 Awards are the largest, most prestigious and most sought-after public SET and innovation awards in in the country.

The winners will be announced on Thursday 28 June at a gala event at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park where Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Minister of Science and Technology, and official Patron of the NSTF/South32 Awards, will be presenting the prizes.

According to the organisers, it is an extraordinary honour to be a finalist given the quality of the nominations received every year, the fierce competition that nominees face, and growing interest over the years.

The finalists from SU and the categories in which they have been nominated are as follows:

Dr Thorsten Becker (Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering)

• TW Kambule-NSTF Award for emerging researchers who contributed to research and its outputs over a period of up to six years.

Prof Resia Pretorius (Department of Physiological Sciences)

• TW Kambule Award-NSTF Award for researchers who contributed to research and its outputs over a period of up to six years.

Prof Cang Hui (Department of Mathematical Sciences)

• TW Kambule Award for researchers who contributed to research and its outputs over a period of up to six years.

Prof Coenrad Fourie (Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering)

• Innovation Award (Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise) for innovations and their research and/or Development by teams, individuals or organisations.

Prof Brian van Wilgen (Department of Botany and Zoology)

• NSTF-GreenMatter Award for achieving biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and a Greener Economy over the last five to ten years

Dr Willem Botes (Department of Genetics)

• Innovation Award (Corporate organisation) in for innovations and their research and/or Development by teams, individuals or organisations.

​The newly elected executive committee of the Institutional Forum (IF) will play a pivotal role in ensuring that Stellenbosch University (SU) is anchored in creating and sustaining an environment of inclusivity, transformation, innovation, and maintaining excellence.

The IF is one of the University's main statutory bodies – the other being the Council, Senate, the Convocation and the Student Representative Council.  Consisting of 32 members who represent the various sectors of the SU, the IF's key function is to advise the Council on issues affecting the University.

At the helm of the newly elected executive committee is Dr Celeste Nel, who is joined by Deputy Chair, Farah Fredericks and Secretary, Wayde Davidse. The other members include Denisha Padachey who represents the student sector, Le Roux Burrows who represents staff, Sello Molapo who represents the management and governance sector, and Adelbert Scholtz who represents the community sector. 

Holding various strategic positions at SU, the executive committee has extensive experience in the higher education sector and comes highly qualified to guide the IF and its mandate, which has been set by the Higher Education Act.

“We are looking forward to advice Council on relevant matters, representing the voice of management, staff, students and the community, with a specific focus on transformation," says Nel, who is also the Director of the Centre for Admissions and Residence Placement in the Division for Student Access at SU.

The IF is tasked to advise the Council on race and gender equity policies; the selection of candidates for senior management positions; codes of conduct, mediation and dispute resolution procedures; the fostering of an institutional culture that promotes tolerance and respect for fundamental human rights and creates an appropriate environment for teaching,  and research and learning. They are also required to ensure the implementation of the Higher education Act and the national policy on higher education.

Nel says the IF, which meets four times during the academic year, is already hard at work, engaging on policy impact and making sure that robust debate moves SU forward.

“We aim for a participative culture where members work collectively to build consensus on issues, rather than a representative culture where members represent their individual constituencies or form lobby groups."

Click here for more information on the IF.

From left to right is: Wayde Davidse, Denisha Padachey, Celeste Nel, Sello Molapo, Farah Fredericks and Le Roux Burrows (not pictured: Adelbert Scholtz)

​

The Haughton Award by the Geological Society of South Africa is bestowed annually to the student that submits the best B.Sc. Honours thesis in the field of Earth Sciences. Stephan's thesis investigated the geochemical controls of secondary (new) gold growth in gold nuggets collected from a river system in Tanzania. 

​Dr Eileen Thomas (35),  a doctoral student in the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, has been chosen to attend the 68th Nobel Prizewinners' Event.

She is one of only six young South African scientists – all women – who have been honoured in this manner. The event will take place from the 24th to the 29th of June in Lindau, Germany.

Participants from 84 different countries will be given the opportunity to interact with 43 Nobel Prizewinners in Physiology and Medicine. Among them are last year's winners of the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine, Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young, who were honoured for their discovery of the molecular mechanisms that control the circadian rhythm.

Approximately 600 scientists under 35 years of age are chosen annually to attend this event. Thomas applied after she was nominated by the Academy of Science of South Africa.

“I see myself as a clinician-researcher and can attest to how experience in one field can strengthen one's hand in another one," says Thomas, who completed her medical studies at the University of Pretoria. “During my year of community service at the Worcester Hospital, I fell in love with the beautiful Cape, and applied to specialise at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Stellenbosch."

She graduated in 2015 and since then she has divided her time between clinical work (she has two psychiatric practices) and a volunteer women's health clinic at Tygerberg Hospital, where, together with two gynecology-colleagues, she focuses on chronic pelvic pain, as well as research in this regard. During her stint as a clinical assistant, the Department of Psychiatry offered her excellent opportunities to learn more about research, says Thomas, who is also a member of the SARChi Research unit in post-traumatic stress disorder under the leadership of Prof Soraya Seedat. 

“My research interests are directly aligned to my clinical interests. My PhD project investigates biomarkers which could identify post-traumatic stress at an early stage. Furthermore, I am also very interested in women's health, traumatology, chronic pain and panic disorders."

She is very grateful for the Nobel opportunity, especially as a female researcher from South Africa, says Thomas. “I look forward to the lectures, the discussions, and the lunch with previous Nobel Prize winners, and also to the opportunity of meeting other young researchers, exchanging ideas, and doing some networking."

Her other achievements include, among others, the Discovery Foundation Bursary last year and the SAMA study bursary this year for her PhD-studies.

She foresees that she will always divide her time between clinical care and research, and would like to start her own  "pink" laboratory where young female researchers can be supported and encouraged.

In September Thomas will marry her American fiancé, Andy Vuong, who she calls her biggest supporter.

​​The Division for Social Impact recently held a workshop to discuss key aspects of University-Community Collaboration with Professor Thomas Bryer from the School of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida.

Managing the expectations of partners and communities it vital. It was noted that communities need jobs, education, safety, while universities need research outputs. Finances can also be a challenges in terms of what communities expect of a university. It is important to acknowledge that resources exist within a university in the form of expertise and among partners in the form of expertise, contexts and target groups amongst other things. It is useful to provide partners with realistic options in terms of delivery from the university’s side.

Measuring impact is also an important issue. How does one measure social impact? “It is important for researchers to interrogate what their research has done for society. Ideally one needs longitudinal studies in terms of the work of a university with partners and the impact thereof on the university and its partners as beneficiaries of the engagement,” said Prof Bryer. “It would be important to intentionally identify areas of development in terms of impact. We need to know what the outcomes of the engagements of Stellenbosch University and partners are - so that we can see where the indirect impacts are and what aspects can be taken up for future engagement,” said Renee Hector-Kannemeyer, Deputy Director: Social Impact and the Head of Matie Community Service.

The criteria for partnership development is important for a successful partnerships and impact. Partnerships should ideally progress from cooperation, to coordination and then to collaboration.

If one considers the return on engagement, a key question needs be asked - have community members participated willingly and openly and have staff and students been involved and learned from the experience? 

Fundraising can be challenging in an increasingly constrained environment and innovative thinking needs to be applied. Relationships remain important in this regard, as well as telling the stories of the impact.

Higher Education seeks to develop socially connected, politically intelligent, socially aware and economically self-sufficient individuals who can contribute to building strong communities and contribute to society at large. The challenge is to integrate all the different roles of a university, in a meaningful, beneficial way.

Opportunistic behaviour in business reduces trust, commitment, cooperation, relational ties and knowledge sharing, and also increases conflict and transaction cost.

This was one of the viewpoints of Prof Gert Human from the Department of Business Management in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at Stellenbosch University on Thursday (14 June 2018). He delivered his inaugural lecture on the topic The dark side of business interdependence and the collaboration-opportunism paradox.

Human said opportunistic behaviour  ̶  the deliberate seeking of self-interest  ̶  in business relationships is a key consequence of a negative (dark) unhealthy business relationship. “Dependence, asymmetry, uncertainty, conflict and power drive opportunistic behaviour in interdependent business relationships."

“Competitive intensity in the industry, market turbulence and organisational culture are contextual influencers of dark opportunism."

According to Human, the dark side of interdependence is not new.

“However, today the exponential growth in the sophistication and complexity of our business relationships, networks and ecosystems demands a better understanding of this phenomenon."

He said managers who understand this proactively mobilise resources to produce successful outcomes.

“Firms can employ bonding, bridging and linking types of social capital to moderate the effect of dark side of opportunistic behaviour."

Human said attention should be given to the importance of the collaboration-opportunism paradox in business relationships.

“The collaboration-opportunism paradox is here to stay. In a world where interdependence is a defining characteristic of business interaction, firms and individuals will continue to collaborate and forge business relationships to unlock new value."

“Therefore collaboration is not discouraged. In fact it is promoted, but needs to be accompanied by a clearer picture of the risks associated with the dark side of interdependence."

Human said as long as we have business collaboration the possibility of opportunistic behaviour will remain.

“It would be naïve to think that opportunistic behaviour can be completely governed by more sophisticated legal and other structural apparatus that firms, governments and individuals can reasonable design and implement."

Human said because opportunism in business relationships is alleged to always be present to some degree, ridding the business environment of it is near impossible and may even not be desirable.

“However, understanding its bright and dark side should, in theory at least, facilitate its management," he adds.

• Main photo: Pixabay
  
• Photo 1: Proff Gert Human (middle), Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, and Ingrid Woolard, Dean of EMS, at the inaugural lecture. Photographer: Anton Jordaan.
  

A comprehensive report detailing the challenges faced in the training of health professionals was recently released.

Prof Jimmy Volmink, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at Stellenbosch University led the 10-member study panel who compiled the report on behalf of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).

“South Africa's quadruple burden of disease, shortage of trained health personnel, particularly in under-resourced and rural areas, and the ongoing higher education crisis places unique challenges on the health sciences education sector," said Volmink, who presented the findings in Pretoria.

Titled Reconceptualising Health Professions Education in South Africa, the report aims to address the full value chain in health sciences education from student selection, through pedagogical developments, unpacking of the current bottlenecks in the system and looking at how the future health sciences education system can be financed and regulated.

The study panel made a set of 16 recommendations that give a consensus view on transformative efforts needed in the education and training of healthcare professionals in South Africa to consolidate current efforts, and enhance new efforts to address the severe quantitative and qualitative shortfall in the health workforce and thereby improve the health of the nation.

The recommendations were aimed at a wide-ranging audience, including policymakers and educators, and include the following:

• There is a need to reconceptualise student selection with the aim of evaluating a broader set of criteria than those currently in use.

• Selection and training should be orientated towards addressing inequity and meeting the needs of the most underserved, through supporting a primary care focus and increasing the supply of healthcare professionals to rural areas.

• Public sector academic institutions need to be strengthened to scale up the production of healthcare professionals.

• Universities should take responsibility for education and professional development from undergraduate years through to internship and community service.

• To enable inter-professional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) to become sustainably embedded in health professional education in South Africa, a multi-stakeholder, national working group should be formed to develop and guide the implementation of a strategic plan for IPECP.

• There is a need to take urgent action to improve governance of health sciences funding by strengthening the capacity and accelerating the momentum of the Joint Health Science Education Committee.

• Improve human resource planning, resource allocation and budgeting.​
  

The full report is available on www.assaf.org.za. 

Caption: Prof Jimmy Volmink led the 10-member study panel that compiled the report on behalf of ASSAf.

Banner photo by Sam Reinders.

​She will compete in the U23 category.

This will be the second time that Taryn-Maie, a second-year Conservation Ecology student, competes abroad. She kicked off her international sporting career at the 2017 ITU Multisport World Championship Festival in Penticton, Canada, last year.

“I feel very honoured and excited to represent South Africa. My aim is to race my hardest, hopefully getting some personal best times."

She would also like to introduce more South African women to triathlons and cross triathlons specifically. Cross triathlon, or X-tri, is an off-road triathlon discipline that typically takes place over a 1 km swim, 20-30 km mountain bike and 6-10 km trail run.

Being a cross-country athlete has contributed to Taryn-Maie's appreciation of nature, and she hopes to use her sport to raise funds for conservation one day.

“My aim is to be one of the best conservationists in whichever field I go into and to help the environment in as many ways as possible."

As a student-athlete, Taryn-Maie has to adjust her training programme to her academic schedule.

“I try to balance studies and training. I do sessions in the mornings and evenings or between classes if I have time, and then also on weekends. I mostly train alone because I like to get into a zone and base my intensity on what feels right rather than racing other people. I do some long runs and cycles with friends, though.

“Being able to make my parents proud and that indescribable feeling of racing your heart out while doing something you love, motivates me to continue," she says.

Taryn-Maie is a member of the Maties Cycling Club.​

​​Apart from providing unconditional acceptance and love, human-animal interaction not only offers health benefits, but also psychological, social and emotional benefits. That's according to Dr Marieanna le Roux, lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Stellenbosch University (SU) and member of the Executive Committee of the non-profit organisation Pets as Therapy (PAT).

PAT organises therapeutic visits by pet owners and their dogs to retirement homes, frail-care facilities, special-needs schools, residential care centres and, of late, to the students of SU. Currently five different dogs are used. According to Le Roux, these visits are a source of companionship, support, comfort, pleasure, stress relief and stimulation for people with illness, people who are isolated or who are under pressure..

Most students who attend the sessions at the Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD) of SU every Tuesday reside on campus and miss their own dogs back home. “These sessions offer students the opportunity to touch and play with the dogs in an informal setting. For a short period of time they can spontaneously interact with the dogs and forget about the stress of the exams or any unhappy circumstances in their lives. This is one of the ways the CSCD is rendering services to students to enhance their wellbeing.

Research done in the field of human-animal interaction has shown just how much value animals such as dogs might add to human lives. “While it's not therapy as such, something certainly happens in a person when interacting with a dog. Students go through a lot during their time at university, and these visits help them cope with stress"

Founded in 2001, PAT has more than 94 registered owner-and-dog teams who voluntarily visit more than 75 institutions nationwide. The organisation has branches in Cape Town, the Helderberg area, Worcester, Polokwane, Hermanus, George and Port Elizabeth.

For more on PAT, visit https://www.pat.org.za/ or contact dr Marieanna le Roux at mclr@sun.ac.za. For more information on the services of the CSCD, you can visit www.sun.ac.za/cscd or contact dr Munita Dunn-Coetzee at mdunn@sun.ac.za

​​Dr Cletos Mapiye, a senior lecturer in the Department of Animal Sciences of Stellenbosch University, was recently awarded “The World Academy of Sciences Regional Office for Sub-Saharan Africa (TWAS-ROSSA) Regional Young Scientist Prize: Agriculture and Food Security” for 2017. The prestigious award comprised an award certificate with a citation on the winner’s scientific achievement, as well as a cash prize of 2000 US Dollars. The Prize is awarded to an outstanding young scientist who has made significant contributions to research, development and capacity building to improve sustainability of food and agricultural systems, food security and poverty reduction in the developing world. This prize is awarded in fulfilment of the TWAS objective of recognizing, supporting and promoting scientific capacity and excellence in the developing world. The theme of the prize was aligned to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal #2: End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. The overall focus of the aforementioned program is also linked to the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) 2024 priority area 1, which is eradication of hunger and achieving food security. The Prize was formally awarded at the Food Security and Policy Workshop, which was held from 11-13 April 2018 in Johannesburg.

This communication serves to inform you of the Wiley journal content Stellenbosch University still has access to, and the alternative options for obtaining the full text of articles published in journals that you may no longer have access to.

Wiley journals to which the Library subscribes on a title-by-title basis since January 2018

A list of such titles can be found here. Full-text access to the electronic backfiles of these titles remains available.

Full-text access to Wiley journals up to 2017

The Library retains access to the 1997-2017 content of some non-subscribed Wiley journals, and to the 2010-2017 content of other Wiley journals. A list of such titles can be found here. Options to access these:

• Library database list – W – Wiley Online Library
• Specific journal titles: Library's A-Z list of e-journals

Requesting full-text articles through interlibrary loans

All Wiley journal articles remain discoverable up to abstract level. Should you require the full text of a non-accessible article (i.e. published since January 2018), you may request it through interlibrary loans. This service takes between 24 and 48 hours. Please note that the cost of interlibary loans is carried by the Library, and not by academic departments.

Enquiries: Naomi Visser (nrv@sun.ac.za, tel. 021 808 4433)

12 June 2018

Survivors of road accidents, assault and violent crime often require rehabilitation, and so do people with osteoarthritis, amputations and stroke survivors.

Two worthy occupational therapy centres recently received a small boost on this front with the donation of dynamometers. “Dynamometers are instruments used by occupational therapists to test hand grip strength and are mainly used for patients that obtained hand injuries," explains Mrs Susan de Klerk, senior lecturer at the Division of Occupational Therapy at Stellenbosch University's (SU) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS). This instrument is often not prioritised when it health expenditure budgets, and resultantly many occupational therapists have to make do without it.

De Klerk arranged for the donation of this equipment thanks to her good relationship with the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT). She has worked in the hand therapy field for 20 years, and through her research, had the opportunity to meet the former president of the IFSHT at an international congress. “She mentioned that she would like to donate two dynamometers and asked if I could receive it in South Africa. About a year later the dynamometers arrived. IFSHT's only condition was that I have to give it to an area that will use it in the rehabilitation of patients with hand injuries."

De Klerk says that although it was a difficult decision, she eventually donated the equipment to the Khayelitsha District Hospital (KDH) and the Kraaifontein Community Health Centre (CHC). “Khayelitsha has a growing hand service and the therapist there worked very hard to get equipment to supplement the orthopaedic services there," she said. “The dynamometer will definitely add value to her services, and it is also an area where many SU occupational therapy students are placed for clinical training."

The donation to Kraaifontein CHC was made for other reasons, says De Klerk. “The therapist there, a SU alumnus, works from a ship container. She receives many referrals from Tygerberg Academic Hospital and has limited resources."

The therapists from both centres are very appreciate of the donations. “It has been on my wish list for equipment since 2016, but it has never been viewed as an essential item. The instrument will be used to test hand grip strength, and hopefully serve as motivation for patients to do their exercises at home," says Mrs Terri-Ann Abrahams from KDH.

Mrs Mariechen Breytenbach, the occupational therapist at Kraaifontein CHS, says that the instrument will also help determine whether patients are ready to return to work. “A builder and a watchmaker may need the same hand grip strength to brush their teeth, but a builder needs a lot more strength to return to work. Therefore the treatment is individualised and the dynamometer will help to set specific goals," Breytenbach explains.

De Klerk is excited about the dynamometers' potential to improve patients' participation in activities. “And we are already working on a plan to obtain one or two more devices to donate to needy centres."

Caption1: Occupational therapis Terri-Ann Abrahams (left) and Susan de Klerk (right) with the dynamometer.

Caption2: The occupational therapist at Kraaifontein CHC (Mariechen Breytenbach) using the dynamometer.

The Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Stellenbosch University, Prof Ingrid Woolard, and economics Professor Ada Jansen of the same faculty, have been appointed as members of the panel that will review the current list of value-added tax (VAT) zero-rated items.

The following article was generated by African News Agency, and published in Creamer Media's Engineering News on 25 April 2018 (click here):

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene announced that Stellenbosch University's Professor Ingrid Woolard will chair the nine-member independent panel of experts that will review the current list of Value-Added Tax (VAT) zero-rated items.

Woolard is currently dean of Economic and Management Sciences at Stellenbosch University. The other members are: Ayabonga Cawe, Professor Ada Jansen, Dr Thabi Leoka, Dr Neva Makgetla, Lynn Moeng, Cecil Morden, Prenesh Ramphal and Professor Imraan Valodia. 

Last month, Nene made a commitment to appoint an independent panel of experts, under the Davis Tax Committee, and publish terms of reference to review the current list of VAT zero-rated items. The increase in the VAT rate from 14 to 15 percent took effect on 1 April.

National Treasury said that the panel's mandate is to review the current list of VAT-zero rated items and consider the most effective way to mitigate the impact of the increase in the VAT rate on poor and low-income households.

The panel will take public comments, convene hearings, and will engage with different stakeholders from civil society organisations, organised labour and business, and deliver an initial report with recommendations to the Davis Tax Committee and the minister by 30 June 2018.

South Africa's VAT system includes 19 basic food items that are zero-rated, including dried beans, samp, maize meal, mealie rice, vegetables, fruits, milk and rice. 

Treasury said the review will consider expanding the list of basic items that are VAT zero-rated, and consider how specific expenditure programmes can be improved to better target poor and low-income households.

• In a panel discussion at Webber Wentzel law firm (on 19 June in Cape Town) on the work of the Davis Committee, Prof Woolard said the subcommittee had received more than 440 submissions regarding VAT zero-rated items. She said the panel's work was very interesting and that the submissions presented an insight into the political economy in South Africa. 
  

The Stellenbosch University (SU) Council approved a new vision and strategic framework for the institution at its second scheduled meeting for the year, on Monday 18 June 2018.

The constant change in higher education requires a suitable response from those involved in a university at a specific time in history. This is especially true for SU as it enters its second century. Council had mandated management to develop a new roadmap for the future, and we are satisfied that the resulting new framework will serve the institution well.

Please find more details below – also about other discussion points and decisions at our meeting on Monday. These include revising the Statute, a faculty renewal strategy, the integrated annual report and consolidated financial statements for 2017, the management reports of the Rector as well as of the Vice-Rector: Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel, two additional research chairs, the Division of Student Access, and new Council members and officials.

On behalf of Council, I wish you well for the rest of 2018, SU's Centenary year. With a new vision and strategic framework in place, the University can now face the future with confidence.

Kind regards

George Steyn
Chairperson: SU Council

[Pictured above are Council members at the meeting on 18 June 2018, from left (back row), Prof Stan du Plessis, Messrs Johan Theron, Charl Cillié, Hubert  Brody and Wayde Davidse, Profs Joan Hambidge, Johan Fourie, Nico Koopman, Gerhard Maré, Eugene Cloete, Usuf Chikte and André Coetzee, Mr Jannie Durand, and Profs AndréKeet and Aslam Fataar; and (front row) Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Mr Lwando Nkamisa, Adv Gesie van Deventer, Prof Wim de Villiers, Mr George Steyn, Prof Amanda Gouws, Ms Khungeka Njobe, Mr Anthony Dietrich and Adv Jean Meiring. (Photograph: Stefan Els)]

New vision and strategic framework for SU

Council approved Vision 2040 for SU on Monday, positioning the institution to become “Africa's leading research-intensive university, globally recognised as excellent, inclusive and innovative", where knowledge is advanced in service of society.

SU's new overarching Strategic Framework 2019-2024 was also approved. Together, they replace the University's existing Vision 2030 and Institutional Intent and Strategy 2013-2018, which are expiring this year.

For the past two years, Prof Hester Klopper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy and Internationalisation, has been spearheading an inclusive drafting process to chart the way forward. Five task teams investigated different aspects, staff and students were consulted on the values of the University, and various levels of management as well as formal University structures provided detailed input. The Social and Business Ethics Committee of Council, the Institutional Forum, the executive committees of Senate and Council, as well as Senate itself all recommended the new vision and strategic framework to Council.

In his foreword, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers states that the new vision and strategic framework bear testimony to “SU's commitment to being relevant to its context and of service to our country and continent – an inclusive, world-class university in and for Africa".

Prof Klopper described the new vision and strategic framework as “unapologetically bold", adding that SU is confident that the framework “maximises our strengths, while also allowing us space to grow".

A unique aspect of the new strategic framework is that students and staff are for the first time specifically included in the core strategic themes the University will be pursuing. In particular, SU will strive to deliver a “transformative student experience" and to become the “employer of choice" in the higher education sector.

The remaining four core strategic themes are “collaborative teaching and learning", “research for impact", “purposeful partnerships and inclusive networks" and a “thriving Stellenbosch University". The emphasis on “thriving" is another distinctive feature of SU's framework, going beyond sustainability to also include  to be successful, make steady progress, prosper and flourish.

Council's approval now concludes phase 1 of the process to review SU's vision and strategy. Next, phases 2 and 3 will unfold in tandem – respectively focusing on the uptake of the new strategy throughout the University, and aligning existing policies and procedures with the new guiding framework.

More detailed communication will follow in due course. Visit this web page to read more about the process thus far and the way forward.

Revision of the Statute

Council noted that a first draft of a proposed new Statute for the University was released in April as part of an internal and public consultation process. This follows on a Council decision of 26 September 2016 that called for a comprehensive revision of the Statute. A task team led by the Registrar, Dr Ronel Retief, compiled the draft in collaboration with experts and based on input gathered through workshops.

The document was tabled to faculty boards and other University bodies for consideration and comment, and external stakeholders were also invited to provide input. According to the planning timeline, a final draft will be submitted via the relevant structures to Council for approval in November.

Faculty renewal strategy

Last year, the Rectorate set as a strategic priority for the University a renewal strategy for two of SU's faculties – Education, and Arts and Social Sciences. A process was subsequently initiated to support these faculties, with a specific focus on systemic sustainability.

At our meeting on Monday, Council received an update from Prof Hester Klopper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy and Internationalisation, who has been leading the process. She assured Council that the Rectorate is cognisant of the strategic value of Education and of Arts and Social Sciences for the University and the country as a whole, considering SU's crucial role in society. Academic considerations will get priority in the renewal process.

Steps to date have included communication with the two faculties, the setting up of a steering committee, the appointment of a project consultant to conduct an analysis and make recommendations, and the establishment of four working groups in each faculty to respectively focus on:

• academic programme renewal;
• student enrolment, graduation and research outputs;
• academic and staff matters (allocation, ratios and trends); and
• financial matters.

The intention is to table a final proposal for consideration and approval at the Council meeting on 26 November 2018 via the faculty boards concerned as well as Senate.

Integrated annual report and consolidated financial statements for 2017

Council considered and approved SU's integrated annual report for 2017, including the University's audited consolidated financial statements for the year.

The Rectorate had been closely involved in writing and evaluating the report, and the Audit and Risk Committee of Council recommended the report – with amendments – to the meeting on Monday.

Being responsible for oversight over academic and operational issues as well as policy and strategy at SU, Council finds it encouraging that the institution continues to excel, despite financial challenges in these turbulent times.

As required, Council approved the going-concern status of SU and expressed the opinion that SU found itself in a favourable financial position and would continue as a going concern over the following 12 months. This was at the recommendation of Council's Audit and Risk Committee, who also reported that the external audit of the University for 2017 had yielded no material findings.

The integrated annual report, including the financial statements, will now be submitted to the Minister of Higher Education and Training by 30 June 2018, as required. An electronic copy will then be uploaded to the SU website, before the report will be printed and distributed. It will be available in English and Afrikaans.

SU has also completed a Governance Indicators Scorecard for Councils of South African Public Higher Education Institutions. This document, a newly introduced requirement, will be submitted to the Department of Higher Education and Training by the same deadline.

Report of the Vice-Rector: Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel

At this meeting, it was the turn of SU Vice-Rector: Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel, Prof Nico Koopman, to table an annual report on his responsibility centre.

He pointed out that the University has now embarked on a journey towards implementation of the range of policies and plans on issues such as transformation, social impact, employment equity, discrimination and sexual harassment, disability access and viable sourcing adopted over the past few years.

Prof Koopman reported on significant progress made with achieving consensus on core terminology such as “embedded social impact", “embedded transformation" and “embedded staff well-being". Institutional ownership of these three central imperatives is growing in all SU environments. Although a lot still needs to be done in this regard, significant progress has already been made.

A thorough discussion of transformation also revealed SU's favourable position to develop research-based parameters and practices for transformation in higher education and broader society.

Click here for his full report, and here for his presentation to Council.

Further growth in research chairs

The Rector reported [click here for his full report] that two new DST/NRF SARChI chairs had been awarded to SU – the chair in innovative rehabilitation to Prof Quinette Louw (Physiotherapy) and the chair in food environments, nutrition and health to Prof Xikombiso Mbhenyane (Human Nutrition). Both chairs are based in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Prof Louw's research under the SARChI chair award will focus on promoting a long and healthy life for all South Africans by improving the quality of healthcare, with a particular focus on new and innovative approaches to rehabilitation.

Prof Mbhenyane's research, in turn, will aim to strengthen and broaden knowledge generation and capacity-building for human nutrition. This will be in line with the National Department of Health's goal of strengthening the available human resources to deliver nutrition services, particularly population-based prevention and promotion services.

SU now has 45 research chairs – nearly double the number we had five years ago. Of these, 27 form part of SARChI (the South African Research Chairs Initiative) and are funded by the Department of Science and Technology. Another 18 research chairs at the University are funded by other sponsors.

'Centre for Prospective Students' now 'Division of Student Access'

Council took note that the name of the Centre for Prospective Students had been changed to the Division of Student Access. The new name now encompasses the complete range of services provided by the entity and is also in line with the strategic focus area of “student access with success", as contained in the environmental plan of the Learning and Teaching responsibility centre. The Division consists of the centres for Student Recruitment and Career Advice, Admissions and Residence Placement, Undergraduate Bursaries and Loans, and the Contact and Client Services Centre, which provides services to both prospective and current students.

New Council members and officials

Council elected Mr Ainsley Moos (pictured below) as its new deputy chairperson on Monday. He succeeds Prof PW van der Walt, whose term expired earlier this year.

​Mr George Steyn was re-elected as chairperson, having been a member of Council since 2010 (elected by donors) and chair since 2012.

Prof Joan Hambidge and Mr Johan Theron (both elected by the Convocation) as well as Ms Khungeka Njobe (elected by Council) were reappointed to Council, while Profs Amanda Gouws and Usuf Chikte (both elected by Senate) were reappointed at the previous meeting of Council, on 26 March.

In addition, Council welcomed a number of new members – Mr Hubert Brody (elected by donors), Mr Charl Cillié and Adv Jean Meiring (both elected by Convocation) and Mr Wayde Davidse (elected by permanent non-academic staff members).

Next meeting

The next Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 26 September 2018.

​​​​“The agricultural sector needs to be supported by a diverse knowledge base as well as practical and technical expertise. This is the kind of students we need to equip for the future.”

​The Stellenbosch University (SU) Law Clinic made a written submission to National Treasury to include feminine hygiene products on the list of zero-rated VAT items.

This comes shortly after an announcement by National Treasury to review the current list of VAT free items. Treasury also called for public submissions for the expansion of the current list of zero-rated VAT items.

Monja Posthumus-Meyjes, attorney at the SU Law Clinic, and two candidate attorneys, Danielle Louw and Erika Wright, conducted research on the value-added tax (“VAT") charged on feminine hygiene products, in collaboration with Dr. Lize Mills en Silke de Lange from the SU's Faculty of Law.  This term is also known as tampon tax. Their research also focussed on the impact high prices of feminine products have on women who can't afford it.

“The research indicates that the lack of access to feminine hygiene products, primarily as a result of the high prices of these products, is an enormous problem that confronts poor, vulnerable and marginalized women and girls in South Africa. Because they can't afford this, they are forced to turn to alternative options that are mostly unhygienic and pose serious health risks."

The issue of tampon tax has come under the spotlight recently after MPs in parliament insisted that feminine hygiene products should be exempted of VAT or even be freely available. In 2004, Kenya became the first country in the world to abolish tampon tax. The Mauritian government has similarly stopped adding VAT to sanitary pads and tampons in 2017.

“The fact that many girls and women cannot afford proper sanitary hygiene products has further serious consequences in other aspects of their lives. About 30% of female learners in South African schools do not attend school when they menstruate as they cannot afford sanitary hygiene products. This means that a girl could effectively lose about 90 days of schooling a year as a direct result of issues relating to menstruation," said Posthumus-Meyjes.

The Stellenbosch University (SU) Council has a new deputy chairperson with the election of Mr Ainsley Moos to this position at its second ordinary meeting for the year, held on Monday (18 June 2018). He succeeds Prof PW van der Walt whose term expired earlier this year.

Moos, a SU alumnus, is a member of the executive team of the financial services company, African Rainbow Capital. He is a member of Council since 2014.

Mr George Steyn, a director of companies, was re-elected chairperson, having been a member of Council since 2010 (elected by donors), and chair since 2012.

Prof Joan Hambidge and Mr Johan Theron (both elected by Convocation), and Ms Khungeka Njobe (elected by Council, like Mr Moos) were also re-appointed to Council. Prof Amanda Gouws and Prof Usuf Chikte (both elected by Senate) were reappointed at the previous meeting of Council, on 26 March 2018.

Hambidge is a Professor of Afrikaans and Creative Writing at the University of Cape Town, Theron an attorney practising as commercial litigant and Njobe a founder of the investment holding business, the Kay Ann Group, and director and member of various companies and boards. Gouws is a distinguished professor in Political Sciences and Chikte Head of the Department of Global Health in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences – both at SU.

New members

Council also welcomed a number of new members – Mr Hubert Brody (elected by donors), Mr Charl Cillié and Adv Jean Meiring (both elected by Convocation), and Mr Wayde Davidse (elected by permanent non-academic staff members).

Brody is a director of companies, Cillié a digital project manager, Meiring an advocate of the Johannesburg Bar and Davidse a senior buyer in the University's purchasing and provisioning division.

At its previous meeting, Council welcomed Mr Lwando Nkamisa, Chair of the Student Representative Council, and Mr Euwen Etson, chair of the Academic Affairs Council, as representatives of the student body.

The SU Council has an oversight responsibility for academic and operational affairs, as well as institutional policy and strategy at the institution. The Council governs, among others, the assets of the University, determines the conditions of service of staff and top management, and sets the institution's admission and language policies.

The in-house Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference for Stellenbosch University is taking place between 29 and 31 October 2018 at the Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West. The conference is over two days on 30 and 31 October, and the pre-conference workshops are on the 29 October.

The confirmed keynotes for the conference are Prof Kathleen Quinlan (University of Kent) and Prof Magda Fourie-Malherbe (Stellenbosch University) who are both experts in the domain of the Scholarship of Educational Leadership. Educational Leadership is the overarching theme for this year's conference.

The registration and abstract submission process for the conference is now open! Please go to web address www.sun.ac.za/sotl to find all the information on registration, submitting an abstract as well as the pre-conference workshops.

Dr Brink van Zyl has been appointed as the new head of department of the University of Stellenbosch's (SU) Department of Animal Sciences.

“The agricultural sector needs to be supported by a diverse knowledge base as well as practical and technical expertise. This is the kind of students we need to equip for the future."

So says Dr Brink van Zyl, who has been appointed as the new head of department of the University of Stellenbosch's (SU) Department of Animal Sciences.

The days that students started to farm as soon as they left school are long gone – the agricultural sector has changed dramatically and so has teaching and learning in agricultural sciences. Nowadays, almost every segment of the agricultural sector makes use of the latest technologies and input from a variety of disciplines to stay economically viable, he says.

Dr Van Zyl, originally from Kimberley, holds a doctorate in animal sciences and an MBA, both from SU. He has been a lecturer in the department for the last year. Dr Van Zyl has more than 25 years of experience in the private sector, including on extensive animal management and animal feeds. He has worked for AFGRI Animal Feeds as a ruminant specialist and technical marketing manager, and for Transvaal Sugar Limited (Molatek Animal Feeds) as sales manager, among others.

Dr Van Zyl is excited about this position in the Faculty. He has an academic approach to business and believes his experience in the private sector will be valuable in his new role. “I want to focus on the relevance of our research offering, and deepen our collaborations with industry," he said. “I consider it an important part of my responsibility to ensure that we train young professionals who can make a successful transition from being a student to the workplace."

According to Dr Van Zyl, the agricultural sector has become complicated. This is due to technological advances and other developments leading to significant changes in the agricultural landscape. These changes have had a significant impact on teaching and research, he points out.

Food production is expected to almost double over the next 40 years to meet the rising demand, including for protein sources. Increasingly, the agricultural sector needs to adapt to a fast-changing world. Dr Van Zyl explains: “The changing context and new challenges facing the higher education sector and society require that we think differently about teaching and learning."

The department, one of the oldest in the country, remains at the forefront of using new technologies to support animal sciences and related industries. “We are not necessarily training agricultural practitioners but rather professional agricultural scientists who are also able to enter into the practical side of farming and be able to fulfil industry expectations," he explains. Students who graduate in the department pursue careers as consultants, entrepreneurs, technicians, agricultural advisors and managers involved in product development in animal sciences and related sectors. Students are trained in scientific studies of animal nutrition, animal breeding, and reproductive physiology of domesticated and non-domesticated species, including wildlife and aquaculture species.

Agricultural training remains one of the most expensive at tertiary level (after medicine and engineering) because specialised facilities and practical work are needed. Universities will increasingly have to become more self-sufficient to ensure funds for research, he believes.

Over the next few years Dr Van Zyl wants to focus on establishing closer relations with the (agricultural) sector. “It is critical that we deliver relevant training and research outputs that support the economic sustainability of agriculture in our region and elsewhere on the continent."