When hearing impaired student Celize Louw stood up to receive her Master's degree in Physiotherapy, it marked the end of a long and sometimes arduous long-distance journey of study.

For Louw (43), this achievement is proof that hard work pays off and that “there are good people everywhere, ready to help you. You just have to ask".

Louw, a mother of two children aged eight and ten, who lives in Port Elizabeth, has worked as a physiotherapist from home for the past 15 years. Her work with young sportspeople made her want to study further – so she registered for a Master's with Stellenbosch University.

Her thesis, titled 'Self-Reported Prevalence, Type, Severity and Management of Musculoskeletal Injuries among High School Rugby Players in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole', entailed the development of a self-reported questionnaire to look at injuries among rugby players at top rugby schools in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole.

Her journey towards her Master's was a story of “writing and rewriting" and of some “very stressful orals with examiners via Skype" – all in the context of a hearing incapability.

“There are no elevators to success, and I had to take the stairs," said Louw.

In an interview, she ascribed her success to her own hard work but also paid tribute to her husband Jeffrey, her parents, and Dr Linzette Morris, Senior Lecturer/Postgraduate co-ordinator: Division of Physiotherapy, who, she said, went beyond the call of duty to assist her.

Louw was diagnosed with severe sensorineural hearing loss in both ears when she was three years old. She relied on powerful hearings aids and lip-reading to communicate.

Assisted by the Carel du Toit Centre in Tygerberg, which assists hearing impaired children to learn spoken language, Louw attended mainstream schools and matriculated from McLachlan High School, where she also completed her Grade Eight Unisa piano examination.

She later graduated from Stellenbosch University with a Bachelor's degree of Science in Physiotherapy and started working as a physiotherapist in 1999.

As part of her daily practice, Louw found herself working with high school children with sports – particularly rugby – injuries.

“I became curious about the prevalence, type, severity, and management of these injuries in the Nelson Mandela Bay high school population. I wanted to explore these questions through further formal studies. My husband phoned Stellenbosch University and they suggested I do a Master's Degree."

In 2016, while she was structuring her thesis, Louw's hearing suddenly deteriorated. “I could not hear my husband and children speak to me. I was devastated when I thought I would never hear their sweet voices again."

After numerous tests, she was approved for a left cochlear implant. She had the implant later in 2016. “Then the long exhausting road to recovery began. The new sounds made no sense … even my dad sounded like R2D2! It was difficult to adapt to my surroundings."

Her inability to hear music properly remained a source of distress to Louw, as the family loved singing together and played a range of instruments between them.

It was during this trying time, that Morris became a “pillar of strength" to Louw.

Morris had the podcasts of lectures transcribed and added as captions to the podcast videos. Louw was able to access these captioned podcast videos via the internet.

She also communicated regularly with Louw telephonically through her husband and secretary.

“I spent hours and weeks making notes of, and studying, each podcast," Louw said.

“Whenever I went to Tygerberg Hospital to map the cochlear implant, Morris and I would meet, and she would help me structure the thesis and assist with other aspects of the Master's."

Louw's parents drove her around on her visits to Cape Town while her husband kept the home fires burning back in PE.

Her studies had financial consequences: “I had to book fewer patients in order to have time to write. My husband supported me … and Dr Morris managed to arrange for a small bursary to assist me."

While studying, Louw still had to be the “mom" of the house – packing lunches, checking school uniforms and taking her children to extramural activities. She regularly got up at midnight to work undisturbed on her Master's.

“In the end, after much writing and rewriting, with much advice from Dr Morris, I could finally put a thesis together. In the final stretch I had to do an oral with the examiners via Skype. It was very stressful, as even with the video material available, I struggled to lip read properly. Thankfully my husband sat next to me and patiently repeated every question they asked."

Louw is thrilled with her achievement and wants to expand her studies.

Louw's husband and parents attended her graduation and her children watched on the big screen next door. “I'm forever grateful to them, as well as Dr Morris, for the unselfish way they helped. I never heard a hard word from them."

For now, Louw wants to focus on her physio practice. A keen ultra-distance runner – and egged on by Jeffrey – an Ironman Athlete, with whom she completed the Full Ironman in 2007, she hopes to do another marathon.

Morris said when she first went through Louw's application (to do the Master's), she never saw her hearing impairment as an obstacle, but as a challenge.

“Celize has proven that, irrespective of what disability you have, you can achieve anything. She has shown such tenacity, despite her hearing impairment and having to do distant learning. She never said, 'I can't do this.' I admire her greatly.

“I am exceptionally proud to see Celize receiving her degree, knowing what she's been through. She's been a true inspiration."​

Exposure to the formal colonial education system has led children in a rural indigenous community in the Eastern Cape to be socialised in a manner that alienates them from their indigenous and cultural ways of being, living and doing, a doctoral study by an early-career researcher in the Department of Global Health has found. 

According to Lieketseng Ned's findings, the conventional education system has brought ill-health and has generally undermined ways of living in the Xhora (also known as Elliotdale) community, close to Umtata in the Eastern Cape. 

Ned's doctorate, entitled 'Reconnecting with indigenous knowledge in education: exploring possibilities for health and well-being in Xhora, South Africa', suggests an inextricable link between education and health and well-being and argues for a centring of health and well-being as a core learning area in education system's curriculum for better health and well-being outcomes. 

Ned, as part of her research, facilitated a case of narratives with AmaBomvane in rural Xhora, during which she asked community members to describe their experiences of the influence of the education system on their indigenous traditions and knowledges, and their links to health and well-being. She also explored what the stakeholders in the community identify as indigenous knowledge and ways of teaching and learning and how these can inform curriculum development and implementation in the formal schooling system. 

“For this community, health is inextricably related to having strong relationships within their culture and traditions as well as being able to produce food in their community.

“In this community, most of the people identify themselves as AmaBomvane and many of them are true to the indigenous ways of doing and living," Ned said. “However, owing to coloniality and apartheid, identity clashes have negatively influenced how people live and sustain themselves. 

The education system has exacerbated this by socializing children to negate their ways and willingly become accomplices of cultural imperialism through imitation and appropriation. 

“What they are saying is that with cultural and psychological dislocation, ill-health is a consequence. These are seen in broken relationships, disintegrated families, increased alcoholism and violence, neglect of key community roles, poor lifestyle patterns and inability to produce food and sustain household, all of which contribute to the burden of disease. 

Ned, 29, grew up in Mount Fletcher in the Eastern Cape, completed a BSc in Occupational Therapy at UWC in 2009 and worked as an Occupational Therapist in Mount Frere and later in East London. She then completed an MPhil in disability studies at UCT in 2013 before moving to Stellenbosch University in Oct 2014.  

Ned is an Early Career Researcher in the Faculty (under the mentorship of Prof Leslie Swartz) and the youngest lecturer at the Centre for Rehabilitation Studies. She convenes the postgraduate diploma in Disability and Rehabilitation Studies. 

She started her PhD in 2016 and submitted it in October last year. In a nutshell, her PhD focus suggests an inextricable link between education and health and well-being, thus arguing for health and well-being to be considered a core learning area in the education system's curriculum. She is also arguing for recognition of coloniality and colonial education as broad social determinants of ill-health. 

“This means realising that poor health and well-being reproduces poor educational outcomes and inequities, while poor education feeds inequities which influence risky health behaviours," Ned said in her thesis. 

“When learners are not healthy, they cannot learn and if they cannot learn, they are less likely to do well in life, which later translates into poor health. Enhancing people's lives is an important part of what education should be about because positive health and well-being is a key enabler of learning; thus as important as other key learning areas in education curricula." 

Ned plans to use her findings to engage with the educational sector and influence public health. 

“I am interested in engagement that bring in conversation education and health as interlinked. My interest is in facilitating an Indigenous-decolonial framework for reconstructing curriculum for health and well-being." 

Ned is now preparing for her postdoctoral activities which include an international collaboration with Prof Hisayo Katsui, Associate Professor in disability studies at the University of Helsinki as part of a staff exchange programme.

Stellenbosch University medical student, Keaton Harris, has once again been recognized for his innovative start-up business, InforMED. This time he was crowned, above some of the country's top start-up businesses, as the South African Champion of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards. 

Harris's InforMed is an “offline mobile language translation application which aids the healthcare professional in creating a more refined differential diagnosis prior to the physical exam". 

The awards are run by the Entrepreneurs' Organisation (EO) – a global business network which spans more than 50 countries and which enables entrepreneurs to learn from each other and grow their businesses. The annual student competition recognizes students who are able to run a business while they are studying full-time. 

The awards took place in Cape Town, following a four-hour judging process. Harris was pitched against five other finalists in the contest, all of whom were chosen from around South Africa for the country-specific awards. Their businesses ranged from watch manufacturing, to trail-running events and a platform aimed at keeping talent in South Africa. 

Last year, Harris was part of a team that won a global competition run by the Young Sustainable Impact Innovation Program for their design prototype which aims to help cross language barriers within the health sector. The team created an offline mobile translation app which essentially breaks the language barrier between health practitioners and patients. 

As the winner of the South African leg of this global competition, Harris will fly to Maucau, China to represent South Africa in the global finals of the competition in April. He also won a cash prize as well as the opportunity to receive mentorship from a range of South African entrepreneurs. 

Commenting on his latest success, an elated Harris said he was initially nervous to go up against such entrepreneurial talent. 

“Needless to say, (when I won) I felt a feeling of utter surrealism because I have now competed against the best student start-ups throughout the country and have come out victorious. It has given me such a sense of motivation to want to work even harder in everything that I am doing - which I believe can only impact my personal, emotional and professional spheres in a positive way. In China I will be competing against all of the country winners from around the world. I am extremely and immensely excited to network with everyone and to make life-long international friendships - whilst developing InforMED Global to change the face of Medicine as we know it."

Today is the launch of the Campus Health Services' Gender Health Campaign, a 4-week initiative offering more information on Men's Health, Women's Health, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), and Gender-based violence. Each week, we will be giving a better understanding on some of the issues within each area, as well as how to manage them. We kick off this week with Men's Health.

World-wide, men die an average of six years younger than women. Most of these deaths can be attributed to reasons that are largely preventable. In many cases, these deaths can be prevented by early detection and treatment, and in others, screening may lead to treatment and a better quality of life.

Of great concern is the fact that the number of men being diagnosed with late stage cancer is on the rise. Knowledge is power and can change the lives of men drastically if they are aware of early warning signs and symptoms of male cancers.

Men need to be pro-active about their health and should recognise warning signs. We encourage monthly testicular self-examinations, annual medical check-ups and cancer screening for early detection, as symptoms don't always present until cancer has spread. Men also need to lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle, cutting out lifestyle factors that increase their cancer risk.

Screening tests for men:

Here is a checklist for the most common, and the most preventable, conditions, that can be detected through screening:

A balanced lifestyle will reduce your risk for developing non-communicable diseases and cancer. This includes making smart food and drink choices; being physically active on a regular basis; maintaining a healthy weight; and avoiding known cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) such as tobacco and alcohol.

Knowing your family's medical history, going for regular health checks and cancer screening is also strongly advised.

If you would like to chat to one of the Nurses or Doctors at Campus Health Services, please contact us and book an appointment here.

​

This is the story that audiences at Stellenbosch University engaged with at the screening of Whispering Truth to Power. The award-winning documentary was screened at the University Museum on 11 April 2019. Whispering Truth to Power, directed by Shameela Seedat, tracks former Public Protector Prof Thuli Madonsela as she carries out the duties of her last year in office. The film, released in April 2018, follows Prof Madonsela as she navigates the challenging waters of high-level government corruption, butting heads with a daughter and attempting to address the grievances of some of South Africa's most marginalised communities.

Prof Madonsela is currently the Law Trust Chair in Social Justice and Law Professor at Stellenbosch University. She conducts and coordinates social justice research and teaches constitutional and administrative law.

Discussion at the event saw audience members talking about the different aspects of the film that stood out for them. A member of the audience asked whether there would be a sequel. Others said that they felt Whispering Truth to Power left them on a high about South Africa but acknowledged that there were still many challenges to be addressed.

The documentary also shows the tension between the politics of Prof Madonsela and those of her daughter Wenzile. Wenzile studies law at a previously Afrikaans-medium university and is a vocal social activist on campus. She is often seen clashing with her mother on matters of politics. In one particularly tense scene, Wenzile references the constitution in defence of her choice to wear a beret when accompanying Prof Madonsela to the State of the Nation address. This after Thuli insists that she not wear it.

Speaking after the screening, LLM student Inga Dyanti said that this aspect of their relationship captures the dynamic between the older generation and their struggle against the racial injustices of apartheid and the younger generation and their struggle for a new, deeper social justice amidst rising inequality.

Some audience members were interested in the more technical aspects of the film. One person commended Seedat on the use of drone technology in filming the documentary.

Speaking after the screening, Education and Public Programmes Officer of the University Museum, Ricky Brecht, said the Museum was being proactive in hosting more socially inclusive and socially responsible events. Brecht emphasised that there is a specific focus on community engagement.

“These events are used as the match to ignite the flame for facilitated conversations on topical issues. Residents of and visitors to Stellenbosch can meet during dialogues, film screenings and other events."

​​Five more students have benefited from the Stellenbosch University (SU) Die Vlakte Bursary scheme, with the announcement of the 2019 recipients this week. This brings the total value of Die Vlakte bursaries awarded to students over the past four years to R1,4 million.

Speaking at an intimate function held at the Wilcocks building on Monday, SU Rector and Vice Chancellor Prof Wim De Viliers said the bursary scheme is a form of redress for descendants of people who suffered forced removals in the 1960s from Die Vlakte.

This year's beneficiaries are Michelle Kannemeyer, a second-year BAcc (Accounting) student, Danielle Smith, second-year BA (Development and Environment), Gianni Pasquallie, first-year MBChB, Mohamed Braaf, first-year BCom (Financial Accounting) and Jaydon Rose, first-year MBChB.

In his opening address, De Villiers said Die Vlakte bursary scheme was one his highlights as the Rector and Vice Chancellor of Stellenbosch University.

“Today exactly four years ago, I started working as Rector and Vice-Chancellor. And one of the first announcements I made was that the University will be creating a bursary fund for former residents of Die Vlakte and their descendants. Why was this necessary? To right a wrong that took place in the 1960."

The Rector added that the University was working hard to become more inclusive. “Both our student and staff bodies are becoming more diverse. We are also reaching out to the community to close the gap between us.

“In October last year we paid tribute to the people of Die Vlakte when we named the building which now houses the University's Africa Open Institute for Music after the man who originally built it as a home for his family, Pieter Okkers."

Michelle Kannemeyer from Kuilsriver said she felt privileged to have been selected to receive funding from the University even though she was rejected last year when she started at Stellenbosch University. Michelle's father, Jason Kannemeyer said, “The bursary is a great financial relief to me and my family because they pay R52 000 towards my daughter's fees. It is a lot of money and we are grateful but the University could do better than this, as the bursary doesn't cover books, food and transport."

Danielle Smith from Idas Valley said it felt amazing to receive the bursary and it is a great way to help them achieve their goals.

Mohamed Hishaam Braaf said his entire family was overjoyed when they heard that he was a recipient of the bursary. “We found out on Thursday and we even had a mini celebration. It is sad that my great grandparents were moved from their land because of an Act but we celebrate today and the relief this bursary will bring to my family."

Jaydon Rose said the day had left a bittersweet taste – sweet because it was a relief and bitter because their family lost all that land.

Giovanne Pasquallie said she did not see the bursary as a handout but as part of paying homage to her forefathers to whom great injustice was done. “We are grateful because this is an opportunity for us to succeed and reach our goals."

• Die Vlakte was a neighbourhood in the area between Muller, Bird, and Joubert Streets and Merriman Avenue. The residents were mostly coloured people, and they were forcibly removed in the 1960s under the Group Areas Act. At the time, the University did not protest, and also later built on expropriated land.

A maximum of five bursaries are awarded each year to applicants who lived in the area, and their children and grandchildren. Current and prospective undergraduate students may apply, as well as applicants who will be registering for a first postgraduate programme. Applicants who are no longer living in the Stellenbosch area but who can give proof of their parents or grandparents being affected by the evictions will also be considered. Successful academic progress is a prerequisite to retain the bursary.

​MEDIA STATEMENT

24 April 2019

SU expresses concerns over article's impact, opposition to racism and support for academic freedom and critical debate

Stellenbosch University acknowledges the importance of the rigorous academic discussion and critical debate that followed the publication of an article titled, Age- and education-related effects on cognitive functioning in Coloured South African women, in a scientific journal on normal and dysfunctional development, Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition. “We are, however, concerned about the pain and anger that the article has solicited within the academic community and broader society," says Prof Eugene Cloete, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, at Stellenbosch University.  

“As an institution we are opposed to racism, including intellectual racism or attributing cognitive capacities such as intelligence in terms of race," he added. The University has a process of ethical clearance of all research projects on human subjects, and the relevant committee that reviewed the project from which this article emanated, approved a broader study proposal on the risk factors for heart disease, physical activity, fitness, eating habits and cognitive functions of Coloured women in Stellenbosch.

The specific article reports on the effect of environmental factors on the cognitive development within one of South Africa's most vulnerable groups that was marginalised during apartheid and remained so during the post-apartheid era. As clearly indicated in the article, the findings, opinions, conclusions and recommendations are those of the authors alone. The University as an institution neither condones nor evaluates the opinions reached by its scholars as participants in this academic debate.

Stellenbosch University is committed to both academic freedom and open and critical scientific debate, of which peer-reviewed scholarly research is the cornerstone. All scholars are aware that scientific output will have to withstand the scrutiny of fellow researchers, not only to determine its suitability for publication in accredited journals, but also in the public domain.

Research for impact, one of Stellenbosch University's six strategic themes, is guided by societal needs and challenges. We support research themes that advance the civil, political, economic, social and cultural human rights as set out in the South African Bill of Rights.​

​

From South Africa's indigenous Southern Cape forests to Tanzania, from the Miombo woodland in Zambia to North Ethiopia and West Africa – that's where their research has taken six new graduates of the Department of Forest and Wood Science at Stellenbosch University (SU). They are Dr Philip Crafford and Dr GP Scheepers of South Africa, Dr Francis Munalula of Zambia, Dr Amani Jackson of Tanzania, Dr Haile Wale of Ethiopia, and Dr Abiodun Alawode of Nigeria.

The six PhD graduates have all successfully pursued their individual dreams of completing their doctorates during the 2018 academic year – a new record for the Department. Collectively, they symbolize something more – the pursuit to expand and strengthen the knowledge base of researchers and managers working in the forest and wood sector in Africa.

“Over the past decade, the SU Department of Forest and Wood Science has committed itself to increasing both its teaching and research outputs. It is therefore very satisfying to see students graduating, and in record numbers at that," says Dr Brand Wessels, chair of the Department of Forest and Wood Science.

Stellenbosch University is the only university in South Africa offering a comprehensive four-year BSc degree programme in both Forest Science and Wood Product Science, thus covering the entire forestry value chain. It is also the only tertiary institution in South Africa providing an educational offering at BSc, MSc and PhD levels in both Forest and Natural Resource and Wood Products Science. 

There are currently 135 undergraduate students and 35 postgraduate students in the Department of Forest and Wood Science, of whom 12 are working towards completing their PhDs.

“Our emphasis is on producing versatile managers and researchers for the wood processing and timber growing industries with the skills to manage and understand all the intricacies of technology transfer," says Dr Wessels. “This provides our graduates with fantastic career opportunities and allows them to diversify in other related industries."

Climate change studies

“We serve a sector that is of critical importance to one of the greatest challenges of our time – climate change," notes Dr Wessels. “As a Department we'd like to ensure that more research is done about the effects and mitigation of climate change in the forestry sector, and that we are able to train experts that can play a role in this regard."

To this end, the PhD in Wood Product Science completed by Dr Francis Munalula is of interest. He assessed whether changing climatic conditions and extreme events, such as droughts, have any influence on how three hardwood species commonly found in the Zambian Miombo woodlands grow.

The studied species were the Msasa or zebrawood tree (Brachystegia spiciformis), the wild syringa (Burkea Africana) and the Mupopa or Mutobo tree (Isoberlinia angolensis).

All were found to be resilient enough to withstand the effects of reduced rainfall and increased temperature. However, significant differences were found in the anatomical properties of wood from drier sites and in wood formed during very dry years.

“This will have a noticeable effect on the quality of wood, explains Dr Munalula.

As part of his study, he developed a model to predict how the anatomical properties of these tree species will change, given the variations in the climate that can be expected over the next fifty years.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest degradation, plus the sustainable management of forests and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+), is an essential part of the global efforts to mitigate climate change, which is supported by the United Nations.

As part of his PhD in Forest Science, Dr Amani Jackson studied the perceptions of community members in the Kilosa District in Tanzania about whether participatory land use plans support the effective manage and conservation of local village land forest reserves.

His results once again underline how important it to use participatory processes when creating awareness and striving for community engagement when implementing such large-scale plans such as REDD+.

“This will ultimately enhance forest management and conservation," he notes. “To ensure community buy-in, it is important that the REDD+ initiative provides other benefits too, and not only carbon financing."

Closer look at forests

Dr GP Scheepers investigated factors that influence the reaction of semi-mature pines planted in the Tsitsikamma region of the Southern Cape to the use of fertilizer. He completed his studies in Forest Science by monitoring eight experimental stands of Pinus elliottii and Pinus elliotii x caribaea. Among others he took note of the influence of climatic conditions, the characteristics of the soil and the availability of water, nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil.

He found that soil with a too high/too low pH level lost its natural ability to mineralise nitrogen – an aspect needed so that plants can optimally take up fertilisers. The volume of water in the soil did not limit the growth of trees.

Dr Scheepers says indicators such as the levels of soil nitrogen, anaerobically incubated nitrogen and aerobically incubated phosphorus should be considered when planning silviculture activities.

“I hope findings help forest managers in the Tsitsikamma region to greatly improve the effectiveness of their fertilizer regimes," he notes.

For his PhD, Dr Haile Wale used analytical tools to gauge the ecological status of three Afromontane forests in north-western Ethiopia that have not yet been studied in detail. The forests are Alem Saga, Gelawudiwos and Tara Gedam.

He collected plant species from 150 plots and noted how the soil conditions, altitude and slope differed in each of these areas. He collected information on the species that occur together, and environmental factors, such as the availability of light and litter that play a role in how well they grow.

“The study provided basic ecological information on the species growing in the area and can guide better sustainable resource management and the conservation of these forests," Dr Wale believes.

Timber and adhesives

Formaldehyde-based adhesives made from non-renewable petrochemical sources are widely used in the production of wood composite products, because of their superior performance properties. However, it is known to hold serious health risks, and therefore it is important for the industry to consider alternative wood adhesives.

To this end, Dr Abiodun Alawode of Nigeria tested whether the seed kernels of two species of African or wild mango, Irvingia gabonensis and Irvingia wombolu could be used as an eco-friendly wood adhesive.

“The results indicate that Irvingia-based wood adhesives have comparable performance properties with formaldehyde based wood adhesives and could be considered as an eco-friendly raw material from which to make wood adhesive," explains Dr Alawode, who obtained a PhD in Wood Product Science.  

For further information about the Department, visit http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/forestry or contact Dr Brand Wessels at cbw@sun.ac.za

At the April graduation ceremony of Stellenbosch University, Dr Philip Crafford, Dr Abiodun Alawode, Dr Francis Munalula and Dr Haile Wale received doctorates.

Dr Amani Jackson

​
Prof Danie Brink, dean of the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University, congratulated Dr GP Scheepers.

Written by Engela Duvenage, for the Department of Forest and Wood Science, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University ​

​​​​​Dr Margreth Tadie, a lecturer in the Process Engineering Department and Dr Debra Rossouw, a biotechnologist at the Stellenbosch University's Institute for Wine Biotechnology, are two of 30 scientists in Africa to have been selected for the FLAIR (Future Leaders – African Independent Research) research fellowships. They were part of a competitive pool of 700 applicants across the continent.

 FLAIR is a two-year programme of The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the Royal Society, with support from the United Kingdom's Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), and is designed to help talented early-career researchers whose science is focused on the needs of the continent, establish independent careers at African institutions and ultimately, their own research groups. Each scientist receives £300,000 (R5 472 003) over the two-year fellowship to help them with independent research.

Dr Margreth Tadie

In 2017, Statistics South Africa reported that the mining industry is slowly declining on a yearly basis. However, the mass amount of waste left behind continues to have a huge environmental impact on the mining communities in South Africa, and the rest of Africa.

For Dr Tadie doing research on mining waste is not just motivated by her academic aspirations but is fuelled by her deep personal experiences of growing up on the dusty mines in her home country of Zimbabwe.

“In many ways mining is who I am, I grew up in this and in many ways the mine for the people who live within mining communities is their life. Your father works in the mine, you work in the mine, your children work in the mine and no matter where you are whether you are the lowest or highest paid, the mine becomes you. Although I am in academia now and I'm not physically on the mine I still identify with the mine and hope that my research can help change mining policies within Africa."

“It's such an honour to get this fellowship from them and really what they are about is supporting African research and supporting excellent researchers within Africa to be able to become leaders within their research field. I'm passionate about mineral resources in Africa and I'm passionate about what they can do for the continent. There is such incredible wealth in Africa, yet when you look at Africa, we are one of the poorest continents in the world and I'm not happy with that. My heart is really into looking at what we can do better with our resources for our continent and our people."

Tadie's father has been working on mines for over forty years and says being exposed to that environment all her life has had a huge impact on her motivation to help change the negative effects of the industry.

“I grew up next to big heaps of mining waste most of my life and seeing all the dust, that's formed from that fine material, living in landscapes where the vegetation has been deteriorated, because of the mining activities, stayed with me. There are really significant impacts that are negative, that come from mining, which can be prevented; because a lot of it is policy and technical strategy."

Tadie's research project will specifically look at the waste left behind from gold mines in South Africa and develop a framework strategy that looks at sustainable ways to extract minerals so less waste is created in the process. She hopes that this framework strategy will be applied to different sites and eventually influence policy change within the mining industry.

“There are tons of waste heaps that are a legacy of that success in gold mining and those waste heaps are taking up land and are creating pollution. The environmental impact is quite significant and this project is aimed at finding ways and developing a process, which will deal with this waste."

Tadie says she also recognises the significant impact this fellowship will have on her teaching at SU and hopefully inspiring other young engineers in Africa.

“I am very conscious of being in the minority within the mining industry, but I'm so open to that challenge, because we need more role-models. Where women have paved the way in other industries, I am very conscious of the fact that I have the opportunity to be that for those who are coming up behind me. We do need more women who are brave enough to go in and are brave enough to do cutting edge research, to be brave enough to be on the mines and do good work. I hope to impart that heart for responsible mining and responsible engineering."

Dr  Debra Rossouw

Dr Rossouw will receive 300 000 UK pounds over the next two years towards her research endeavours and will be able to build lasting connections and international collaborations with peers across Africa. She will also benefit from mentoring and skills development initiatives run by the African Academy of Sciences​ (AAS.

Dr Rossouw does research as part of the endeavours of Stellenbosch University's Institute for Wine Biotechnology, the only unit of its kind in Africa. Members of this multi-disciplinary institute research anything from plants (such as grapevine and tobacco) to yeasts, bacteria and microalgae.

Dr Rossouw studies how different species of yeasts interact with one another, or with bacteria and algae, and how these could be used in industrial processes.

Such micro-organisms are typically between 1 and 6 thousandths of a millimetre (or 1-6 micrometers) in diameter. Through her research, Dr Rossouw focusses on one extremely small but significant aspect of these micro-organisms – their cell walls. She studies the genes and proteins that control and influence how these structures function. To do so, she uses a variety of techniques from traditional molecular biology methods and microscopy to computational simulations and next generation sequencing technologies.

Dr Rossouw was the first to publish a paper on a topic called co-aggregation (or co-flocculation). This phenomenon happens when the cell walls of different species of yeast adhere or “glue" to each other in very species-specific patterns. She found out that in some cases, these interactions influence the very survival (or not) of the species involved.

“One would be able to use these interactions for biocontrol purposes or, alternatively, to 'build' ecosystems  to improve fermentation technology or wastewater bioremediation measures," she comments on the future relevance of her work.

Dr Rossouw hopes her findings will benefit commercial fermentation practices and improve the environmental sustainability of the wine sector.

“Aside from the practical applications, the research I am embarking on will shed light on how physical interactions between different species may have shaped the evolution of micro-organisms in natural ecosystems in which numerous species occur together," she adds.

Dr Rossouw has an excellent academic track record and is the recipient of numerous South African research fellowships over the past decade. She obtained a PhD in Wine Biotechnology from Stellenbosch University in 2009. She received all of her qualifications in plant biotechnology cum laude from Stellenbosch University, starting with a BSc in Biotechnology in 2003.

Dr Rossouw grew up in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, and matriculated from Carter High School in 2000. She lives outside Paarl, and is an avid mountain biker and trail runner.

The need for programmes such as FLAIR:

FLAIR is one of six postdoctoral programmes being implemented through the African Academy of Sciences.

“We recognise that well-planned postdoctoral programmes are critical in promoting scientific and research excellence and leadership in Africa," says Professor Felix Dapare Dakora, President of the African Academy of Sciences. “We want to be catalytic in inspiring African institutions to critically think about the role of and defining postdoctoral programmes that suit their needs and purpose and can be instrumental in driving socio-economic development on the continent."

​“The scientists selected as FLAIR grantees represent the next generation of leading African scientists, and we are incredibly proud to be part of a programme that is investing in them at such a crucial point in their careers," says Professor Richard Catlow, Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society. “Fostering science and innovation for social benefit and prosperity is key to the wellbeing of any society, and investing in Africa's scientific talent holds the greatest potential to tackle global challenges and improve quality of life."

• ​The next round of FLAIR applications closes on 15 May 2019.

Photo captions:
DrDebraRossouw.jpg

Wine biotechnologist Dr Debra Rossouw in her laboratory in the Stellenbosch University Department of Viticulture and Oenology. Photo: Engela Duvenage

Dr Margreth Tadie in front of the Engineering Building

​

World Malaria Day (WMD) is an international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria. Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria.

Since 2000, malaria-affected countries and their development partners have made remarkable progress in reducing the total number of malaria cases and deaths. But, after more than a decade of steady advances in fighting malaria, progress has levelled off. According to WHO's latest World malaria report, no significant gains were made in reducing malaria cases in the period 2015 to 2017. The estimated number of malaria deaths in 2017, at 435 000, remained virtually unchanged over the previous year.

But the toll of malaria remains unacceptably high. Every two minutes, a child dies of this preventable and treatable disease. And each year, more than 200 million new cases of the disease are reported. In 2017, there were an estimated 219 million cases of malaria in 87 countries.

Africa continues to account for approximately 90% of malaria cases and deaths worldwide. In the 10 African countries hardest hit by malaria (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania), there were an estimated 3.5 million more cases of malaria in 2017 over the previous year.

Estimated malaria burden by region in 2017

Source: World malaria report 2018

Gaps in access to core tools

The latest WHO World malaria report highlights major coverage gaps in access to core WHO-recommended tools for preventing, detecting and treating malaria, particularly in the world's highest burden countries.

• In 2017, half (50%) of the population at risk of malaria in Africa slept under an insecticide-treated net, a similar figure to the previous year and a marginal improvement since 2015.
• Just over 1 in 5 (22%) eligible pregnant women in Africa received the recommended three or more doses of preventive therapy in 2017, compared with 17% in 2015.
• Less than half (48%) of children with a fever in Africa were taken to a trained medical provider (2015-2017).

What to do if you are travelling to a malaria area?

Prevention is better than cure, so it is best to try to follow these practical tips:

·        Protect yourself from mosquito bites by sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net.

·        Wear socks, long pants, long-sleeve shirts and blouses.

·        Spray mosquito repellent onto your clothes and the exposed parts of your skin.

·        Make sure the room doors and windows are closed properly and screened with gauze to prevent mosquitoes from getting in.

·        Spray the room with an insecticide before entering.

·        Pregnant women and young children should avoid travelling to malaria-prone areas.

• Be sure to get the right anti-malarial medicines for the country where you are travelling to

Make an appointment at Campus Health Services and see a Travel Doctor to make sure you are prepared for your travels.

Make an appointment here.

​​The University of Cape Town (UCT) recently launched a movement called the #LunchBoxChallenge. This initiative aims to combat the hunger crisis faced by many of South Africa’s school children. It is estimated that three out of four South African learners go to school hungry each day. This is a frightening number considering that these children face a much larger risk of stunting and poor academic performance, especially during early childhood development. This causes irreparable harm to a person’s ability to learn and develop. Stellenbosch University (SU) has accepted UCT’s challenge to host our very own #LunchBoxChallenge event to pack 20 000 meals for learners in this critical development phase.

Connect Maties, the student fundraising arm for social impact, and Rise Against Hunger Africa (RAH) have partnered in this initiative to pack and donate the 20 000 meals to RAH’s early childhood development feeding programmes. RAH is a volunteer-based meal-packaging programme with the goal of eradicating world hunger by 2030. RAH meals are provided in schools to encourage increased enrolment and attendance. Supplying learners with these regular meals means that they are provided with the necessary energy to concentrate, learn and participate in school activities. This in turn enables them to succeed academically and improves their opportunities for the future.

The focus of this initiative – to contribute to eradicating world hunger by 2030 – aligns with SU’s social impact theme of “Food security and health”. This in turn aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development goals of “Zero hunger” and “Good health & well-being”.

This call is for all SU students and staff members to help us accept UCT’s challenge to ensure that children are no longer hungry at school.

The meal-packaging event will take place on Saturday 11 May in the Neelsie: 10:00 – 12:30.

For more information, contact Cailin Perrie (Connect Maties Chairperson, 19849036@sun.ac.za) or Taydren van Vuuren (Connect Maties Associate, 20801351@sun.ac.za).

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the full article here.

By some measures – healthy life expectancy, obesity and depression, among others – South Africa is the unhealthiest country on earth. That's a sobering fact to consider. How has the country got here? To what extent can its unenviable position be regarded as a failure of primary health care?

Primary health care can refer to the care offered by general practitioners or primary care nurses at your local clinic. But there's more to it than that. Primary health care is underpinned by a vision. This sees health as an essential ingredient in the social foundation of society. It recognises that health is also interdependent on other ingredients: food, education, clean water, energy, social equity, safety, income and housing.

The healthy space for humanity to flourish is between this solid social foundation and our ecological ceiling, as issues such as climate change may also impact on health. Primary health care, then, requires a whole-of-society approach and is not just about health services.

South Africa is struggling with many of these issues. This means that in the broadest sense, the country has failed at delivering primary health care.

While those in the health care sector can't fix all the interrelated issues I've described, they can address the quality of primary care.

So how can this be achieved? Despite a failure to adequately address the broad social and environmental determinants of health, South Africa has the potential in its current policy to improve primary care across the board. But policies on paper are not enough. These must be properly implemented.

Access to health care

About 80% of South Africa's population depends on the public sector's primary care services. But access to this primary care in the public sector is often limited by the sheer number of patients. It's also restricted by opening times that do not cater for people who are working or become sick during evenings or on weekends.

South Africa has developed a policy to implement National Health Insurance (NHI). This would ensure improved access to primary care for the whole population. However, many general practitioners in the private sector are worried that the government will not be able to effectively implement and efficiently manage NHI at scale. Access is also not enough. The care that's offered must be of a good quality.

The NHI proposals are not the only plans that have been developed to try and provide good primary care to all South Africans. The discipline of family medicine is doing a great deal in this regard. Family physicians are qualified doctors that have completed additional training to become specialists in family medicine and primary care. Despite being slower on the uptake, South Africa is now finally seeing family physicians entering the health system in increasing numbers and joining primary care teams. Their inclusion in these teams brings additional clinical skills, commitment to person-centred care, clinical leadership and improvement to the quality of care.

Ongoing care

Ongoing care refers to the continuity that patients have with their primary care providers over time. This continuity is based on a trusting relationship between primary care providers and their patients and an accumulated knowledge of the person.

A recent study of both nurses and doctors in Cape Town found that providers failed to even greet patients in more than 60% of consultations. In 90% of consultations, they made no attempt to understand the patient's perspective. This poor provider-patient relationship is a fundamental problem that fuels poor clinical outcomes, poor adherence to medication, patient dissatisfaction, litigation and a lack of job satisfaction among providers themselves.

In Cape Town as many as 76% of doctors in primary care are suffering from burnout. The symptoms include depersonalisation: they no longer see patients as people. It is clear that the health system needs to transform to be more people-centred – for both carers and cared for alike. Again, the inclusion of family physicians in the health system can help with this.

Community orientation

A renewed focus on community-orientated primary care is also important. This approach changes primary care: rather than health workers sitting in a clinic and waiting for people to ask for help, health workers in the community pro-actively prevent disease, promote health and identify people at risk. This has worked very well in other middle-income countries like Brazil.

South Africa is taking some steps in this direction, too. Cape Town's metropolitan district health services are busy learning how to implement community-orientated primary care at scale over the next few years.

Thinking about the community as a whole and not just individual patients is a game changer. Health workers can identify and prioritise community health needs, and address the social and environmental determinants of health in an inter-sectoral approach with other stakeholders in that community. Community participation in this process is also a key principle. If South Africa can implement this approach effectively, it could transform the health services – and the health of local communities.

Photo: Pixabay

​With an undergraduate nursing programme having been reinstated this year at Stellenbosch University (SU), it is an exciting time to be at the helm of the Department of Nursing and Midwifery. 

“The programme offers a transformative journey for the candidates, as it includes transformative pedagogies and learning and teaching methodologies," says Prof Portia Jordan, who commenced as new executive head of this department in March. 

It has been 15 years since a graduate degree in nursing has been on offer at SU. The new Bachelor of Nursing is a four-year degree that would enable a graduate to register with the South African Nursing Council as a professional nurse and midwife. 

A total of 54 nursing students were accepted at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences for this new programme, which is offered on the Tygerberg campus and its associated distributed clinical platform. “It is exciting that SU is one of only two universities in the country that has been granted accreditation to present the programme in 2019," says Jordan. 

Her vision is to strengthen and grow the Department of Nursing and Midwifery in the delivery of excellence in leadership, scholarship and clinically competent graduates who are prepared for future work. In collaboration with other stakeholders and academia in the Western Cape and nationally, she intends to create a hub for excellence at SU in order to strengthen the nursing profession in general. 

Jordan was born and bred in Port Elizabeth, where she completed her basic nursing degree at the University of Port Elizabeth. “After completion of the degree I worked at Tygerberg Hospital in the intensive care and renal units for a period of one year." 

She returned to Port Elizabeth and a decade in intensive care units at the local provincial hospital followed. Jordan then joined the Department of Nursing at Nelson Mandela University as a lecturer. She worked there for 15 years and was promoted to department head in 2016. 

Jordan holds a PhD in Nursing, Masters of Business Administration, Masters Curationis in Critical Care Nursing (cum laude), Baccalaureus Curationis, Diploma in Nursing Education (cum laude) and Diploma in Nephrology Nursing.

Why did she take up this specific career? “I chose nursing, in particular intensive care and nephrology nursing science, in order to deliver quality and safe care to those who are entrusted to our care by loved ones. As nurses we are in a privileged position to be part of the delivery of a new born, the developmental stages from toddler to geriatric, and to be part of either a good recovery and/or rehabilitation or a peaceful death of a patient." 

Jordan, who has supervised more than 45 postgraduate students, is a National Research Foundation (NRF) Thuthuka research grant holder and PLUME research fellow. PLUME - a structured support programme – is designed to support nursing schools to develop research programmes and produce lead researchers who will not only create research intensive programmes in their nursing schools, but also enhance their own skills, working towards the NRF scientific rating.

Jordan's research programme focusses on the implementation of best practices and evidence-based guidelines to promote patient safety, particularly in mechanically ventilated patients. She has and published several peer reviewed articles in this research area. She is the co-editor of the book “Foundation of Nursing Practice: Fundamentals of Holistic Care," of which she has written three chapters in the two editions of the book.

​The in-house Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference for Stellenbosch University is taking place between 28 and 30 October 2019 at the Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West. The conference is over two days on 29 and 30 October, and the pre-conference workshops on 28 October.

The confirmed keynotes for the conference are Dr Joy Mighty (Carleton University in Ottawa) and Prof Geo Quinot (Stellenbosch University). (Your) Teaching matters @ SU is the overarching theme for this year's conference.

The 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 and submitting an abstract.

For any enquiries contact sotl@sun.ac.za.

​With the recent signing of two software contracts the analysis, planning and procurement phases of Stellenbosch University's System Renewal Project (SRP) have now been concluded, paving the way for the implementation of two major systems for academic and financial administration respectively.  

The SRP, that formed part of the broader ICT in Learning and Teaching Project, was spearheaded by a Steering Committee comprising staff members from across the University who refined the institution's requirements and evaluated competing products. The subsequent rigorous procurement process led to the appointment of two reputable vendors.

The contract for the SUNFin (Financial System) project was signed on Friday, 15 February 2019 with Oracle. Implementation of the system is planned to stretch over two financial periods. The SUNStudent (Student Information System) contract with SeroSoft was signed on 26 April 2019.

“These two systems form the bedrock of our academic and financial administration and with the implementation of two cutting edge cloud-based systems we will not only replace the current systems, but unlock the opportunities offered by a new generation of information systems. These systems will have a deep impact on the University as they alter our processes and procedures in academic and financial administration, and even the organisation structure in our administrative divisions. While these changes will require careful and deliberate change management, they will help SU realise the potential efficiency gains offered by new generation information systems," said Prof Stan du Plessis, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SU.

The SRP started as part of the broader ICT in Learning and Teaching Project, under the auspices of Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Vice-Rector: Teaching and Learning. The project was initiated with SU Council funding to replace two ageing information systems of the University namely the financial system and the student information system with SUNStudent and SUNFin.

• SUNStudent: This will be the Academia student information system provided by SeroSoft Solutions. This state-of-the-art student information system dealing with student administration, of which academic curricula and modules are important components, takes Stellenbosch University on its next step to digital transformation in education. The new system will replace the current, outdated system and promises to be solid and reliable, yet also flexible, modern and student-centric.  
• SUNFin: Like the student information system, the University's financial system too has reached the end of its lifecycle and will be replaced with Oracle® Enterprise Resource Planning Cloud (Oracle ERP Cloud), which is a comprehensive, integrated and scalable financial management solution.

“SUNStudent and SUNFin will be implemented in parallel, and close attention will be paid to integration of the systems within the University's ecosystem of information systems and middleware. Together with the replacement of the ageing systems, the integration of data from the new and existing systems will provide the opportunity to track and manage our strategic metrics as well as support information governance initiatives," said Prof Hester Klopper, DVC for Strategy and Internationalisation.

These contracts have been signed following the work of an SRP Steering Committee that was appointed to oversee the successful completion of the project. This committee was chaired by Prof Ian Cloete from the Division for Information Governance (formerly the Division for Institutional Research and Planning), with representatives from Information Technology, the Centre for Student Information System Support, Finance, Office of the Registrar, as well as Teaching and Learning. 

“I want to thank our staff for their hard work on analysis and planning that went into the project till now—that enabled us to follow a rigorous procurement process for the new systems, where staff from across the university contributed to evaluating competing products and refining of SU's requirements. Renewal of these two important systems will provide further opportunities for digitalisation and integration of information, as well as streamlining of existing processes to improve effectiveness and efficiency. We rely on the support of our staff and students for successful system implementations, and will keep them informed on progress as system components are planned and rolled out," said Prof Cloete.

At first the intention was to implement open source community software systems, to be developed in partnership with the Kuali Foundation and an international network of universities, but with the rapid improvements in competitive products, this decision was revised to procure both systems from reputable vendors.

As part of the SRP, a separate subproject for Middleware, Infrastructure and Integration (MII) was completed as well. The MII provides an architectural layer common to all present and future information systems of the University. Its purpose is to create an integrated information ecosystem for master- and transactional data for all SU information systems, which enables standardised data integration and sharing across disparate systems. Its capabilities were first proved with the successful implementation in 2018 of the Facilities Management Project Phambili to introduce a new facilities management information system.

During 2018, both the SUNFin and SUNStudent projects followed an extensive tender process which resulted in the appointment of two Rectorate approved vendors to replace the in-house existing systems. During the tender process stakeholders from across the University were involved in setting specifications and evaluating capabilities of various products, before the final choices were recommended. The new software solutions will provide modern up-to-date functions that were not possible with the older systems. The implementation projects will be reinforced by a comprehensive change management program, for which supplementary services have been procured. 

New governance and project management structures have been set up for each system to oversee the implementation and integration of the software. Mr Manie Lombard (Chief Director: Finance) is chair of the new SUNFin Steering Committee, whereas Dr Ronel Retief (Registrar) chairs the new Steering Committee for SUNStudent. Further communication regarding these new structures will be distributed shortly. The expectation is that a feasible go-live date is 2021, taking into account the normal student and financial lifecycle activities and the availability of SU personnel. This process will include consultation sessions, regular communication and training of stakeholders across the University environment. In the long term the SU community can look forward to improved services with modern interfaces.

Any general enquiries regarding the Systems Renewal Project may be directed to the Office of the Senior Director: Division for Information Governance. Please contact Ms Tarien Jacobs (X3967) in this regard or send an email to tarien@sun.ac.za. 

Enquiries regarding the implementation phase may be directed to the two new governance and project management structures. Further contact information will follow in the next round of communication.

​ 

​Alumnus Devin Kruger has won joint first place worldwide in the international Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) exam of February 2019.

Devin was informed of his achievement yesterday (11 April 2019) by Ms Nita Patel, Specialist: Exam Operations, Management Accounting, of the London-based Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Having written all the required professional exams over the past 16 months, the exam in Strategic Case Study was the last of the CIMA exams Kruger had to take for the professional qualification of Chartered Global Management Accountant.

After matriculating at Glenwoord House College in George, Kruger enrolled for the BCom (Management Accounting) programme at Stellenbosch University. Upon completion of the HonsBCom (Management Accounting) programme in 2017, he began his management accounting articles at Moore Stephens Management Services in Stellenbosch.

Prof Ronel du Preez, Vice-dean: Learning and Teaching of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, congratulated him and said, “This is an exceptional achievement. Well done, Devin!"

“Congratulations also to the staff who were part of Devin's journey. The Faculty is proud of the achievements of its students and alumni, and also of the commitment of the staff who supported them."

​An elective in Public Health with the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) in Washington was all it took to make fifth-year medical student Yonela Kentane more determined than ever to pursue a career in public health. 

Kentane, who did the elective under CUGH executive director Dr Keith Martin in Washington last October, said the four-week stint was a life-changing opportunity and a turning point for her. 

She was accompanied by fellow fifth-year MB,ChB student Lethukwenama Letsoalo.

“When I went over to Washington, I didn't really have a clear idea about what public health was. I was initially open to a clinical career in medicine, but after seeing first-hand how public health impacts on people's lives around the world, I'm now convinced that's where I'm supposed to be," Kentane said. 

“CUGH is an organisation with the aim of improving global public health. A key focus is to improve teaching resources in public health. Dr Martin, an inspiration in himself, is passionate about improving public health in Africa. 

Based at the CUGH offices in the UCLA building in Washington, the two worked with Dr Martin who made sure they increased our knowledge of the public health field in the global hub of public health. “We met a number of people working in public health and learnt first-hand what they deal with every day. We also attended a number of conferences on global health issues, such as primary health care; global health funding; increasing access to vaccines; and on the Ebola crisis in Congo." 

Kentane who is from East London, decided early on to study medicine. “At 16, I watched helplessly when my cousin had a seizure at my grandmother's house in the rural Eastern Cape. There were no cars to transport us to hospital. We were completely isolated. My grandmother, a nurse, was the only one able to help. I decided I'd never feel that helpless again," she said. 

Kentane started thinking seriously about a career in public health while doing her clinical rotations in her third year. “I saw so many patients with such heart-breaking stories. They were coming for help to a system that was not helping them. It broke my soul. I also learnt a great deal in the course on Health in Context. That was when I first started becoming interested in public health." 

This year, Kentane is part of a team doing research on female reproductive health. “We have partnered up with UCT's department of Public Health and are looking at attitudes of medical students to abortion and at their intention to provide the services in the future as medical practitioners." 

Kentane said one of the highlights of the elective was a trip to West Virginia, “the poorest state in the US… and the state with one of the poorest health outcomes in the country". “It was previously a coalmining state. Poverty and drug abuse have really affected the communities. Most of the people there are white. We're so used to poor people being black. That visit really brought home how social circumstances really impact your health. I learnt so much." 

Kentane credits the “amazing and fascinating" elective trip with helping her to firm up her decision to go into public health. “The trip helped me decide where I want to be." 

She paid special tribute to Professor Jimmy Volmink, who helped her to set up the elective in Washington. “He is the reason I was offered this opportunity and I am so thankful."

Caption: Fifth-year medical student, Yonela Ketane, with CUGH staff members during her visit in Washington.

The annual Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) conference will take place from 29 - 31 October 2018.  The theme for this year's conference is Academic Leadership.  If you still want to attend the conference, (free for SU academics) please note that registration will close on 22 October 2018. The final conference programme is available on the SoTL website.  The conference will take place at the Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West.

The purpose of the conference is to offer SU academics the opportunity to participate in conversations about teaching practices and philosophies. This year's conference should once again be an exciting and informative event.
 
To register and see the conference programme, please visit the conference website: http://www0.sun.ac.za/sotl/
 
Enquiries:  sotl@sun.ac.za

Following serious concerns raised about an article published by researchers from the Department of Sport Science, that has since January 2019 been part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, we wish to re-emphasise our ongoing commitment to transformation at all levels.

The article entitled Age- and education-related effects on cognitive functioning in Coloured South African women, recently appeared in the journal Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition. It has been widely criticised, inter alia, for perpetuating racial stereotypes, using questionable scientific methods, and for drawing unwarranted conclusions. My management team and I have noted these criticisms with great concern.

The history of our country is complex and layered and we recognise that past injustices continue to perpetuate inequities today. We acknowledge the deep hurt, anger and frustration that this publication and the research underpinning it has caused, and that it has been perceived as racist, insulting and offensive. As a faculty we strongly condemn any form of discrimination, including racial stereotyping.

We, furthermore, wish to acknowledge that systemic factors within our institution may have led to the unintended entrenchment of discrimination and inadequate responses to implicit bias. We will continue to work with all our colleagues and students to address such challenges.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences has over the past decade built a strong reputation for advancing health and equality. We actively promote behaviours guided by our espoused values of inclusivity, compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and equity. 

Consistent with these values we have been developing a Transformation Charter under the leadership of the Dean's Advisory Committee on Transformation.

The Charter states: “Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences acknowledges, regrets and sincerely apologises for its complicity in the historical injustices of South Africa's past, and furthermore recognises how these injustices continue to perpetuate inequities today. We abhor all forms of unfair discrimination, exploitation, oppression, intimidation and bullying."

This Charter is a pledge to, amongst other things, promote research that is moral, ethical, accesible and relevant to our context. We seek to engage in research that ultimately benefits participants and communities and to ensure that the welfare of our research participants takes precedence over scientific interests. 

Through this charter, members of our faculty also commit ourselves to cultivating empowering environments in which each individual is able to express her or himself freely, while considering and respecting the rights and freedoms of others.  

We have launched a number of initiatives aimed at stimulating open dialogue on transformation within our faculty. We will continue these efforts, as well as our various engagements targeted at enhancing the public understanding of science and the public's trust in science. 

Professor Jimmy Volmink
Dean: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Photo: Damien Schumann