Students who will be writing exams in the evening during May/June, may use the additional exam shuttle service provided to ensure their safety en route to their destination. This service is in addition to the regular after hours commuter buses.

Campus security will update information on the exam shuttle service daily in accordance with the examination venues and schedule of that evening. 

The latest information will be available at www.sun.ac.za/safety. All students have been informed about the exam commuter service via email. Click here for detailed information.

​​Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences recently celebrated its "footprint" on the African continent by showcasing some of its collaborations with other institutions on the continent. It also hosted a lunchtime seminar to celebrate and discuss how to enhance the FMHS' academic footprint on the African continent.

In his presentation entitled Health research productivity in Africa since the UN Millennium Declaration in 2000, Prof Charles Wiysonge said that Africa, and particularly sub-Saharan Africa, is not doing very well in achieving its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly the health-related MDGs 4, 5 and 6 that respectively aim to reduce child mortality, improve maternal and combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

"To achieve the MDGs and other challenges in Africa it requires the availability of high-quality health research," says Wiysonge, who is with the FMHS' Centre for Evidence-based Health Care. He argues that although systematic reviews of global research are key to addressing the continent's health challenges, local evidence is also required to reveal factors such as the needs, values, costs and availability of resources, of these communities.

Between 2001 and 2003 only 0.77% of global health research was performed on the African continent, and although that number rose to 0.93% in the period 2008 to 2011, this region, with the highest burden of disease, still only contributes a very small percentage of the health research.

A recent study by Wiysonge showed that research output in Africa was linked to countries' gross domestic product (GDP). "Countries that are better off economically, tend to put more money into research and their researchers tend to be more productive," says Wiysonge. Research by Prof Jean Nachega, with the FMHS' Centre for Infectious Disease, also showed that countries with more public health training institutions had higher research outputs.

Interestingly, English-speaking African countries produced more research than other countries, and research funding was mainly supplied by international donors in Europe and America through collaborations following largely along historical colonial links.

According to Wiysonge, there already exist significant research and development capacity in some parts of Africa, particularly South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, however most collaborations are with institutions in Europe or America, rather than in Africa.

"This underscores the value of increasing collaboration across the African continent to increase and leverage the available expertise to enhance our capacity to ensure that we are not following the agenda of the Western world.

"They might have good intentions, but the health challenges for which they want solutions are not necessarily the health challenges that we have here. While we appreciate North-South collaboration we need to be able to contribute to the debate on what type of research should to be done. And that has to be done through collaboration between researchers at South African and other African institutions," says Wiysonge.

The goal of the faculty's week-long focus on its footprint in Africa is to stimulate dialogue and to promote collaboration between institutions on the continent, which will eventually contribute to the realisation of the faculty's strategic goal of improving health and health care in South Africa, Africa, and beyond.

During the seminar Dr Christoff Pauw, Manager of International Academic Networks at the Postgraduate and International Office of Stellenbosch University, also delivered a presentation on SU and its connections on the African continent.

Photo: Prof Charles Wiysonge

A bursary fund to support horticultural science students at Stellenbosch University will be launched on 30 May, in honour of the contribution made by Prof Daantjie Strydom to the establishment of a world class fruit industry in especially the Western Cape.   

The 84-year-old professor was head of the Department of Horticultural Science at Stellenbosch University for about three decades, from the age of 30. Research with his students gave the industry the 1-2-3 pruning rule for pome fruit, as well as the first work in South Africa on the specific replant disease ​of apples. He investigated the fruit set problems of Packhams pears and developed the protocols for the propagation of hardwood cuttings of pear rootstocks.

Thanks to him the training systems of pome fruit changed from the vase shape to the use of central leader systems with plantings at higher density. He also helped to evaluate new dormancy breaking agents and developed chemical thinning protocols for apples.

In addition, he was an inspiration to generations of academics, technologists, producers, consultants and other industry people.

Prof Strydom considers the founding of the Cape Pomological Society a highlight of his career. He received the OHS Reinecke Award for his outstanding service to the deciduous fruit industry in 2012.

After his retirement from academia at the relatively youthful age of 60, Prof Daantjie consulted locally and internationally. In South Africa he worked along with Ceres Fruit Growers and the Dutoit Group. Today he is still involved with the Strydom family's export protea farm Baanbreek near Porterville.

• Alumni of Stellenbosch University and friends of the industry can attend the launch of the Prof D.K. Strydom Bursary Fund and the Daan Strydom/HORTGRO Science Prize which will take place on 30 May at 12:00 in the Function Room at Kleine Zalze, Stellenbosch. RSVP to Melissa Nel 021 808 2112 of melissanel@sun.ac.za . Donations can be paid into the following account: Stellenbosch University, Standard Bank, Stellenbosch, account number 073006955, reference R1715 5373.

​Since February 2013, researchers at Stellenbosch University (SU) have written a series of articles on various aspects relating to sustainability. These articles, originally published on the SU website and in the weekly Boschtelegram, are now available as an electronic publication.

Among the themes covered in the publication are the mass rearing of insect larvae into animal feed; an environmentally friendly shark barrier; renewable energy research; environmental finance and ethics; sustainable water usage and soil cultivation; and sustainability in businesses.

According to Dr Barbara Pool, Director of Projects at SU, the publication offers a bird's eye view of sustainability at the University. "Through the publication, we increase the visibility of our researchers' work on sustainability."

Pool adds that the articles are written in a language that most people will understand. She says any person who is interested in sustainability will benefit from the publication.

Pool says the next series of articles on sustainability are likely to emanate from the University's Learning and Teaching environment. "Through discussions, we will look at courses on sustainability and how lecturers are teaching them."

Although the publication is only available online, Pool says the aim is to have a print version soon.

• Liaise with Dr Barbara Pool at tel 021 808 3080 or e-mail bpo@sun.ac.za for more information.

• The publication is available online at http://www0.sun.ac.za/sustainability/flipbooks/researchflipbookeng/​

​​Some 19 students will get a financial boost to study at Stellenbosch University (SU) thanks to a generous donation of approximately R252 000 by the South African National Zakah Fund (SANZAF). 

A real mensch and one of the foremost scientists in his field – this is how colleagues and peers described Prof Doug Rawlings at a public lecture during which he reflected not only on his research into the biology and evolution of a group of very specific little molecules called plasmids, but also about the magnificence and exquisiteness of science in general.

In his lecture Prof Rawlings was describing his research for the degree Doctor of Science which is expected to be awarded during the Stellenbosch University December 2014 graduation. A Doctor of Science degree is awarded for published work of an exceptional standard, containing original contribution to the advancement of knowledge and learning which has given the candidate international distinction in their field.

But, muses Prof Rawlings, receiving the coveted DSc degree is actually a minor event compared to the journey of over thirty years in getting there. And he regards the public lecture, organised by the Department of Microbiology's Prof Emile van Zyl, as a very special opportunity to share his lifelong fascination with science.

"It saddens me that a lot of people do not perceive the beauty of science. They regard it to be utilitarian and so its beauty is lost to them," he says.

"Science is a cultural expression during which we as scientists design the question, but never the answer. Yet he who sets the question may be as creative and imaginative as that which we see in art or literature. But that is a side which people do not see."

His interest in these tiny molecules, which has since become synonymous with genetic engineering, was piqued during the early 1980s while doing research on the genetic manipulation of bioleaching bacteria at the University of Cape Town. The research group, initiated by Prof David Woods, was trying to develop a biological agent for the mining industry that would be on par with other processes for leaching metals, such as copper, uranium and gold, from ore.

This amazing little piece of DNA, subsequently called IncQ2 plasmids, is actually an independent life form, like a virus, but lives in its host (almost any bacterium, though he used E. coli for most of the studies). It has this unique ability to move from host to host by means of what scientists call a Type4 secretion system. It is able to transfer itself into just about any bacterium and has also been shown to transfer to plants and animals although it does not replicate in the latter two. In the 1980s, the motivation was to use plasmids from biomining bacteria to develop genetic systems so as to be able to genetically engineer these microorganisms.

When talking about the moment in the lab when he discovered that these plasmids can replicate in another organism, he can hardly sit still: "It was extremely exciting times. Today the discovery that plasmids can replicate themselves in another organism is probably deemed trivial. But I cannot tell you how, in 1983, it felt to be the only person in the world to know that there was this plasmid that could do this!" he exclaims. In the thesis, he describes it "as one of the most memorable results" of his career.

The work was published as a note in the Journal of Bacteriology in May 1984. This was probably the first report of a cloning experiment in South Africa.

Prof Rawlings was hooked and over the next 30 years, while his main research focus was on the biology of biomining microorganisms, he continued with this research on the side. He first set out to describe the unique replication method of the IncQ family plasmids. His research showed that the IncQ plasmid is an amazing evolutionary little molecule which has developed ingenious ways to ensure its own reproduction and well-being, such as keeping its host alive by providing the antidote for the toxins which it has just released.

He published and co-published 21 original research articles and reviews on the IncQ2 plasmids, the last a review article for the journal Plasmid in 2012. All this work was done purely out of scientific curiosity with no direct funding: "This has been more of a scientific hobby and intellectual challenge than a major research field as this work has never received direct funding, but has been piggy-backed onto other work. Nevertheless, it is research that has given me great pleasure," he concludes.

To date, all published work on the biology of the IncQ2 plasmid subgroup originated from his research group, first at the University of Cape Town and since 1998 from the Department of Microbiology at Stellenbosch University.

After the lecture, Prof David Woods, former vice-chancellor of Rhodes University, said Prof Rawlings was the only one of his 40 postgraduate students at the time who has reached the highest possible level in his career. He also added that, had he been vice-chancellor of UCT at the time when Prof Rawlings decided to come to Stellenbosch University, he would never have allowed it.

On a more personal note, Prof Leon Dicks from the Department of Microbiology, said colleagues and friends regard Prof Rawlings as a real mensch, a person of integrity and honour, and someone they can look up to.

On the photos, from the left: Prof Louise Warnich (Dean, Faculty of Sciece) with Mrs Janet Rawlings and Prof Doug Rawlings. On the second photo, Prof Rawlings (right) with Prof David Woods. Photos: Heinrich Volschenk

Five physiotherapy students at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) will be defending the national "Strapping" title at the upcoming Strap for Life competition which forms part of the illustrious Comrades Marathon.

Strapping is a treatment whereby a patient is "strapped" with therapeutic tape in order to prevent or treat a muscle injury. It is often used for sports injuries and different strapping techniques are applied to treat different ailments.  

The Maties Strapping team are the reigning champions and is travelling to Durban where they will compete against at least five other university strapping teams in the Strap for Life championship on Friday, 30 May. On Saturday they will be manning a physio station at the pre-race expo, and on Sunday they will provide strapping and other physiotherapy services to runners taking part in the Comrades Marathon.

"This is one of the highlights of the year and only final-year students are allowed to compete," says team member Hesti Steyn, a fourth-year physiotherapy student. "We practice around 12 hours every week and receive training from members of the 2008 Maties Strapping team who also won the competition." 

All five members of the current strapping team work for Maties Rugby and Durbell Rugby Club as first aid and pre-game strapping of the players. "The preparation for this competition has made us more confident in our abilities and knowledgeable about which method to apply than a short course attendance could ever have done," says Steyn.

Photo: Hesti Steyn, Joleen Heyns, Sheenagh Jordaan, Andrea Damon and Sarah Cawood

​Infusing law with religion could help turn around crime, corruption, maladministration, the lackadaisical attitude of government functionaries, dishonesty and injustice, said Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng on Tuesday (27 May).

He delivered the keynote address at the second annual conference on Law and Religion in Africa hosted jointly by the Faculties of Law and Theology at Stellenbosch University (SU).

Chief Justice Mogoeng said corruption and many other social ills are largely due to a failure to infuse law with a measure of religion and morality.

"People steal and boast about what they have been able to buy through the process of theft and corruption."

He highlighted the importance of morality and said "we need to develop a moral code of shorts and the values of our Constitution could be used as a sound basis for the development of such a code."

He said law and religion can play a vital role in the moral generation we so desperately need.

"Law and religion can help shape a peaceful and prosperous society."

Chief Justice Mogoeng added that there is a strong correlation between law and religion in South Africa.

He said ​we should take advantage of "the potency of religion to make a profound difference in sharpening the teeth of our legal instruments".

While highlighting the prominence of religion, he pointed to its abuse and distortion by many people in the oppression of others.

He advocated religious tolerance in South Africa, and said the hallmark of an open and democratic society is its ability to accommodate different views and lifestyles.

Earlier, former Constitutional Court Judge Albie Sachs, who was also a keynote speaker at the conference, called for the co-existence of different worldviews in a pluralistic society. We need to manage our differences, he said. Sachs also highlighted the important role of religion in society, saying it is not just a private matter.

In welcoming the guests, Prof Nico Koopman and Prof Sonia Human, Dean of SU's Faculties of Theology and Law respectively, emphasised the need to respect the relation between law and religion since the practice of both can and should be in service of a society that affords dignity of all.

• Click here for a video of Mogoeng Mogoeng's speech
• Click here for a video of Albie Sachs' address.

• ​Photo: Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng speaking at the conference.

• Photographer: Hennie Rudman

​ 

​On 15 May 2014, the Military Academy held its first ever combined Formal Dinner at the Military Academy Combined Club in Saldanha.   

Due to the fact that the Military Academy also houses the Faculty of Military Science, the Commandant Military Academy, Brigadier General Lawrence Mbatha, decided to have a formal dinner that can include both uniform and PSAP members.

The event was attended by 143 members ranking from Senior Officers, Officers, Warrant Officers, Non Commissioned Officers, Public Service Act Personnel and Military University Educators (MUE's).  The unit also had the honour of having the GOC Training Command, Maj Gen Manfred Mabusa, the Chaplain General, Brigadier General Monwabisi Jamangile, Brigadier General Ashton Sibango (newly appointed COS Trg Comd) and CWO Zakhele Sikupela (CWO Trg Comd) present. 

The evening was a big surprise and a learning curve to all members, especially when the guest speaker, Lt Col(ret) G.E. Visser (Retired lecturer of the Military Academy) enlightened all present about the history and aim of formal dinners in the Department of Defence as well as in Military Forces over the ages.

The Military Academy will continue with events like these to strive to bring members of all levels together in order to enjoy each others company, as well as to create a better understanding of the Defence Force and each other.

​​A group of young learners from Babin Pre-primary School in Banhoekweg walked to the JS Gericke Library on Tuesday (27 May) to thank the library staff for the books they donated to the school.

The Library and Information Service collected the books during Library Week in March in answer to a NekNomination by the Postgraduate and Internation Office. The collected books were dontated to Babin and Rietenbosch Primary School in Cloetesville.

The young learners also handed a thank you card to Ms Ellen Tise, Senior Director: Library and Information Service.

According to Ms Deidré Esterhuisen, principal of Babin Pre-primary School, the books mean a lot to them.

Their resource centre is dependent on donations and story time is a very important part of the day. The school also have book corners where children can sit and read.

"Our children love books," she said. However, the new books will be entrusted to teachers to read to the children. ​

​As part of their visit to the South African Defence Force, General Hulusi Akar, Commander of the Turkish Land Forces (TLF) and his delegation visited the Military Academy on 15 April 2014. 

Accompanied by Brigadier General H.J.G. Kamffer, Director Army Reserves, they arrived at the office of Brigadier General Lawrence Mbatha (Commandant Military Academy), where Brig Gen Mbatha and the Dean of the Faculty of Military Science, Professor Samuel Tshehla gave them a presentation on the Military Academy and the Faculty as a whole.  The information was received very positively and the discussions continued far beyond the time allocated.

Despite the late hour of the visit, they toured the facilities of the Military Academy and were very pleased with the reception.  General Akar addressed the Military Academy leader group at the supper and stated that both him and his wife (Ms Şule Akar), truly enjoy their visit in South Africa, found it very informative and were looking forward to visit Tata Madiba's Robben Island. 

In closing, Gen Akar commended the Military Academy for their professional arrangements and he also extended an invitation to the Commandant and Dean to visit him in Turkey.

The Tygerberg Undergraduate Research Society, "Q", was recently officially launched. The event was well attended by students and staff, and even had Profs Jimmy Volmink and Wim de Villiers (respective deans of SUFMHS and UCT Faculty of Health Sciences) sharing their own research experiences and some words of encouragement.

Billed as the first ever undergraduate research society at the Tygerberg campus, Q has high hopes for the future.  "We endeavour to improve the research experience of undergraduate students at [this faculty]," says Dr Jonas Bovijn on the Society's official website.  Bovijn, currently an intern at Tygerberg Hospital and also the recipient of the 2013 Stellenbosch University Chancellor's Medal, started putting the society together in 2012.

Support from faculty has been forthcoming.  In the past months, Q has amassed a database of staff members who have expressed willingness to guide students through their first enterprise, from research question to publication. The Q committee and its website also provide useful resources and advice for students taking their first steps into the unknown, yet exciting waters of research.

Prof Nico Gey van Pittius, Deputy Dean for Research at SUFMHS, also spoke at the event: "We want to promote, develop and reward undergraduate student research with the overall goal of not only enhancing their undergraduate education, but also increasing the retention of medical and health scientists for our country. By integrating undergraduates more fully into the research life of the university we aim to prepare students for academic and research careers, thereby supporting and increasing the medical research capacity of South Africa and the African continent as a whole."

Professor Wim de Villiers spoke about a life in research, and the challenges facing the clinician-scientist and stressed the importance of working in a multidisciplinary research team.  He also wet the research appetites of those in attendance by sharing the 10 mysteries facing researchers in his field of interest: inflammatory bowel disease.

The dean also expressed his support for the undergraduate research society. "Undergraduate research benefits students in many ways," said Volmink.  "It stimulates critical thinking, enables early development of skills needed to conduct and communicate scientific research, increases the likelihood of postgraduate studies being undertaken and enhances future career prospects. It also benefits the university through encouraging the generation of new perspectives and questions that challenge conventional thinking."

"Thank you for your contribution to the enrichment of our campus. Please be assured of the continuing support of the Faculty for your initiative. May Q continue to grow from strength to strength in the years ahead."

For more information on Q –The Tygerberg Undergraduate Research Society, please visit their website: www.sun.ac.za/q
Or contact them via email: qtygerberg@gmail.com

Photo: Koot Kotze, Prof Jimmy Volmink Dean FMHS, Dr Llewelyn Rapuling, Dr Jonas Bovijn, Prof Wim de Villiers, Dean, FHS UCT, Prof Nico Gey van Pittius, Vice Dean, Research and Alicia Roos.

Stellenbosch University (SU) and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium (KU Leuven) have taken their collaboration spanning 20 years to the next level by signing a preferential partnership agreement on Thursday (29 May), the first such agreement for both institutions.

The Stellenbosch University Surgical Society (SUSS) was launched earlier this year at the Tygerberg campus.

This society, established and driven by medical students, aims to stimulate interest in the field of surgery and to improve surgical skills among the students.

The society was the brain child of Dr Nabeela Adam, a then final year student who has since graduated, who passed the idea of the project on to younger students (Eleni Stais, Jeremi Swanepoel and Ludo van Hillegondsberg) when she left campus. The trio joined forces with two other students, Samuel Surdut and Reza Roos, and with a sponsorship from Sanlam, got the society off the ground.

The official launch took place on 18 February with a talk by Prof James Loock, head of the Division of Otorhinolaryngology, entitled: "What makes a good surgeon?", that drew a lot of interest from students.

The society's vision is to create a platform where leading professionals can share their knowledge and experience with students through talks on cutting-edge and insightful surgical topics. Prof Andre van der Merwe, from the Urology Division, presented the first surgical talk on 19 March, entitled "Renal transplants and other laparoscopic procedures in developing countries".

The society is also planning to host workshops where students can improve their surgical skills and learn more about specific surgical procedures. They plan to have anatomical workshops where a surgeon will demonstrate a procedure on a wet specimen, and a skills workshop, where basic surgical techniques will be taught and practised.

The society will also represent Stellenbosch University on the Southern African Student Surgical Society (SASSS) and the International Association of Student Surgical Societies (IASSS).

Photo: At the official launch were Elene Stais, Reza Roos, Sam Surdut, Jeremy Swanepoel and Ludo van Hillegondsberg.

​Mr Dan Plato, Provincial Minister of Community Safety, presented Stellenbosch with a safety kiosk today (30 May 2014). The kiosk will be used as mobile security point and to increase visible policing in town.

At the event held at the town Hall, Mr Plato congratulated the South African Police Service for their increased visibility in town and campus. He also expressed his appreciation for the partnership between the various role-players in the town and university to curb crime in the area.

“Policing is not only the task of the SAPS. It is everyone’s job. We all have a role to play to keep the town safe,” he said.  

He added that the safety of students is of special concern to him and that it seems that the attacks are aimed at female students. Although the actions launched now, are aimed at the whole town, it is important that the “leaders of tomorrow” get the message that government will do everything in its power to ensure safety.

The kiosk is the first of a number of donations to the town, Mr Plato added.

At the event Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), said that everyone is entering a new learning phase as criminals become more organised and innovative.

“We can’t rest on our laurels – we need to be a few steps ahead.”

He added that as cities are made safer, criminals have to make other plans. The question is how smaller towns have to respond to this and what changes we want to see in smaller towns.

He also referred to the beefing up of security on campus and said that the number of campus security personnel has been doubled, that additional security services have been hired and the SU’s camera network has been connected to the town’s network.

“We’re looking forward to beating crime,” he added.

Brig Dirk Mentoor, cluster commander of the SAPS, said they have undertaken to expand the existing partnership between the different parties as well as to include the community and make it possible for them to pass on information at one of these kiosks as quickly as possible.

The SAPS is making good progress in identifying the groups responsible for crime.

• Click here for an article on the suggestions made by students on how to beef up security on campus.

Caption: Mounted police from the Cape Town Mounted Police (Photo: Stefan Els)

Emily van der Merwe (BA Law – second year) has been appointed as the new coordinator of the Discourse Café series by the Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development at Stellenbosch University. Stephanie Nieuwoudt asked her a few questions.

Why did you apply for this job?

​​I wanted a new challenge, I like the work done by the FVZS Institute and I particularly like the Discourse Café model. I really wanted to get involved in the process.

In what other leadership positions are you active?

I am the deputy editor of Die Matie and a member of the organising committee of the World Student Environmental Network Global Summit – an environmental and sustainability summit which will take place in Stellenbosch in July.

I am also the content editor of Die Matie and responsible for the editorial contributions. By doing profile interviews, I get the opportunity to meet a diverse range of interesting people.

How can you as a young leader "make a difference"?

I believe that any person can make a difference when h/she does what he/she is passionate about.

I am interested in people – especially interesting people. The Discourse Café offers a platform through which I can help to bring students and interesting, inspiring people together.

I want to help build a space where people can talk and dream and think. Nothing big or wonderful has to necessarily come from this dreaming and thinking process. Sometimes people just want to walk away from a conversation (like the Discourse Café) feeling inspired or lighter without feeling obliged to go out and do something.

Why is the Discourse Café important?

It is part of the out-of-classroom-education of university students. The goal of tertiary education is to send informed, critical thinkers who have a broader interest that stretches beyond than their field of study, into the world. The Discourse Café can help with this process.

Why do young people have to hone their leadership skills?

Leadership is integrally part of self-knowledge and self-value. 'Personal leadership' or the ability to lead oneself is an important part of leadership development. Maybe more 'adults' should get to know themselves better in order to make better decisions and fewer stupid mistakes.

• The Discourse Café brings prominent South Africans to Stellenbosch University where they chat to students in an informal, relaxed setting.  The conversations usually start with the speaker telling more about his/her personal life and the road to success. The floor is then opened for questions.
• Emily van der Merwe was a pupil at HMS Bloemhof in Stellenbosch.

Through a pioneering initiative Maties medical students recently started receiving practical training in a private hospital.

A partnership between the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) and Mediclinic Durbanville enabled several fourth-year medical students to do a four-week Internal Medicine rotation at the Mediclinic Durbanville where they were taught by doctors in the private sector. This is part of a pilot project to investigate the functionality of this type of collaboration between the university and private medical institutions.

"Health care is under pressure and there is a great need to increase the amount of doctors and other health care workers. I think a partnership with the private sector is important to  realise the broader vision of universal access to health care," says Prof Jimmy Volmink, Dean of the Faculty.

"The FMHS and the MB,ChB programme committee are very excited about this collaboration with the private sector," says Prof Ben van Heerden, Director: Centre for Health Professions Education, and coordinator of the MB,ChB (undergraduate medicine) programme. "It doesn't just offer our students the opportunity to experience an important component of our country's medical system, it also exposes them to another patient- and disease profile than what is generally seen in the public sector."

Mediclinic Durbanville and the lecturers involved received special accreditation and all personnel involved attended a teaching and learning short course to ensure they are equipped to train the students.

According to Prof Marietjie de Villiers, Deputy Dean: Education, the feedback from students and lecturers at the Mediclinic Durbanville has been very positive. "Even the patients are welcoming it. They say the student doctors spend a lot more time with them," says De Villiers.

The project will be evaluated at the end of the year to determine its success and based on these results a decision will be made on the longer term sustainability of the project.

Photo: http://www.mediclinic.co.za/

Prof Stan du Plessis, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, has been ranked 4th in the category Innovative Research in the Financial Mail's latest Ranking the Analysts survey.

In addition to his position as Dean, Du Plessis works part-time as an economist for Prescient Securities.

Published in May 2014, the survey report states that "navigating your way to the top of the pile takes fortitude, investment and dogged focus. The Financial Mail's rankings, now in their 37th year, recognise those who have succeeded."

The rankings and other results are based on a survey aimed at capturing the views held by domestic institutional clients of South African stockbroker firms. Respondents were asked to rank the five best firms, as well as the five best analysts, using the following criteria: quality of written fundamental research in terms of content and value; accuracy of forecasts and buy/sell recommendations; useful ideas; effective written and verbal communication; and consistency over the past 12 months.