The Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, in co-operation with the Church of Sweden, is offering a unique opportunity for interested students to complete a Masters in Theology with a focus on gender and health. The masters can be registered in any existing theological disciplines (Old Testament, New Testament, Ecclesiology, Systematic Theology, Missiology & Practical Theology). Ten selected students will be eligible for bursaries in this special focus Masters programme for the study period January 2014 to March 2015.

This special focus Masters will enable students to pursue research with the aim to engage with a wide variety of issues relating to Millennium Goals 4 and 5,  the reduction of child and mother mortality; and particularly how these issues manifest within faith communities and thus intersect with the fields of theology and religion.  Themes include physical and mental health, HIV and AIDS, sexuality and sexual orientation, reproductive health, gender-based violence and sustainable livelihood

This special focus Masters will consist of a core module (gender, health and theology), two orals (in the chosen main discipline) and a thesis. The programme will require students to attend a three week course at the beginning of 2014 (core module and research methodology workshop) at the Faculty of Theology, followed by two workshops in the first semester designed to assist students in the research proposal development process.  Thereafter students will be required to be in a position to have regular access to research resources and contact sessions with lecturers and promoters. Oral exams must be completed by July 2014, and the theses submitted by 31 November 2014 in order to graduate in March 2015.

Ten bursaries of R60 000 per student are available. Five scholarships are reserved for students enrolling for a gender and health-focused Masters in the disciplines of Old Testament and New Testament.

The official application has to be done online at www.sun.ac.za. Please submit your full academic records and certificates with the application. In addition a full CV, academic records and a letter of motivation must be submitted to Dr. Charlene van der Walt at charlenevanderwalt@sun.ac.za by 8 October 2013. For further enquiries please contact Dr. Van der Walt via e-mail or at 083 693 8686.

"The enrolment of South Africa's first "born-frees" at higher-education institutions earlier this year has brought the issue of our national identity into sharp focus again," Stellenbosch University Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Russel Botman writes in his blog.

His experience that most students say what binds us together is the ideal of embracing everyone's human dignity in the context of our diversity as a nation.

He asks whether it is necessary to construct a South African identity, and what its content should be.

His post comes against the backdrop of a series of thought-leadership discussions on the topic.

• Click here for the Rector's blog, or visit http://bit.ly/Russel_Botman.
• Tweet him @RusselBotman.

This is the last in a series of articles about sustainability and specifically sustainability within Stellenbosch University. 

Stellenbosch University: Serious about sustainability

Being philosophical about sustainability is not enough – we have to become actively involved and do something measurable. Stellenbosch University's influence extends not only to various spheres of the environment, but also to the community and finances. It provides us with the opportunity to roll up our sleeves and make considerable headway for sustainability, says Prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen, Provost and Chief Operating Officer. 

​

It is two in a row for the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) after MBA student Brigitte Roediger was chosen as joint winner of the Association of MBAs (AMBA)'s 2013 Global AMBAssador Challenge.

With this achievement Roediger, who is the USB's Global AMBAssador, follows in the footsteps of Gretchen Arangies, the USB's previous Global AMBAssador and 2012 winner of the challenge. Arangies is head of Services at the Stellenbosch University's Bellville Park Campus where USB is situated.

In participating in the Global AMBAssador Challenge, MBA students are expected to do research and write a story about an entrepreneur. Roediger chose to feature USB alumnus Mignon Hardie, who runs the FunDza Literacy Trust, which promotes reading and literacy. Hardie is also a mentor in the USB's Small Business Academy for small business owners in townships such as Khayelitsha.

Roediger shares the 2013 award with Davina McCormick, MBA student at Queensland University of Technology Business School in Australia.

Chief Executive of AMBA Andrew Main Wilson said in a press release: "Brigitte's interview demonstrated how sheer passion and determination by Mignon Hardie created a value-based organisation dealing with social issues. This is the second year in which the University of Stellenbosch Business School AMBAssador has won the challenge. It was extremely competitive and our judges had a difficult time selecting the final two, which is testimony to the sheer talent of the Global AMBAssadors."

Roediger's reward is to attend the Principles for Responsible Managemant Education (PRME) summit in Slovenia between 25 and 27 September this year where she will also get an opportunity to host or facilitate a roundtable discussion.

USB manager: Stakeholder Relations, Edith Kennedy, said: "This is a very good accolade for USB. It shows what our MBAs are capable of."

Raise your expectations. Dream. Know where to draw the line. Ask why. Set goals – when you reach them you will be successful. Help others to achieve their goals – then you will be significant.

This in a nutshell was Stellenbosch University (SU) Vice-Rector: Research and Innovation Prof Eugene Cloete's message at the first of a series of talks hosted by the Postdoctoral Society of SU, The Division for Research Development and the Postgraduate and International Office. The theme of the series is Beyond University Education.

According to Prof Cloete, current education systems often limit people's potential and their ability to perform.

"I firmly believe that we are all born with a natural geniality but a lot of that is actually stripped away before you even go to school. And then we go to school and this is really where some of the big problems start. They tell you to shut up and listen. This is not a conducive environment for unlocking the genius in people. Then you go to university and at some universities, not Stellenbosch University of course, they totally de-genius you. Whatever genius was left, is gone."

To chuckles from the audience, he quoted Langenhoven who said it took him three years after he graduated to get his common sense back.

"How do we break out of this mould? I have seen this genius in people and the way to unlock it, is to raise the expectations all the time. Because if you start this, people start believing that they can do it and if you reinforce this, you start unlocking potential."

He touched on the changing role of the educator in a world where information is easily available and suggested that he or she should rather become a facilitator of knowledge. He also questioned the value of exams. "(Your success) stands and fall on two opportunities, one test and one exam," he said.

Prof Cloete also referred to different types of intelligence: knowledge intelligence and the process of gathering information, analytical intelligence and the ability to do something with what you know, creative intelligence and the importance of breaking out of paradigms by asking why, practical intelligence and the value of being good with your hands, interpersonal intelligence and the way we treat each other, spatial intelligence, musical intelligence and physical intelligence.

He spent some time on the topics of emotional and financial intelligence.

"Emotional intelligence is the intelligence driver," he said. He spoke about the importance of building relationships, acknowledging and respecting others, setting worthwhile goals and helping others to become successful.

He also elaborated on financial intelligence, the lack of which makes people continue participating in the rat race.

"We don't know where to draw the line and to say 'I have enough'. It is your life, make the most of it as you see fit," he concluded.

​People living in and around Stellenbosch have for long complained about congestion caused by high traffic volumes. The book, Sustainable Stellenbosch – Opening Dialogues, addresses this issue in the chapter "Transport - improving traffic flows in Stellenbosch".

In this chapter academics Marion Sinclair, Christo Bester and Esbeth van Dyk write that traffic volumes have increased so much in the last ten years that it has surpassed the ratio of people living in the area.

The daily volume of traffic on the R44 (leading to and from Somerset West) has for instance increased from 20 500 in 2000 to 35 400 in 2009. (The expectation is that this will further increase to 73 224 by 2030). This is a growth rate of 6.2% - in comparison to the Western Cape average of 3.7%. Elsewhere the increase was: R44, Cloetesville: from 12 928 to 19 339 (39 995 in 2030); R304, Kayamandi: from 14 151 to 18 247 (37 737 in 2030); Polkadraai: 13 641 to 19 207 (39 722 in 2030) and Helshoogte: 5 358 to 6 839 (14 256 in 2030).

The reason for the increase is mainly due to the lack of public transport in the town, the authors say. Students in surrounding areas also make use of private vehicles. For many travelling by train is not an option because of safety issues and the unreliability of train services in general. 

On weekdays there are at least 100 taxi's that travel and serve 27 routes from five taxi points in town. This means that 940 trips are made and 7 500 passengers are transported.

Many people also journey through Stellenbosch en route to other destinations. Heavy vehicles also use the R44 to avoid the weighbridge on the national roads.

"Traffic congestion in the morning leads to a loss of productivity and contributes to economic inefficiency. It also works against efficient service delivery. Research has shown that traffic that travel at a speed of under 30 km/h, with resultant stop and go, negatively impacts on petrol consumption and aids tyre attrition," they write.

"International research shows that air pollution is worsened by traffic congestion. Heavy traffic also contributes to depression and aggression. Heavy traffic may therefor even have an adverse effect on the psychosocial health of the population."

According to the authors, South Africa's high incidence of road accidents is reason for concern, but in Stellenbosch the number of accidents is directly linked with the number of students. For instance there is a dramatic decrease in road accidents in December when the students are on holiday. Over a three year period there was an average of 232 collisions per month (December excluded). In 2009 most accidents occurred (274) in May in comparison with 'only' 138 in December. Numerous students confessed that they do not obey traffic rules because there is no sufficient law enforcement.

The problem of high traffic volumes can be addressed by reconstructing the road at the crossing between Strand Road and Adam Tas, the authors suggest.

"Other means of lessening congestion, is for employers to give staff the option of working flexi-hours – this can lead to a dramatic decrease of morning peak hour traffic.

"Thought should also be given to the times that heavy delivery vehicles, which add to the load on the system, are on the road.  

"However, the most sustainable solution is to convince people to use the public transport system more regularly and to use non-motorised transport (i.e bicycles) for short distances," they conclude.

• ​Sustainable Stellenbosch - Opening Dialogues is a compilation of contributions by academics and researchers from US and is geared towards providing guidelines for a sustainable future for Stellenbosch and its residents.  The research was supported by the National Research Foundation and the TsamaHub, an initiative of US's HOPE Project through which the university seeks to find solutions for social challenges.  The book can be ordered through SUN PReSS  021 808 9039 or send an email to ASMBOOKS@sun.ac.zawww.sun-e-shop.
  

The Centre for Teaching and Learning hereby invites you to a lunch hour “padkos” session as part of the Auxin project.  The Auxin Project aims to create growth opportunities for SU Lecturers.

Presenters: JP Bosman, Sonja Strydom

The growth of emerging technologies in education provides an opportunity for both lecturers and students to engage sensibly with tools available on the internet to enhance the learning and research experience. The Google Suite consists of numerous applications that could be used sensibly in the learning and research context.  Google documents (“Docs”) provides the user with the opportunity to seamlessly create different types of documents for sharing and collaboration and commenting on text-based resources. Google Forms creates opportunites where users can develop online feedback forms for selected participants that could potentially assist in the identification of prior knowledge, formative and summative feedback, and research. 

This Auxin will provide participants with the opportunity to engage with these two applications and share in the experiences of other lecturers.

When:

Tuesday  27 August 2013 12:45 - 13:45 (“padkos” will be provided)

Where:

Den Bosch opposite “Skuilhoek”  41 Victoria Street (directly behind the Conservatoire – see map available at web addres: : http://www0.sun.ac.za/webstudies/Images/CTL-DenBosch-Map.jpg)

There are a limited number of spaces available for this session. Please contact Irma Bester at Irma_bester@sun.ac.za  or  021 8089258 to reserve your place.

Nursing lies at the heart of an effective health system, and for half a century Stellenbosch University (SU) has been contributing to the health of the nation by producing sought-after nursing staff.

To celebrate their 50^th anniversary, the SU's Division of Nursing hosted a gala dinner at the Wallenberg Research Centre at STIAS in Stellenbosch on Thursday, 15 August 2013, to coincide with a national business meeting of the Forum of University Nursing Departments of South Africa (FUNDISA).

In his address, Prof Russel Botman, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor, quoted from the National Department of Health's Strategic Plan for Nursing that "nurses are the engine of an effective health system and the country's healthcare system is predominately nurse-based."  Botman indicated that it is clear that institutions responsible for the education and training of nurses have to maintain and promote a high standard and quality of nursing and midwifery.  "… we remain committed to meeting the needs of the country, and this includes alleviating the national shortage of professional nurses and nurse specialists.  We want to help develop and grow the science of nursing and midwifery to ensure the best patient care."

He said it is in the university's DNA to serve humanity, as portrayed by its HOPE Project, of which the Ukwanda Rural Clinical School – an initiative to train doctors and other health professionals in rural settings and also recruit more students from rural areas – is a prime example.

The Division of Nursing had humble beginnings. It started out in 1963 with 10 undergraduate nursing students at the then medical school based at the Karl Bremer Hospital, but it soon grew into a successful training and research division, maintaining an excellent throughput rate of approximately 85%. 

Delivering the keynote address at the event, Prof Hester Klopper, CEO of Fundisa, said that SU's undergraduate programme and SU students have always been considered to be in high demand, with nurses standing out in terms of competence, integrity and of being ethically valued.

Since the government decision to transfer undergraduate nursing to the University of the Western Cape in 2002, the Division concentrated on developing its postgraduate training and research offering. Today there are more than 650 postgraduate students in different specialities at the Division which forms part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) based at SU's Tygerberg Campus.  It was also one of the first divisions in the faculty to utilise Stellenbosch University's telematic services to open its Masters' and postgraduate diploma programmes to students across Africa and other parts of the world.  The Division is still involved with undergraduate training as a member of the Common Teaching Platform (CTP) in the Western Cape.

Acting head of the division, Dr Ethelwynn Stellenberg, earlier explained the way forward. "In spite of our success at postgraduate level, this Division is hoping to start an undergraduate programme again and intend to develop a Baccalaureus Degree in Nursing to especially participate in an inter-professional context at the Ukwanda Rural Clinical School. Then we will also meet the need in the country to empower the rural areas."

Further growth and development are also planned. "The Division's vision for the following 50 years is to develop into a strong, research intensive nursing school," says Stellenberg. "We teach and train people, it is part of our portfolio, but we must also strengthen our research component – universities are meant to do research." As part of reaching this goal, all staff members have obtained M-degrees over the past three years, and a few have embarked on PhD studies. 

According to Klopper, nursing research is an integral part of the scientific enterprise of improving the nation's health. She said that the growing body of nursing research must provide a scientific basis for patient care and should be regularly used by all nurses. "Research must be conducted to improve patient outcomes and promote the health and well-being of communities, especially of the most vulnerable populations."

Stellenberg explained that the Division would like to expand on an international level, while still acknowledging their local relevance.

Caption: Celebrating fifty years of nursing at the gala event.  From the left are Dr Ethelwynn Stellenberg, acting head of Nursing at Stellenbosch University, Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Prof Hester Klopper, CEO of Fundisa. Photo: Anton Jordaan, Stellenbosch Photographic Services

​​​HUMARGA has a full height server cabinet and switch cabinet for sale at R7,500 each.  Sales to SU departments only.

Please contact Petro (pa@sun.ac.za) or Jan (jlo@sun.ac.za) at x2128 for further details. 

Leads to first IOSOT conference to be held on African soil

Prof Johann Cook (photo), a well-known academic and researcher specialising in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible), was recently appointed as President of the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament (IOSOT). The news was officially announced at an IOSOT business meeting in Munich, Germany, last week. 

The IOSOT conference is held every three years and with Cook's appointment, Stellenbosch University (SU) will become the first African institution to host the conference in 2016, along with the Old Testament Society of South Africa (OTSSA). It is only the second conference to be held outside Europe – in 1986 it was held in Jerusalem.

Cook will serve as President from 2013-2016.

"This is really amazing, but still feels very unreal. I must admit that when they announced that I had been appointed as the President and I walked up to the podium, it felt like one of the biggest highlights of my career," said Cook. "I was looking down at these wonderful scholars, these learned people and thought: they elected me as president."

Cook's focus on the Septuagint sprouted from his interest in Hebrew and Greek and some encouragement from the former Ancient Studies Department chairman, Prof Charles Fensham, who suggested he pursue a research career in academia focusing on this field. Since then, he has contributed much to develop the field.

"The Septuagint is the oldest translation of the Hebrew Bible available. Since it is so near in time to the Hebrew that was spoken then, we can expect to gain major theological insights from these translations," said Cook.

"These translators had a certain understanding of the Hebrew Bible which is enlightening to modern scholars. At present, I am working on a theology of the Septuagint of Proverbs. We gain a lot of insights by studying the Septuagint in relationship to or with the Hebrew text and these theological insights have implications for our daily life, because it helps us to understand the Bible and the message of the Bible."

In 2008, Cook was the editor of the book, Septuagint and Reception, which comprised of papers presented at a conference on the same topic in Stellenbosch. In 2012, Cook, along with Prof Hermann Josef-Stipp, a visiting professor at SU from the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, served as editors of the book Text-Critical and Hermeneutical Studies in the Septuagint, following another conference held in Stellenbosch. Both books were published as part of the IOSOT's Vetus Testamentum Supplementum series.
"Since 1983, he has delivered numerous papers at the various conferences of the IOSOT, the OTSSA, the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies as well as the International Organization for Qumran Studies, inter alia as a presenter of a main paper at the IOSOT in 2007. He is widely respected for his excellent research on particularly Septuagint-Proverbs, and has gained international recognition in this field," wrote the OTSSA in their presidency nomination and bid for hosting the 2016 conference.

"His numerous publications, including 2 monographs, are often cited in the field. He was the organiser and co-organiser of more than one international conference. We are therefore convinced that he will be a President worthy of the academic stature of the IOSOT."

Prof Louis Jonker, from the discipline group Old and New Testament in the Theology Faculty, assisted with the formulation of the proposal of Cook as President of the IOSOT, as well as the bid for the 2016 conference, while serving as executive member of the OTSSA. He will also serve as conference secretary of IOSOT 2016.​

​​Handmade jewellery, clothing, craft work, food and wine – these are some of the items that will be for sale at the first Maties Marketplace event on Wednesday 21 August.

Entrepreneurs trading under names such as Amy Rose Apparel, STITCH, Plankies, Truly Scrumptious, Ice cream Ninjas and Breakfast for Dinner will set up their stalls next to the RW Wilcocks Building and customers are welcome from 17:00 onwards.

The 21 stalls will sell items such as "simple art on weathered wood ideal for residence rooms", roosterkoek with a variety of fillings, premium ice cream, gourmet flapjacks, Maties Wine, hand-made and sterling silver jewellery as well as clothes and leather goods.

According to JD Labuschagne, Junior business developer at Stellenbosch University, the Maties Marketplace was birthed from the vision of the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development (FVZS Institute) to provide a unique place where young entrepreneurs from the local community can start a business and trade on the premises of the University. These entrepreneurs will include students and young previously disadvantaged traders.

"Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking is central to leadership in the context of South Africa and as such the importance for the FVZS Institute to create a platform where young entrepreneurs can gather and share their products and ideas.

"This initiative is a means to foster social entrepreneurship within the greater Stellenbosch community. The Maties Marketplace's short-term goals are to set up a market facility and offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to become profitable. The long-term goal is for the market itself to become profitable and sell products to the greater Boland community via online platforms," explains Labuschagne.

Potential entrepreneurs are students, staff members, local community residents (younger than 30), researchers who would like to display their work and Matie brand associates (Maties clothing, Maties wine).

Potential customers include students and staff of SU, the local community and even tourists.

"We are very excited about this idea and believe it can play a big role in bridging the gap between students and the community as well as stimulate entrepreneurship in the Stellenbosch area," concludes Labuschagne.

The Maties Marketplace will be hosted once a month.

​Some of Stellenbosch University’s top female scientists reaped the fruits of their hard work when they were honoured with the Department of Science and Technology’s Women in Science Awards on Friday (16 August).

The annual awards ceremony was held in Johannesburg as part of the department’s celebration of Women’s Month.

The theme for this year’s Women in Sciences Awards was “The scourge of violence against women: what is the role of science and research?" This theme is derived from the 2013 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women’s theme (UNCSW) which is: “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls”.

According to the organisers, the Women in Science Awards are aimed at profiling women scientists and researchers as role models for younger scientists and researchers and to encourage and reward younger women who are starting their careers as emerging researchers and scientists. 

Prof Soraya Seedat of the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences emerged as winner in the category for Distinguished Women Scientist in the Life Sciences. She was honoured for her outstanding contributions in the field of post-traumatic stress.

Seedat has held the Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation’s South African Research Chair in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder since 2008. She also co-directs the Medical Research Council's Anxiety and Stress Disorders Research Unit.

Seedat says the award acknowledges the contribution and commitment of the talented and aspirant young women researchers she works with.

“I am thrilled that the Department of Science and Technology had made a serious investment in women scientists all levels, particularly in the health sciences.”

Also among the winners were Mss Heila-Marie van der Merwe and Carien Coetzee who received scholarships for their master’s and doctoral studies respectively.

Van der Merwe is currently busy with a Master’s degree in Computer Science, while Coetzee is working towards a doctorate in Oenology (the study of wine).

Ms Elisabet le Roux, a doctoral student in Sociology, finished runner-up in the category Emerging researcher: The role of science and research against violence towards women, and Prof Amanda Gouws of the Department of Political Science was third in the category for Distinguished Women in the Social Sciences and Humanities.

Finalists for this year’s awards competed in five categories, namely Distinguished Women (with subcategories), Distinguished Young Women, the role of science and research against violence towards women, Fellowships (masters students and doctoral students) as well as the TATA Africa Scholarships for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology for three masters students.

​Free for SU Lecture staff – PowerPoint and Presentation skills

Stellenbosch University Language Centre presents a work session, Crafting confident presentations on 11 and 12 September 2013.

Day1: PowerPoint as a presentation tool

This workshop will focus on the guidelines for a successful PowerPoint presentation. This interactive workshop will cover the basic technical aspects and content management for an effective presentation, and will answer questions about animation, graphics, font types, layout, content load and textual design.

Day 2: Presentation skills

This workshop will equip you to look, feel and sound confident in any situation. The content of the workshop will include training in vocal techniques, being taught an approach and attitude that is inviting and simple strategies to keep your audience engaged.

 Registration:  The SU Skills Fund enables a limited number of SU staff members to attend this workshop free of charge.

In the event that a staff member sponsored by the Skills Fund does not attend the workshop, the complete registration fee will be charged to that member's environment.

Further enquiries: Contact Audrey Poole (e-mail: taalsentrum@sun.ac.za;
tel.: 021 808 2167)

Closing date for registrations: 4 September 2013

​​​​Stellenbosch University's Alumni Relations Office in partnership with the Faculty of Law hosted an interactive discussion by the honorable Justice Edwin Cameron and Prof Sonia Human, Dean of the Faculty of Law.

Activist and advocator of equality, human rights, gay rights and health and HIV/aids rights Justice Cameron was appointed by former South African President Nelson Mandela as an acting judge and later a judge of the High Court.

In support of SU's Faculty of Law being committed to developing legal knowledge, strengthening the legal profession, the administration of justice and the democratic constitutional order in South Africa, Justice Cameron delivered a talk to SU law alumni on The Constitution: Precious and Precarious at the Five Flies Restaurant in Cape Town on Tuesday 30 July.

Cameron spoke of the need to make citizenship work and encouraged alumni to "evoke civic agency to bring about change in South Africa". He further went on to state that in order for South Africa to progress as a democracy, it is our responsibility to understand the past and more specifically Apartheid law, which manifested itself so strongly in the legal system.​

According to SU Alumni Relations Senior Director Ms Bev Witten: "This event showcased the important contribution that an alumnus from SU is making to the legal fraternity. Justice Cameron is one of our many alumni that make us proud and fly the SU flag high."

Organisers were very happy with the good turn out and are planning more such events in the future.

For more information about law study options at Stellenbosch University please visit www.sun.ac.za.

​

Confronting gender inequality and bringing about gender reconciliation. 

These are the main aims of a new gender reconciliation partnership between the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Gender Reconciliation International (GRI) and Stellenbosch University (SU), launched on Tuesday 20 August 2013.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Russel Botman, GRI founders Dr William Keepin and Rev Cynthia Brix and Chief Executive Officer of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation Rev Mpho Tutu were part of a panel discussing this new partnership and the reasons behind it.

The event was held at SU's Tygerberg Campus.

The partnership will focus on the implementation of gender reconciliation, applying principles of South Africa's truth and reconciliation process to restore people's faith in one another.

"Gender Reconciliation International has been engaged in gender reconciliation for 21 years, and its work resonates with two of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation's pillars – to advance mutual respect, and to enhance human wellbeing," said Rev Tutu.

Archbishop Tutu emphasised the role of women in society. "For goodness' sake, for our sake, women have to be acknowledged for who they are. We have to recover the humanity of women. We undermine our own humanity if we undermine women," he said.

Prof Botman thanked the representatives of GRI and the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation that Stellenbosch University can be part of this project.

"This year represents a milestone in SA higher education. The first "born frees" have enrolled on our campuses. But in February, we buried a "born free", 17-year-old Anene Booysen of Bredasdorp after she was brutally raped and left for dead.

"We need to develop a new set of young people who think differently and who have a new set of values," he said. "It is important for us to think again about where we are and where we are going. Our task is to find champions for the cause."

Dr Keepin emphasised that both men and women are affected by gender inequality and that they need each other to address the issue.

"We have to come together and jointly confront gender inequality," he said.

The initial focus of the partnership will be a series of introductory workshops and a facilitator training programme. SU's Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development (FVZS Institute) will be used as a platform to roll out the programme.

The GRI project will train approximately 25 student leaders between the ages 18 and 30 years in gender reconciliation facilitation, a process for healing and reconciliation of dysfunctional gender dynamics and behavioural patterns between men and women in South Africa. The trained facilitators will then be able to facilitate GR workshops for their peers under the supervision of a qualified GR Trainer.

Rev Tutu said the partnership was being launched at SU but they hope to roll it out to all universities in South Africa eventually.

Responsibilities

The FVZS Institute will recruit student participants and organise venues for the introductory workshops and training modules while Gender Reconciliation International (GRI) will conduct the introductory workshops and all training modules. The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation will oversee the project.

• For more information liaise with Ms Tamu Matose of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation at tamu@tutu.org.za on 021 552 7524 / 079 878 7829.​

​​The three top third-year students for 2012 in the Division Applied Mathematics – Jana-Mari Carstens, Lize Cillié en Nadine Herbert – received book prizes from Cambridge University Press this week for their academic achievements.

According to Prof André Weideman, organiser of the awards, there was so little difference between their marks that the judges decided to reward all three of them.

Ms Carstens is a former pupil of Outeniqua High School in George, and her third year subjects were Applied Mathematics, Financial Accounting and Mathematics. She is currently doing a postgraduate certificate in education and doing experiential training at Stellenzicht Secondary School in Jamestown, so that she can combine her passion for Mathematics and children.

Ms Cillié is currently pursuing an Honours degree in Applied Mathematics, focusing on Computer Vision. She is a former pupil of Bloemhof Girls High in Stellenbosch.

Ms Herbert is originally from De Kuilen High School in Kuilsriver. She is also continuing her studies by focusing on Computer Vision and Tensor Analysis at SU.

Mr Philipp Uhrich and Marco Grond received book prizes for their achievements as best first and second-year students in Applied Mathematics. Mr Uhrich is a former pupil of St Paul's College in Windhoek, Namibia, and Mr Grond is from Gimnasium High School in Potchefstroom.

Mr Marc Bailey received the award for Best Honours Student in Applied Mathematics. He is currently teaching at Mountain Cambridge School in Hartbeespoort outside Pretoria and received the prize in absentia.

Prof Ingrid Rewitzky, head of the Department Mathematical Sciences (Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, Computer Science), expressed her gratitude towards Cambridge University Press for their support: "It is clear that the choice of books – like Maths Galore! and How to fold it – encourages interdisciplinary thought. It is also heartening to see that Cambridge is able to offer such stimulating Maths books," she said.

Ms Marché Cowling, academic marketing coordinator at Cambridge University Press in Cape Town, handed over the book prizes.

Issued by Wiida Fourie-Basson, media: Faculty of Science, 021 808 2684, science@sun.ac.za

Dear candidates and voters, the upcoming Student Representative Council (SRC) elections will provide you with a chance to exercise your rights and responsibilities as members of the Stellenbosch University (SU) community. I urge you to grab this opportunity and make the most of it.

Democracy allows us to have a say in decisions that affect our lives. That is why the University states in its new Institutional Intent and Strategy 2013-2018 that it aims "to strengthen human rights and democracy on our campuses" even more.

These two concepts – democracy and human rights – are mentioned in one breath because they are indivisible. Democracy is not just about voting in regular elections. It is underpinned by equality, human dignity, freedom of religion, belief and opinion, freedom of expression, freedom of association and just administrative action.

At the University, the SRC is the custodian of these rights and freedoms on behalf of the student body. That is why all Maties should vote to elect their representatives.

As we enter deeper into the 21^st century, it has become crucial for SU to position itself well for the challenges and opportunities of the new era. This has now been done with the University's new Vision 2030, and the outgoing SRC have provided valuable inputs in helping to define SU as "a place of discovery and excellence".

In deciding who to vote for, ask the candidates what they intend doing to make Maties more "inclusive", "innovative" and "future focused". How will they help to "broaden access" to the University, "sustain our excellence" and "enhance our societal impact"?

I look forward to working with the new SRC to ensure that Stellenbosch becomes a university "where both staff and students are thought leaders in advancing knowledge in the service of all stakeholders".

Prof H Russel Botman

* SU's new Institutional Intent and Strategy, including Vision 2030, is available online at http://bit.ly/SUIIS13-18.

* This message was first published on 21 August 2013 in Verkiesingsblad, a publication of the independent SRC election convenors. Visit www.sun.ac.za/elections for more information.

​Ever wondered what happens in the hallowed halls of the Physics Department in the Merensky building? You may now enter this world and have a look at the invisible, the ultra small and the ultra fast.

The postgraduate students of the Department of Physics will throw open the doors on Wednesday 28 August, starting at 6pm with a public lecture by Prof Heinrich Schwoerer with the title "Ultrafast laser science – observing atoms moving in matter. His talk will offer a brief look into the world of ultrafast laser spectroscopy: How do we observe atomic motion in molecules and solids in real time? How can we monitor processes that are faster than any electronic device can detect?

He will also explain some of the 'tricks of the physics trade', like using short laser pulses – shorter than a millionth of a millionth of a second – as a microscopic stroboscobe in order to unravel fundamental physics behind light harvesting in solar cells, charge dynamics of the fastest molecular electronics, or the driving forces in optically triggered ultrafast metal-insulator switches.

The rest of the programme consists of a brief overview of the research activities of the different research groups in theoretical physics, nuclear and laser physics. This will be followed by some cool demonstrations that are not only entertaining, but which will also demonstrate important principles in physics.

You will then receive refreshments before you start out on the next journey to some of the department's specialist laboratories, where you will be amazed!

Date: Wednesday, 28 August 2013

Place: Meet us at the foyer of the Merensky Building

Time: 18:00 – 20:00

RSVPs & enquiries: Elsabé Bosch, 808-3478, elsabeb@sun.ac.za

"To be South African necessarily means that you are also African. After all, our country is part of this continent. But what does it mean to be African?"

This question is raised by Stellenbosch University Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Russel Botman in his latest blog, which takes the discussion on the South African identity that he started in his previous blog further.

"It is not only about geography. The African identity is also associated with particular values."

Prof Botman picks up the story about 2 million years ago, starting with one of the oldest fossils of our human ancestors discovered in 1947 in an area that has since become known as the Cradle of Humankind.

"We owe it to Mrs Ples and everyone who came after her and spread across the earth to heed the African wisdom of the ages that we are people with and through other people."

• Click here for the Rector's blog, or visit http://bit.ly/Russel_Botman.
• Chat to him on Twitter: @RusselBotman.