​"How do we fit into the global community? This question is of particular importance for young people who are on the point of entering the job market. Is there something about their identity as South Africans and Africans that makes them unique? And do they still need to learn before they make their mark in the global village?"

These questions are raised by Stellenbosch University Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Russel Botman in his latest blog, which takes the discussion on our national identity that he started in his previous two blogs further.

"In the knowledge economy of the 21st century, the most important resource is not gold or oil or labour or even military or political power, but information. No-one is in a better position to benefit from this than natives of the information era – as long as they remain flexible enough to keep up with the rapid pace of change."

Click here for the full blog, or visit http://bit.ly/Russel_Botman.

• Chat to him on Twitter: @RusselBotman.

Maties successfully defended their title as Vino Varsity Champions after a commanding performance against the teams of UCT and Tuks recently.

This intervarsity competition between the wine societies of different universities, in this case the universities of Stellenbosch, Cape Town and Pretoria, was hosted by Backsberg for the fifth time.

UCT and Maties both arrived with scores of supporters who contributed to the festive atmosphere despite the cold and rainy weather conditions.

The first round comprised 30 general knowledge questions covering wine history, winemaking and international wines. According to Alana Ridley, Marketing & PR Coordinator at Backsberg, Maties had their A game on and dominated this section.

They also performed well in the second round – blind tasting. Teams tasted different wines and had to identify cultivars, origins, vintages, RS levels and faults, amongst other questions. 

During the debate round (round three), teams debated the topic of alcohol advertising and the potential effects of the proposed ban.

Tuks disagreed with the assumption that the banning of alcohol will be in the interest of societal well-being and described the ban as a "blunt, clumsy instrument to address the problem". They argued that the ban would have little effect on the amount of alcohol consumed but will have a negative impact on the economy, stifle competition in the industry and even lead to job losses.

Maties argued that alcohol abuse is not a result of advertising but rather of socio-economic circumstances. "A ban would be misguided and economically detrimental," they added. Their suggestion was that the strategy be altered (not obliterated).

UCT admitted that the abuse of alcohol is a problem but expressed doubt that an advertising ban would prevent it. "Rather target the root causes of alcohol abuse," they said. They suggested that advertisements be used to inform people about the dangers of alcohol abuse and that limits on advertising could be considered – such as when and where the ads may appear. They won this round.

In the end, Maties were the overall winners, with Tuks in second place and UCT third.

Bryce Gillespie, captain of Maties' team, said it felt really great to have won Vino Varsity again.

"We really feel like this title belongs at Stellenbosch, the heart of the Cape Winelands. We felt the pressure this year, so we knew we had to step up our game. We've always enjoyed the strong rivalry between us and UCT, so it was really great to see the relative newcomers, TUKS, take 2nd place. At the end of the day though, wine is the real winner. The point of the competition is to encourage wine appreciation among the students of the universities, so we really hope the competition will continue to grow from strength to strength."

• The Maties Wine Culture Society consists of just over 400 members. They are one of the most active societies on the Stellenbosch campus with two events every week. Once a week they'll head out on a wine tour and in that same week, they'll also host a tasting on campus.

​

​Date: Monday 9 September 2013 at 17:30

Venue: Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS)

Speakers: Graham Ward, Oxford University

Mark Solms, Cape Town University

Robert Vosloo, Stellenbosch University

RSVP: Nadia, nadiam@sun.ac.za before 3 September

Led into Mystery is an unanticipated sequel to John de Gruchy's book Being Human: Confessions of a Christian Humanist. It was prompted by the untimely and tragic death of his eldest son, Steve, in February 2010, and the questions this posed about the meaning of life and death from the perspective of Christian faith. A further prompt came as a result of a multi-disciplinary research project on "the humanist imperative in South Africa" (2009-2010). This raised critical questions about being human from the perspective of science, especially neuroscience, as well as other faith and secular perspectives. All these inform the discussion which is an exploration of mystery on the boundaries of human knowledge and experience, engagement with the world and the evolution of consciousness from a specifically Christian theological perspective. The title derives from Karl Rahner's comment that theology is about being led back into mystery -- the ultimate mystery of God disclosed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and the creative presence of the Spirit in the life of the world. This mystery is an open secret waiting to be explored, expressed and entered into by faith. In doing so, we discern the fragmentary mystery of being human alone and in relationship within the constraints of our time and space. We are rudely encountered by the perplexing mysteries of evil and death, but embraced by the mysteries of goodness and beauty, hope and love. We draw on memory and imagination to develop a language that enables us to explore mystery through the genre of myth, parable, poetry, the novel, music and art, we participate in the mysteries of faith that communicate grace, forgiveness, and freedom which enable us to be more fully human in the life of the world in the struggles for justice and peace.

John W. de Gruchy is emeritus professor of Christian studies at the University of Cape Town and extraordinary professor at Stellenbosch University.

"In a moving tribute to his son who died tragically in a boating accident, John de Gruchy with his usual persuasiveness helps to reassert mystery as a credible and indispensable religious category. It is a 'must read'." – ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU

H​ippokrates Ladies were announced the winners of the national university sêr competition for the second time in a row on Saturday 31 August.

They also won the prizes for the best prescribed song and best own composition.

The competition was hosted by the North West University in Potchefstroom.

Wilgenhof came second in all three categories - overall, best prescribed song and best own composition. The men's competition was won by Sonop from Pretoria.

​Members of the Department of Curriculum Studies recently participated in a breakaway to discuss the future conceptualization and organization of Teaching Practice in the PGCE and B Ed.  

The discussion looked at a range of factors relating to Teaching Practice, including principles underpinning Teaching Practice, curriculum and pedagogy, organization and communication, finances, and assessment. Various working groups will take the discussion forward, both within the Faculty and with other education stakeholders.

Present:

Prof M Robinson

Prof A Carl

Dr M le Cordeur

Dr L Rutgers

Dr B Rhodes

Ms M Swart

Mr C Liebenberg

Dr C America

Mr N Edwards

Dr L Botha

The most precious thing in the world is knowledge. This was the message recently conveyed by Stellenbosch University Rector Prof Russel Botman to Thuthuka bursary students in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. 

He encouraged them to become thought leaders who advance knowledge in the service of all stakeholders.

Thuthuka, a transformation initiative of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), is aimed at encouraging previously disadvantaged learners to follow a career in the field of chartered accountancy.

Prof Botman, who addressed the group's monthly meeting on Thursday, illustrated his message by telling the story of his father, Karel Botman. Despite major sacrifices, he did not give up on his dream of education, and also passed it on to his children.

The SU School of Accountancy currently has 102 Thuthuka students, of whom 31 are first-year students.

Caption:

Prof Botman with (f.l.t.r.) Thuthuka students Bronwyn Moore, Cher Ockhuis, Kim Peters, Pascale Harris and Courtney Apollis. 

​The Division for Community Interaction, Stellenbosch University, invites you to attend the annual the Community Interaction Symposium with the theme Schools can make a difference: Reflecting on transformative leadership and collaborative community partnerships.

A conference drawing connections between landscape and music will be held at the Music Department of Stellenbosch University (SU).

The Hearing Landscape Critically (HLC) conference runs from Sunday 8 September until Wednesday 11 September at the SU Conservatoire and will include a number of free concerts, exhibitions and film screenings which are all open to the public. 

This second conference presented by the HLC Network is titled "Music, Place, and the Spaces of Sound" and is hosted jointly by the Music Departments of SU and Oxford University in England.

Carina Venter, Administrator of the HLC Network at Oxford University, says in planning the conference students and academics of both universities discussed fundamental questions about the application of music, discourse and art in general in conversations about land and landscape. "These included questions such as in which landscape and which music South Africa sees and hears itself," she says.

Some of the themes that stem from these questions and will be addressed at the conference include "spaces and sounds of power and politics", "philosophical approaches to the spaces of sound", "spaces and sounds of transformation/devastation", and "landscape as utopia, dystopia or heterotopia".

The keynote speakers are Prof Cherryl Walker of SU's Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, and Prof Carol Muller of the University of Pennsylvania.

The conference opens on Sunday at 17:15 with a screening of the film The Exhibition of Vandalism by Aryan Kaganof, after which Justice Edwin Cameron will deliver a response.

A lunch-time concert on Monday will feature solo flute and chamber compositions which address a dwelled-in landscape in music, as expressed by South African composers Stanley Glasser, Fiona Tozer, Bongani Ndodana-Breen and Hans Huyssen. Marietjie Pauw (flute), Tozer (guitar), Huyssen (cello) and Benjamin van Eeden (piano) will perform in the Fismer Hall.

Another film by Kaganof, An Inconsolable Memory, about the Eoan Opera Group of Cape Town will be screened in the Jannasch Hall on Monday at 13:30.

Also on Monday, pianist Kyle Shepherd, known for his innovative jazz compositions, will improvise during a silent film screening of 1960s District Six footage in the Fismer Hall.

On Tuesday, the lunch-time concert is entitled Songs of soil and water: An exploration of music of protest, love and transformation, featuring Soweto-born composer and performer Neo Muyanga. In Wednesday's concert two "landscape" compositions will be performed: Silence where a Song Would Ring (for baritone, violin and percussion) by Huyssen, and Sand, was daar (an electronic composition) by Theo Herbst.

During the conference there will be displays and sound installations designed by Hannelore Olivier, Laura du Toit and Leah Barclay in the Endler Hall.

The Sasol Art Museum will host the exhibition Lingering Absences: Hearing Landscape through Memory, curated by Dr Lizabé Lambrechts and Ernst van der Wal, from 9 to 20 September. This exhibition about the Eoan Group offers "a visual and auditory perspective on the dynamics of opera production in a time and in places subject to involuntary removals of coloured communities in Cape Town".

For more information and the full programme, visit musiclandscapeconference.wordpress.com.

CAPTION: Musician and composer Neo Muyanga soaking up the urban landscape of Cape Town. Muyanga will perform at the HLC conference on Tuesday, 10 September.

Various matric learners from the Southern Cape who participated in Stellenbosch University's (SU) Hope@Maties Tutor Project, were rewarded for their hard work during the year at a function last Thursday (29 August).

Top learners from 12 schools were surprised with Recruitment Bursaries from SU during a special function held at the Protea Hotel in George.

The following schools were present: George Sekondêr, Pacaltsdorp Sekondêr, Môrester Sekondêr, Bridgton Sekondêr, De Rust Sekondêr, Thembalethu Secondary School, Sao Bras Sekondêr, Beaufort-Wes Sekondêr, Kairos Sekondêr, Murray Sekondêr, Bastiaanse Sekondêr and Groot-Brakrivier Sekondêr

The learners' parents, school principals, tutors and the cluster coordinator also shared in this experience.

Hope@Maties is a strategic Schools Partnership Project which gives 250 Grade 12 learners from 10 geographical clusters the opportunity to participate in holiday schools. The top matriculants from schools in a geographical area are identified by their school principals and are brought together at a host school. Here they are taught by the best teachers in the area in core subjects such as Mathematics, Science and Languages.

Dr Trevor van Louw, Director at the SU Centre for Educational Leadership and Management (CELEMUS) and me Ilze Gelderblom, Advisor at the Centre for Prospective Students, addressed the learners and their parents at the function in George.

Dr Van Louw's speech referred to the work of the well-known Brazilian educationalist, Paulo Freire, about hope.

"Actions to bring about change must therefore be founded on hope, but must be grounded (or anchored) in concrete actions that we undertake to make what we are hoping for real – or to put it differently - to realise our dreams. Hope must be anchored in practice (doing), because, as Freire rightly argues, 'just to hope is to hope in vain'. These words almost certainly embody the greatest challenge to the realisation of our hope and indeed the dreams that you, your parents and your teachers have for your future," Van Louw said.

He also inspired the learners with practical advice and encouraged them to get clarity about their dreams and work harder than ever before to realise these dreams. "Let your dreams spur you to act and not to evade reality."

To conclude the evening, he motivated the learners to be prepared for a lifetime of self-examination; respecting others; believing in themselves and taking responsibility.

• Hope@Maties is a project of the University's Centre for Educational Leadership and Management (CELEMUS), the Centre for Prospective Students (CPS) and Community Interaction (CI). Contact dr Trevor van Louw at vanlouwt@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2923/4709 for more information.

Caption: Dr Trevor van Louw, Director of CELEMUS; Charnay Bowers of Bastiaanse Secondary; Ms Ilze Gelderblom, Advisor of the Centre for Prospective Students; Bradley Thompson of Sentraal High School and Mr Lynthon Jacobs, CELEMUS

​​​​​​​On 28 August, the Student Housing Committee (or Studente Huisvestingskomitee - SHVK) approved a request by PSO Chairperson Phillip van der Merwe to recommend to the finance committee that first-year PSO students be allowed to pay for the welcoming packets on their student account. 

The request was a result of consultation and cooperation by PSO Head and the Centre for Student Communities Deputy Director Dr Munita Dunn, Commercial Services Director Mr Hein Swanepoel and the SRC PSO Chairperson.

The proposal is that first-year PSO students be able to purchase welcoming packets – normally consisting of branded clothes, water bottles and meals during the welcoming period and pricing at around R650 – by signing off permission for the costs to be deducted from their student account. Not only will first years be able to buy on credit, PSOs will also have less cash-flow problems as they will only need to reconcile the difference between packets bought and those sold by the end of April every year. The initial cost will be carried by an overarching fund.

The proposal cited the fact that many first years do not have means to pay for this at the start of the year, the security risk created by PSOs carrying great amounts of cash, easing the financial liability of PSOs and providing PSO students with bursaries greater access to PSOs as motivation.

Once approved by the finance committee, the new system is set to be operational by January 2014.

Building a South African identity will depend, among other things, on our willingness to listen to each other and to know one another better.

This was the gist of a panel discussion on South African identity on RSG's popular Praat Saam program broadcast live from the Neelsie Student Centre at Stellenbosch University (SU) on Wednesday (4 September 2013).

This was the second broadcast in Praat Saam and Stellenbosch University's joint series of thought leadership programs about current issues. The first broadcast took place on 2 August with the same topic: the SA Identity. This ties into the series of thought leadership programs that the Rector has convened in the second part of the year.

Prof Russel Botman, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor, said we don't talk about identity enough. "We must ask what bring us closer together."

He added that it is possible to unite people around a single identity.

"We can build a South African identity by getting to know, respect and trust one another," political analyst, Mr Roelf Meyer, said.

He encouraged the younger generation to help develop a South African identity, mainly because we are not one yet.

"We are busy with a process to make South Africa truly inclusive. This is not going to happen immediately."

For Ms Nokwanda Malumbete, a fourth-year law student and resident of the "Critical Thinking" Listen Learn and Live (LLL) house, honest discussions can help build a South African identity.

"It is important to talk about identity. We should have uncomfortable conversations instead of ignoring things. In this way you can see the real person."

Echoing the sentiments of Malumbete, Ms Eleanor Swartz of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation said that even though identity and diversity are complex issues within the South African context, we shouldn't be afraid to talk about them.

"We should be open to conversations with each other, and talk about identity and diversity constructively."

Prof Julian Sonn, an expert in the field of leadership from Stellenbosch University's Business School, also emphasised the importance of honest discussions to build a South African identity.

"We have different identities and stories, and therefore it is vital that we listen to each other's stories."

Ms Heleen Hofmeyer, a third-year BA Value and Policy Studies student and also a resident of the "Critical Thinking" LLL-house, shared with listeners something of her experience at school and university, and alluded to the fact that many South Africans fail to engage each other on important topics.

• Click here for the Rector's blog posts on South African identity.

Good order at sea, lessons derived from anti-piracy, the role of technology, cooperation on maritime security, threats to the rising oil and gas industry and developing coastal communities to counter the attraction of piracy.

These are some of the themes to be deliberated upon at the Maritime security off eastern Africa: Beyond piracy, a conference presented by the Faculty of Military Science of Stellenbosch University (SU) in collaboration with the Faculty of Strategy and Military Operations of the Royal Danish Defence College and the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The event, to be held at the White Sands Hotel and Conference Resort in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania from 18-20 September, is the third conference in an ongoing series of conferences, workshops and publications on strategic theory that stems from the partnership between the Faculty of Military Science and the Danish Faculty located at the RDDC in Copenhagen, both working in the field of strategy and security.

Prof Francois Vreÿ of the SU Faculty of Military Science and co-organiser of the conference says the anti-piracy debate in response to the threats of piracy and armed robberies tend to dominate views on maritime security off eastern Africa.

"Although piracy is a dangerous threat, claims about its ongoing demise as a result of the pressures by naval forces and progress on land – Somalia in particular – do not entail an automatic return to good order at sea. While the 'piracy-anti-piracy' debate answers a first order question, 'What is the threat?', the beyond piracy focus is an attempt to answer a second order question, 'What constitutes bad order at sea off eastern Africa and what to do about it?' The September conference offers a platform for discussion by speakers and delegates from afar as Southern Africa, East Africa, Europe, the USA, UK and India on the wider topic of good order at sea and to contemplate the 'beyond piracy' idea for the region as well."   

Papers read on day 1 cover some academic ground, while on day 2, speakers will focus on maritime matters relevant to the region. Three parallel morning workshops are held on day 3. The first workshop will focus on jurisdiction and policing in response to the experiences of the anti-piracy campaign; the second on ideas and experiences on the development of coastal communities to oppose the attractions of maritime crime; and the third workshop on highlighting the importance of maritime leadership from countries along the east coast of the continent.

"Maritime security is rapidly becoming a recognised African security domain but is somewhat overshadowed with the fixation on piracy as a cover-all term for what is wrong at sea," adds Vreÿ. "The September conference offers the opportunity to also reflect on other matters such as resource security, policing, developmental perspectives and leadership. This is important to build upon the declared successes of the anti-piracy operations off Somalia in particular, but also to inform the rapidly rising debate on maritime security, piracy in particular, in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa. The combination of African and non-African speakers hold the promise of interesting insights on a matter deemed very important, but largely neglected by African leaders for some period of time." 

Keynote speaker

The keynote speaker is Professor Geoffrey Till from Kings College, London – one of the foremost international academics on sea power and maritime security affairs.

Professor Till brings a theoretical line to the event by revisiting the good order at sea concept, while Mr Johan Potgieter from the Institute for Security Studies (South Africa) is poised to update delegates on the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS-2050) of the African Union. Both speakers set the scene as knowledge and understanding stem from theory, but the African context must be added and AIMS-2050 serves as a framework to convince the African leadership to attend to the all important maritime domain or the blue economy of the continent as well.

The Danish partners are the primary sponsors of the conference and a number of prominent Danish delegates and guests will attend the event. In this regard the Commandant of the Royal Danish Defence College and Professor Thomas Mandrup are two key guests as they played a vital role to secure consent and funding for the event. Various other guests such as the Tanzanian Minister of Defence, senior naval delegates of the Tanzanian Navy and members of Management of the University of Dar es Salaam are expected to attend the event.

Stellenbosch University funds the workshop on maritime leadership through the Stellenbosch Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa (SIGLA) and delegates from Dar es Salaam by way of the African Development Grant to participate as delegates and speakers.

• Contact Prof Francois Vreÿ at tel no 022-7023106 of via e-mail at francois@ma2.sun.ac.za for more information or visit the conference webpage here.

• Click here for more information on Faculty of Strategy and Military Operations of the Royal Danish Defence College.

​The Stellenbosch University Business School (USB) has appointed two new professors extraordinary as well as four senior lecturers extraordinary.

New expertise in the fields of qualitative methodology, knowledge management, leadership development, qualitative research, systems thinking and entrepreneurship has been added to the USB faculty with the announcement of six new appointments.

The appointment of two new professors extraordinary and four senior lecturers extraordinary is effective from 1 August this year to 31 July 2016.

This category of appointments was created by Stellenbosch University to give recognition to individuals for their proven expertise and/or their eminence in their professions and fields of study, and to involve them in the academic programmes of the business school.

The criteria for the appointment of professors and senior lecturers to the university's establishment also apply when a candidate is assessed for appointment as professor extraordinary or senior lecturer extraordinary.

The newly appointed professors extraordinary are:

• Prof Willem Schurink (professor and expert in qualitative methodology);
  
• Dr Ulrich Schmitt (knowledge management).
  

The newly appointed senior lecturers extraordinary​ are:

• Dr Sarah Riordan (gender issues, organisational renewal and diversity management);
  
• Dr Carly Steyn (leadership development);
  
• Dr Steyn Heckroodt (systems thinking and entrepreneurship);
  
• Dr Carly Steyn (leadership development).
  

Academic research, especially in the engineering domain, should address industrial, economic and social problems or opportunities first before aiming for student graduations and publications.

This was one of the viewpoints of Prof Johann Görgens of the Department of Process Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering during his inaugural lecture on Tuesday 3 September 2013.

Görgens argued that academic training and research should serve primarily as an asset in economic development rather than as a means of financial survival of research groups and universities.

"Both industry and society stand to benefit from such a system, together with postgraduate students being provided with expertise to resolve real-world problems.

"Both economic and social development in South Africa remain dependent on such 'export' of real-world solutions from academic research."

Görgens said industries can provide exposure to real-world problems and opportunities, and academics can offer technical expertise and vision of future technology potential.

"The state of technological development and the commercial advantages of advanced technologies in today's markets provide a strong motivation for academic research to focus on actual problems and solutions for the world."

In this regard, Görgens referred to the University's HOPE Project as a means to draw academic research and projects closer to the real world of socio-economic needs.

He noted that South Africa still lags far behind as regards not only the number of engineers or scientists and trained postgraduate students, but also the training of students in areas that are economically important.

Görgens called for greater commitment to industry-based research, and said that it has potential for significant job creation and economic development.

As an example of how research can solve real-world problems and identify opportunities within industry, Görgens cited the work of his research group on the importance of plant biomass.

"Plant biomass represents the only renewable source of carbon available to humankind and is therefore widely considered to be a future replacement for fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas," he said.  

Görgens argued that plant biomass, which is produced in nature through the process of photosynthesis, provides potential for significant savings in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels.

"Processing of plant biomass can also be incorporated into existing industrial facilities that utilise fossil fuels as a means to reduce the environmental footprints of such industries," he added.

Photo: Prof Eugene Cloete, Vice-Rector: Research and Innovation, Prof Johann Görgens, and Prof Hansie Knoetze, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.

Photographer: Justin Alberts

​Prof Anton van Niekerk, Chair of the Department of Philisophy and Director of the Centre for Applied Ethics of Stellenbosch University, has just been appointed by the Minister of Health, dr Aron Motsoaledi, as a member of the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC), the highest policy-making body for research ethics in the country. 

This council exists in terms of the New Health Act (2008). It makes policy, accredits all research ethics committees in the country and advises the Minister about health research ethics matters. 

The appointment is for a term of three years. Prof van Niekerk is also the Chair of the Research Ethics Committee of the SU Senate, as well as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ethics Institute of South Africa.

​New technology can help to control lung cancer better and to increase patients’ chances of survival.

This was the view of Prof Branislav Jeremic of the Radiation Oncology Division in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in his inaugural lecture on Thursday (5 September 2013).

According to Jeremic, technological advances have had a significant impact on the treatment of lung cancer, which continues to be the major cancer killer in both sexes worldwide. Approximately 1.6 million new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year.

“Computerised techniques and increasing software capabilities enabled more focused irradiation of tumours and less irradiation to surrounding normal tissues,” Jeremic said.

In this regard, he referred to the Big Bore Computerised Tomography scanner which allows for the detection of tumour movements in 3D fashion. 

“This also meant that with better Radiation Therapy (RT) field shaping, an increase in the RT dose delivered to tumours became possible. In lung cancer, numerous such studies in 3D RT showed promise which led to better local control and overall survival.”

Jeremic was, however, quick to point out that technology is an enabler and that the most important component of the treatment chain remains the radiation and how, when and where it is used.

He said that despite technological and biological advances in the field of non-surgical treatment of lung cancer, some challenges remain, especially in the Division of Radiation Oncology of Stellenbosch University (SU) and its affiliated Tygerberg Hospital.

According to Jeremic, some of these challenges include limited resources, limited access to affordable modern drugs, poor awareness of lung cancer, poor healthcare infrastructure, and frequent delay in both diagnosis and referral.

There is also the “usual advanced disease at presentation; and hence a substantial number of patients are treated palliatively,” he added.

“In spite of serious limitations, opportunities clearly exist for a systematic and orchestrated approach in clinic, education and research in this field,” Jeremic said.

In this regard, he highlighted the identification of priority areas in the research of lung cancer, updated lung cancer diagnostic and therapeutic protocols in collaboration with other Stellenbosch University (SU)/Tygerberg Hospital services (TBH), and improved collaboration with existing non-clinical services of SU/TBH (e.g. radiobiology, pharmacology).

Jeremic added that working on lung cancer on interdisciplinary and interprofessional level remains the main objective for oncology at SU/TBH.

Photo: Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching, Prof Branislav Jeremic, and Prof Jimmy Volmink, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Photographer: Mandi Barnard

"If there is one group of people who can make things work, then it's engineers. You don't back down from challenges."

These were the words of Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), at a function on September 4 where two new buildings were officially opened at the Faculty of Engineering.  Prof Botman was referring to the slogan of the National Development Plan Vision 2030: Our future - make it work.

In his speech Prof Botman also talked about the ambitious targets set by the National Development Plan with its Vision 2030 such as the availability of water, toilets, houses, good clinics, hospitals, schools and police stations. "If you can identify with this vision, you are at the right place because this University is not only known for its excellence but also for its significance - its relevance," he said.

According to Prof Botman, the solid contribution of the Faculty of Engineering's HOPE Project research initiatives, Energy and the Environment, Communication and Information systems and Food Security, are perfect examples of relevance.

"In South Africa there is only one engineer for every 3 166 people in the country," he said. "The country produces too few engineers, and the average throughput rate at universities is far too low. This is why I am delighted that the Faculty of Engineering at Stellenbosch University's throughput rate is around 75%."

The two buildings opened at the event, were the Knowledge Centre and the Process Engineering annexe. Both buildings were designed using green principles.

"The two buildings are the first significant additions to the Engineering complex since its completion in the 1970s. We are proud to introduce the latest additions. It will definitely help us to become a better faculty," Prof Hansie Knoetze, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering said.

Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel, Vice-Rector: Teaching and Learning and former dean of the Faculty, gave an overview of the infrastructure investments at Engineering the past five years. A first investment of R39 million by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in 2008 include the refurbishment of old lecture rooms into modern lecture halls, tutorial rooms, computer rooms and laboratories.

A second investment in 2010/2011, led to the establishment of the Knowledge Centre. The four-storey Knowledge Centre (R38 million) consists of an ultra-modern library, two large lecture halls and two research centres.

Various roleplayers, including the Department of Higher Education and Training, Sasol, MIH and the SU council, contributed funds toward the building. Sasol's contribution was used towards half of the fourth floor which houses the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy studies and the Sontermiese-Energie-Navorsingsgroep huisves. MIH (Naspers' broadcasting and internet technology division) in turn funded the other half of the floor where the MIH Medialab is housed.  The Medialab is a multi-disciplinary research environment where postgraduate students from various technical and non-technical disciplines work together on internet-, computer- and mobile technology.

The cost of the Process engineering annexe amounts to almost R30 million. It consists of three storeys and includes laboratories for undergraduate teaching, tutorial rooms and work space for postgraduate students as well as offices for personnel and researchers.

Ms Corinna Truter, head of the Engineering and Forestry Library, says the new library is very popular among students. The average amount of visitors per month increased from 5 000 to 20 000 since the modern and well equipped library has been available to students. Apart from traditional textbooks and other reference material, the library also has the latest electronic databases, e-journals and e-books. Two seminar rooms are regularly used by students for group work, something that is very important in an engineering student's life. Round tables in an open space area are constantly being used by groups or individuals. More than 30 computers are available to students to work on and a modern classroom with 25 computers can either be used as a computer user area or as a lecture area. Network points are available to students who have their own laptops.

A couple of years ago there was a request from government that engineering faculties deliver more graduates to address the shortage of engineers in South Africa. The Faculty of Engineering heeded this call and almost doubled its student numbers over the last six years thanks to renewed marketing. As a result the existing infrastructure was unable to accommodate the growing number of students and expansion was desperately needed.

Various other building projects are currently underway at the Faculty of Engineering to expand or renovate infrastructure.

Judging by the opportunities in our country, such as big infrastructure projects, improvement of the capacity to generate electricity, an efficient public transport system and fast broadband access for the whole country, Prof Botman thinks the Faculty of Engineering is positioned well to help build a better future. "I have no doubt that the Faculty of Engineering and its people are more than capable to tackle these challenges," he concluded.        

• For more information contact Liesel Koch at tel 021 808 4066, lkoch@sun.ac.za

​​​​​​With about 300 bonsai trees, the Botanical Gardens of Stellenbosch University probably boasts one of the biggest collections in the country.

And the collection, of which the oldest tree is 72 years old, has will for the first time have an official name: The Western Cape Bonsai Heritage Collection. The name is to be registered with the South African Botanical Society.

“The collection comprises exotic and indigenous trees and we wanted to give it an identity by registering a formal name,” says Mr Fritz Joubert, a member of the Boland Bonsai Kai. A while ago, the Kai entered into an agreement with the Botanical Gardens according to which its members would take care of the bonsai collection. Joubert visits the Gardens about twice a week.

​The collection contains, among others, the extensive fir and cedar tree collection that was created by the late Becky Lucas. She was the first woman to practise bonsai in South Africa. The bonsai creations of the Rev Gerjo van der Merwe have also been included in the collection and consist of wild olive trees, Kai apple trees and Chinese elms, among others. 

Since March this year the trees belonging to the late Louis Nel of Pretoria have become the new focus point of the collection. Nel, who was known as the Buddleia King of South Africa, died in an accident last year. His daughter Zonia, who lives in Stellenbosch, then donated the extensive collection to the Botanical Gardens on permanent loan.  

“The trees have given the collection a new dimension. Some of the trees have received international awards,” says Joubert.

“A bonsai has to fulfil specific aesthetic requirements. It is a living art form and the caretaker must know how to prune the trees correctly. The tree’s lines have to be flowing and it should look like a miniature tree in nature. It must not stand upright like a pole in the soil. There should be rhythm in the stem and branches and the stem must be shaped from thick to thin. There has to be harmony.”

The minder should also take note of all sorts of insects and pests, such as white fly, thrips, red spider mite and root rot, which pose a threat to the tree. A bonsai can vary in height frommame (very small), which could be anything from 7,5 to 10 cm tall, to shohi, with a height of 30 cm to approximately 1 metre, and chumono, with a high of 1 metre and more.

According to Ms Viola Calitz, administrative officer and right-hand woman of the Gardens, the bonsai collection attracts many visitors.

“People like miniature objects. Furthermore, bonsai is an art form through which something beautiful is created.”

In addition to South African visitors, the collection is also popular among people from Britain, Germany, the Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands.

​It is believed that the oldest example of a Japanese bonsai is about 1 000 years old.

“This is evidence of the dedication of many generations of the same family,” says Calitz. “Our bonsai collection has to be conserved so that it can also provide pleasure to different generations.”

Joubert adds: “The collection shows what bonsai cultivators are able to do. There are people who believe that it is the best collection in the country, and we are very proud of that."

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It is with sadness that the Management of the Military Academy learnt of the passing of Lieutenant Mthokozisi Siphosenkosi Ngxongo, a first year Military Science student at the Military Academy in Saldanha.  The student, from Hlabisa, Kwazulu Natal, was found dead in his room at the Academy on 19 August 2013.  The cause of his death is still being determined.

Lt Ngxongo was the yeargroup representative for the first year learners at the Military Academy and academically the best in his class.  He participated with insight and knowledge and was viewed as the cream of the crop.

The Commandant of the Military Academy, Brigadier General Lawrence Mbatha, together with the Dean of the Faculty of Military Science, Professor Sam Tshehla, commented that the news of the passing of the student came as a bog blow to the Military Academy (Faculty of Military Science).  His death is a severe loss for not only the members of the unit as a close-knit community, but also for the country as a whole.  One cannot but think of the contribution that he could have made in peacekeeping efforts for his country and even on the continent. 

The Academy’s thoughts and prayers are still with his family and friends in this sad time.

The staff and students at the Military Academy have been informed of his death and counselling sessions have been made available.  A memorial service was held on 27 August 2013 at the Military Academy.  A semi-military funeral was held on Saturday, 31 August 2013 at Hlabisa, Kwazulu Natal.

​"We believe in our product. We also take pride in the achievements of our alumni."

This was the message by the Dean of Economic and Management Sciences, Prof Johann de Villiers, at an alumni networking event held at Stellenbosch on 4 September.

The event also served as the launch of a bursary fund, the Dean's fund, to which alumni can contribute.

With some 4 230 undergraduate students, Economic and Management Sciences is the largest faculty at Stellenbosch University (SU).

Discussing the priorities of the Faculty, Prof De Villiers said these include broadening access to degree programmes, enhancing excellence in both research and student success rate, and making an impact on society.

To make programmes accessible to more students, the Faculty has been increasing the number of undergraduate programmes offered in English and Afrikaans. Currently three programmes are taught in both languages from the first to the final year.

"The Faculty is also committed to maximizing the success rate of our students and produce graduates well-equipped to serve their business community. We would therefore like to make it easier for our top undergraduate students to focus on their studies without being concerned about finances," Prof De Villiers explained.

Since 2012, the Faculty has made R3 million of its own funds available and has provided 74 undergraduate students with top-up bursaries to help cover both class and accommodation fees.

"By helping to remove the obstacle of finances and boost student success, we also help build a future source of supply for our postgraduate programmes."

However, the Faculty's current investment is not sufficient to meet students' growing financial needs. In order to continue strengthening the student pool and attract the best possible students from across the country, a Dean's Fund has been established for the Faculty. It is aimed at academically deserving and financially needy students and is supported by grants from donors and alumni.

"As an alumnus/a it is within your power to create the opportunity for a dedicated student to enrol in one of our programmes," Prof De Villiers told the audience. "You can help the next generation of business people by supporting the Dean's Fund."

Ms Bev Witten, Senior Director for Alumni Relations added, "It was an honour to co-host this event with the faculty and we fully support this initiative, encouraging our alumni and friends to contribute towards the Dean's Fund helping give other students the opportunity to share in the SU experience."

For more information about the Dean's Fund, or of ways in which to support student success through the Fund, please contact:

• Mr Hugo Steyn, tel. 021 808 3615, e-mail hugos@sun.ac.za or
• Mr Khaya Jack, tel. 021 808 9262, e-mail kjack@sun.ac.za.

Photo caption:

Prof Johann de Villiers, present Dean of the Economic and Management Sciences Faculty, Ms Bev Witten, Senior Director: Alumni Relations and Mr Thys du Toit, Chairman of the Stellenbosch Trust, attended the networking event.