Stellenbosch University is celebrating its 100th year this year! (April 2018).
On 2 April 1918 Victoria College made way for the University of Stellenbosch (in 2000 Stellenbosch University) and four faculties (Science, Education, Arts and Social Sciences, and AgriSciences), 503 students and 40 lecturing staff officially started a new day as a fully-fledged University. Today SU is home to 10 faculties and a vibrant and cosmopolitan community of more than 31 000 students and 3000 staff members, spread over five campuses.
Stellenbosch University (SU) is home to an academic community of 29 000 students (including 4 000 foreign students from 100 countries) as well as 3 000 permanent staff members (including 1 000 academics) on five campuses.
The historical oak-lined university town amongst the Boland Mountains in the winelands of the Western Cape creates a unique campus atmosphere, which attracts local and foreign students and staff alike. On the main campus, paved walkways wind between campus buildings – some dating from previous centuries; others just a few years old. Architecture from various eras attests to the sound academic foundation and establishment of an institution of excellence. This, together with the scenic beauty of the area; state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facilities and technology, as well as visionary thinking about the creation of a sustainable 21st-century institution, makes for the unique character of Stellenbosch University. This character makes Stellenbosch a wonderful place to find a job or start a career.
Academic excellence and innovation
The University is amongst South Africa's leading tertiary institutions based on research output, student pass rates and rated scientists, and is recognised internationally as an academic institution of excellence. It boasts the highest weighted research output per full-time academic staff member of all South African universities and the second-highest number of scientists in South Africa who have been rated by the National Research Foundation (NRF). It also has the highest student success rate in the country.
SU is cementing its reputation as a world-class institution. According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, SU is one of the top 300 universities in the world, and among the top 20 in BRICS countries. It also features among the world's elite institutions in 10 of the 36 subjects featured in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for 2015. SU was also included in the 2014 CWTS Leiden Ranking, which measures the scientific performance of 750 major universities worldwide.
With 18 research chairs under the NRF South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChi), the University is regarded as a leader in the fields of biomedical tuberculosis research and management, wine biotechnology, animal sciences and mathematical biosciences. Another SARChi chair, in the field of invasion biology, is shared between SU and the University of Venda. This constitutes but one of SU's many partnerships, both local and international. As preferred research partner, SU also participates in various international academic networks.
Academic innovation and student support promote student success
Stellenbosch University (SU) is committed to continued academic excellence and social relevance. This world class institution is helping to build a better society through its core functions, - learning and teaching, research and innovation, and community interaction. Quality learning and teaching at SU make a crucial contribution to the achievement of strategic institutional objectives, including increasing student success; enhancing the University's knowledge-base; broadening the diversity of the staff and student corps; and systemic sustainability. Innovative teaching and learning programmes, as well as effective learning and study opportunities promote student success: the end goal of the teaching and learning process, and also as an important goal of SU's HOPE Project.
Staff Development
Stellenbosch University (SU) commits itself to developing all staff members. By the same token, the University affirms its viewpoint that a sophisticated support service for staff and teaching development is crucial to a university that strives to compete at national and international levels and to make a meaningful contribution.
SU’s Staff Development is an integral part of the University’s vision, mission, and long-term corporate and strategic plan and objectives.
Our Purpose
To strive towards attaining “Team Stellenbosch” which signifies a personnel corp that continuously feels part of the core business of Stellenbosch University (SU). To experience work and life as meaningful and important, to enjoy recognition and be characterized by our positive involvement within the SU community.
Our vision
To have a well balanced workforce who are able to function optimally in an enabling, caring and supportive work environment.
Mission
We strive to achieve our vision for Stellenbosch University through sustained transformation and, on our journey of discovery through academia in the service of our stakeholders, we have resolved to:
- Create an academic community in which social justice and equal opportunities will lead to systemic sustainability
- Investigate and innovatively implement appropriate and sustainable approaches to the development of Africa
- Align our research with a wide-ranging spectrum of challenges facing the world, Africa, our country and the local community
- Maintain student-centred and future-oriented learning and teaching that establish a passion for lifelong learning
- Invest in the innovative scholarship and creative ability of all our people
- Leverage the inherent power of diversity, and
- Establish and extend synergistic networks in which our University is a dynamic partner.