Features

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on all of us. South Africa entered a national lockdown on 26 March 2020, and since then we at Stellenbosch University (SU) have worked tirelessly to find innovative ways of dealing with the impact of the pandemic and continuing our work in the new reality of business unusual.

Ahead of his retirement in December 2019, Ben Nel, manager of the Global Education Centre at Stellenbosch University (SU) International, shared some of his highlights and experiences having advanced internationalisation at SU for 21 years, with communications intern Refiloe Nkhasi.    

Stellenbosch University (SU) rang in its Africa Day celebrations by launching the SU Africa Platform. Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) on 25 May 1963.

In recent years, South African and African universities have identified the advancement of doctoral scholarship as a crucial element in developing higher education and growing research production on the continent. For the past decade, the African Doctoral Academy (ADA) at Stellenbosch University (SU) has been doing its bit in this regard, coordinating and strengthening doctoral education at SU and across Africa. By Birgit Ottermann

During its 25 years of existence, Stellenbosch University (SU) International has provided study-abroad and exchange opportunities to thousands of SU students, affording them an international experience of note. Given the chance, many students have gone on mobility programmes at partner institutions only in Europe, North America, Asia or Australia. This is about to change – SU students can now take part in short mobility programmes at 26 partner institutions on the continent.

Often regarded as the behind-the-scenes division of SU International, the Services Centre is its lifeblood and heartbeat. For most international students the Centre is their first introduction to life in Stellenbosch and South Africa. 

Stellenbosch University (SU) has several active agreements with partner universities in various countries for the enrolment of joint degree candidates. Most of these opportunities are for doctoral candidates. By 2017, 23 joint PhDs and 29 double master’s degrees had been awarded. Currently, 32 students are enrolled for joint PhDs with various partners and 19 students for double master’s degrees. By DOROTHY STEVENS

This year marks 25 years since Stellenbosch University (SU) opened its doors to the world, connecting with institutions from outside South Africa’s borders. The celebration of this quarter century of formalised international activities coincides with the University’s centenary celebrations as a public university.