The dry field of the Danie Craven Stadium at Coetzenburg was flooded by a sea of maroon on 25 January 2018, as enthusiastic and hopeful first-year students participated in the formal welcoming procession and the official start of Stellenbosch University’s (SU’s) Centenary – the first event of a big year for us all.
The University that started out on 2 April 1918 with the four faculties of Arts, Science, Education and Agriculture (now Arts and Social Sciences, Science, Education and AgriSciences), 503 students and 40 lecturers – today boasts ten faculties, five campuses and a vibrant and cosmopolitan community of over 30 000 students and 3 000 staff members.
During the Dream Launch, students were encouraged to write their dreams on paper ‘leaves’ that were blown across the open fields at the stadium. Students also gathered on the sports field where they encircled a huge 100 laid out on the grass, signalling 2018 being the 100th year of first-year dreams. (You can watch the short video here).
“The aim of the Dream Launch event was to bring all first years from different backgrounds together for the first time as Maties,” said Ferdi Van Dyk, administrative officer at the Centre for Student Leadership and Structures. “The Dream Launch celebrated the students who are the lifeblood of our University – and we wanted to show them that the University and the people around them will support their dreams over the coming years,” Van Dyk added.
As a proud Matie, who also served as a student leader during his campus days, Professor Wim de Villiers is excited to lead the University at this crucial time in its history. “The year’s commemoration will occur against the backdrop of many decades of excellent academic achievements and valuable lessons learnt from the institution's complex history,” said Prof de Villiers.
“As we commemorate our Centenary in 2018, we celebrate great achievements and ground-breaking discoveries. We salute the more than 250 000 alumni and students, educators, researchers and professional and administrative support staff, as well as our management and governance structures who have helped to mould this institution and cement its reputation as a world-class academic institution.”
In celebration of the Centenary, the Rector cycled in the 2018 Cape Town Cycle Tour as part of the #Maties100 team with former Springbok cyclist Carinus Lemmer and the chair of Maties Cycling, Nicky Giliomee, to raise money for bursaries. His daughter, Gera, also joined him.
The Centenary theme is 100 years of learning, growing and moving forward together, with the following expression in the three official languages of the Western Cape: saam vorentoe/forward together/masiye phambili.
Last year, SU enrolled more students than ever before and awarded a record number of qualifications – in both cases increasing the diversity of its student body while at the same time maintaining a module pass rate above 85%, which is among the highest in the country.
“Transformation does not undermine excellence. There is a power in diversity that we are increasingly seeing manifest at SU,” said Prof de Villiers. “Over the past three years, there has been tangible evidence that SU is increasing in stature and excellence, locally and abroad.”
SU, as a public institution, performed its higher education role within the various political, socio-economic, cultural and educational realities and developments of the 20th century, including the particular form of injustice then prevalent in South Africa.
SU has since “acknowledged its contribution to the injustices of the past and committed itself to appropriate redress and development initiatives”, as expressed in its Strategic Framework for the Turn of the Century and Beyond of 20 March 2000. “We also honour the critical Matie voices of that time who would not be silenced despite revilement, and who were to become beacons on the journey towards a just society,” said Prof De Villiers.
As a testament to its evolving character, SU is attracting South Africa’s foremost thought leaders to its campuses to help navigate a future brimming with hope.
Visit SU’s Centenary webpage www.sun.ac.za/100 to keep abreast of the latest Centenary highlights, such as the Centenary narrative, a 100-year timeline and interesting articles and historic pictures, which will be updated throughout the year.
