Menu 

On campus

As the university has embedded sustainability in its core functions and daily actions, it places the responsibility for the implementation and realisation of sustainability within each environment. These environments are highly diverse and each one assumes responsibility in its own way.

Sustainability is emphasised in various manners within the academic, research and operational environments. Here is a list of environments that already implement specific sustainability programmes. This is not necessarily a complete list. Please also refer to the SU year book and website.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences has a Green Committee that focuses on environmental sustainability. Through the committee's activities, the faculty aims to reduce its ecological footprint and to act responsibly in terms of plans for the future. They also belong to the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Network. It unites around 500 healthcare structures and organisations across six continents that are committed to reduce their ecological footprint and promote environmental health.
The Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies strives to develop and improve renewable and sustainable energy in order to enable economic growth in the field of sustainable energy.
The Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology studies the influence of invasive species on South Africa's plants and animals.
The Stellenbosch University Water Institute, officially established in March 2011, integrates all SU faculties and departments to address water-related challenges, ensure technology transfer, and develop human resources in this regard.
The Faculty of Engineering installed the first of three wind turbines at the South African base in Antarctica.
The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.
The Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology.
The Geographical Information Initiative.
The Standard Bank Centre for Agribusiness Leadership and Mentorship Development.
The Sustainability Institute, in collaboration with the university's School of Public Leadership, focuses on ecology and community and mental development.
The Institute for Futures Research publishes a bimonthly magazine, Sustainability Watch, to keep the business community abreast of developments in the field of sustainability.
The Faculty of Education's Environmental Education Programme (EEPUS) focuses on incorporating environmental education into all programmes of the Faculty of Education and to prepare student teachers for environmental education.

The responsibility rests within the professional administrative support services to create systems whereby operational actions will enable university-wide sustainability.

Information technology (IT)

Information technology aims to improve the eco-efficiency of information and communication technology (ICT), i.e. to provide better ICT services and infrastructure while limiting energy consumption and electronic waste.

IT's approach is based on three main themes:

  1. Manage the full life cycle of computer and network tools in order to reduce energy and material supply.
  2. Reduce energy consumption (and heat generation) in the Data Centre, as well as that used by computers and network tools on campus.
  3. Investigate and propose methods for the reduction of energy and material supply on actual and virtual campuses through the use of information and communication technology (ICT).

In addition, the Sustainable IT Competency Centre has been established with the following objectives:
to coordinate sustainable IT projects;

  • to coordinate sustainable IT projects;
  • to advise university management on policy considerations regarding technology;
  • to share knowledge regarding sustainable IT;
  • to create awareness of sustainable IT on campus;
  • to serve as a source of new sustainable energy initiatives on campus; and
  • to engage with ASAUDIT Green IT SIG and EDUCAUSE's SUSTAIN group.

Facilities Management

To date, Facilities Management has launched various initiatives to manage SU's footprint on the environment. Read more.

Finance

The Finance Division is a central role-player in creating long-term financial sustainability. In this regard, the following objectives are of utmost importance:

  • error-free reporting to faculties and management for the purpose of budgeting and planning actions;
  • efficient and effective handling of all outstanding debt in terms of the university's financial policy;
  • effective communication with parents, bursary companies and other stakeholders on matters such as student fees, bursaries and payment methods;
  • managing the budget process to make full use of the available government funding;
  • increasing exploitation, commercialisation and diversification of income sources, and
  • application of SU's financial policy to give current and future funders the necessary reassurance that SU is committed to good corporate governance.

Click here for the e-book on sustainability activities at SU.