​​Vaccine hesitancy is a complex phenomenon that needs to be understood within the specific context it occurs. This is according to Elizabeth Oduwole, a PhD student in the Department of Global Health's Division of Health Systems Strengthening and Public Health, who recently presented the proposal for her study at the Annual Academic Day of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University.

Oduwole's presentation was entitled Investigating vaccine hesitancy and validating a measuring tool in the Western Cape Province. Her study looks at understanding some of the reasons for vaccine hesitancy in the Western Cape and aims to answer three questions: (1) What are the major causes and drivers of vaccine hesitancy in the province? (2) What measuring tools exist? And (3) are the survey tools valid in the context and setting.

Oduwole pointed out that there are currently vaccines available for 25 vaccine-preventable diseases, of which 13 are routinely administered in South Africa in accordance with the Expanded Programme on Immunisation. Vaccination progress in many countries have stalled or regressed in recent years due to a number of reasons. These include issues to do with resource constraints such as missed opportunities for vaccination; vaccine stock-outs and programme and infrastructural challenges; and issues to do with personal choice and vaccine hesitancy.

“The Western Cape is among the best provinces in the country in achieving vaccination coverage but is still below the national target of 92% coverage," Oduwole said.

“Recent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles in the Western Cape show that there is definitely some change afoot and some of this is undoubtedly due to increased hesitancy," she added. 

“The full extent of the role of vaccine hesitancy in this is not known but needs to be studied within the specific context in order to develop successful interventions," she said.

Vaccine hesitancy can be viewed on a continuum, from accepting all vaccines, to only accepting some, to refusing all.

The study incorporates a scoping review which will look at currently available tools to measure vaccine hesitancy; a data-collection phase incorporating interviews with health service providers which will include both those doing infant vaccination as well as travel clinics that vaccinate adults; and an exercise to validate an existing tool.

The aim of the study is to contribute to the body of knowledge on vaccine hesitancy, to provide a deeper understanding of the problem within the Western Cape, and to propose contextualised solutions where possible.

Oduwole also highlighted the unique situation where South Africa, as a resource-constrained setting, has both practical access-based issues when it comes to vaccination as well as issues related to decision making often associated with higher-income countries. She also referred to the important role and widespread influence of anti-vaccination groups on social media.

​One of the greatest challenges facing most townships is water management. Many residents were previously excluded from crucial decision-making processes during apartheid and continue to be so, despite the advent of democracy. This research aims to address this by firstly gauging ethical approaches to water management in townships and secondly, by making this information available to municipalities so that they can engage more effectively with communities themselves.  The research team is of the understanding that if both the municipality and the community interrogate the principles at hand in water management in a geographical area, then best practice, rather than minimal compliance could be achieved. Currently, due to a lack of trust and unmet expectations, many municipal initiatives are vandalised or even destroyed. The research process is designed to be iterative and to later become part of the municipality’s functioning process within the community. The research process is focused on building trust, restoring community and rebuilding civic responsibility through a shared understanding of ethics between the community and municipality

We would like to congratulate Professor Susan van Schalkwyk (PhD) for being awarded the HELTASA  National  Excellence  in  Teaching  and  Learning  Award 2018.

Professor Susan van Schalkwyk (PhD) is the Director of the Centre for Health Professions Education. A key component of her work is the provision of support for health professions education research in the faculty and in this role, she conducts faculty development initiatives to support particularly young researchers towards publication. Over the past five years, she has served as an educational advisor for the Stellenbosch University Rural Medical Education Partnership Initiative (SURMEPI) and is currently conducting a five-year study investigating the clinical training of health care workers in rural contexts. Prof Van Schalkwyk has an established background in facilitating the professional education of academics in their teaching role. Other research interests include academic writing and postgraduate studies.

​The Stellenbosch University Water Institute (SUWI) presented a short course entitled 'Water quality management and risk assessment at water care works' at Northern Cape Rural Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College in Upington from 26 to 28 September 2018. 

Lecturers from the Upington, Okiep and Kathu campuses of the Northern Cape Rural TVET College attended the course, alongside municipal officials from the Namakwa District Municipality, as well as the Dawid-Kruiper and Kai Garib Municipalities.

The Principal of Northern Cape Rural TVET, Mr. Percy Sago, welcomed all of the participants on the first day of the course by giving an overview of the College and highlighting the regional training requirements related to water and energy in the Northern Cape Region.  The short course consisted of classroom-based training as well as a visit to the Upington Water Treatment Works.

The purpose of the course is to capacitate the South African water sector to coordinate and execute risk-based water safety and operational activities within defined water services schemes.  The course intends to enable tutors and trainers, as well as engineers and officials from the three tiers of government to select, review or develop a wastewater risk abatement plan and water safety plan for a defined water services works.

The Stellenbosch University-accredited short course forms part of an Energy and Water Services Sector Education Training Authority (EWSETA) initiative to increase the training capacity of TVET college lecturers in the South African municipal environment.  This initiative is in accordance with the new National Water Resource Strategy II (NWRS2), which makes specific reference to establishing partnerships between training providers and the workplace. 

The White Paper for Post School Education and Training (2014), recognizes the need for capacity building within colleges and the increased need for partnerships between universities, Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs) and employers, as well as the expansion of workplace-based training.

SUWI together with the principle of the College is currently formulating an MOU and further collaboration will be explored by district municipality of Namakwa. 

For more information about this short course initiative, kindly contact Ms. Tania Van der Merwe at 021 808 5845​

​​“There is an urgent need for new diagnostic tests for tuberculosis (TB). Particularly point-of-care tests (POCT) for all types of TB, that work in both adults and children," Dr Novel Chegou said in his state-of-the-art lecture at the recent Annual Academic Day at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), Stellenbosch University (US). “Ideally you would want a TB test that is easy to use by frontline health workers, requires no instruments, is finger-prick based, takes five minutes to produce a result and is cheap – under $1."

Chegou is a Senior Researcher with the Immunology Research Group in the FMHS' Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, and was presenting on his work on TB biomarkers that aims to develop a novel, effective TB diagnostic tests.

This is a huge need globally in the field of TB and one that Chegou and his team are eager to address. “There were 10,4 million cases of TB and 1.7 million adult deaths in 2016. Seven countries, including South Africa, account for 64% of cases, and TB is one of the top nine causes of death globally. At a high-level meeting in 2014 the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified the development of new tests as a major priority," Chegou said.

“There is a need for a quick and easy diagnostic test," he continued. “Smear microscopy is still the most widely used test worldwide, but has several limitations. Culture remains the gold standard but is expensive and the turnaround time is long. Serological assays are also used by about a quarter of laboratories that responded to a recent worldwide survey - they are easier to perform and more rapid, but are not recommended by the WHO."

“As much as 15-20% of TB is extra-pulmonary and difficult to diagnose," added Chegou, “and sputum-based testing is particularly difficult in children who are not necessarily able to produce sputum."

“Ideally, in resource-constrained settings like ours you would want an effective POCT to use at the entry point in the healthcare system for people who present with symptoms and need quick referral for gold standard tests or for treatment. Tests that can be used by community health workers with minimal training."

A strategy involving testing at the POC and quickly referring only patients with positive POC tests for further testing with confirmatory tests such as the GeneXpert and culture will be beneficial to both the patient and the healthcare system as it will avoid unnecessary expensive tests on all patients suspected of having TB. This will lead to cost savings for the health care system and more rapid initiation of both TB patients and patients with negative POC test results on appropriate treatment. 

Chegou originally trained in Cameroon and completed his post-graduate studies in tuberculosis immunology at US. He is currently working on biomarkers for TB diagnosis, biomarkers of protective immunity against TB for vaccine development and biomarkers for monitoring TB treatment.  However, he is particularly interested in the development of simple, field-friendly POCT diagnostic tests for the rapid diagnosis of TB disease and monitoring of the treatment response. He is listed as an inventor on seven patent applications on diagnostic biosignatures for TB disease.

The group's seven-marker serum biosignature has been adapted into a finger-prick-based screening test and is now being tested for accuracy and efficacy in a study called ScreenTB involving 700 - 800 participants with suspected active TB across five African countries. The study commenced in 2016 and results are expected by 2019.

The work is being done as part of the “ScreenTB Consortium" (www.screen-tb.eu), which is a continuation of a previous consortium called “African European TB Consortium" with funding from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP). The group is also developing a similar test for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis, in collaboration with the Engineering Department at US.

“The preliminary results are promising but we still need to optimise and simplify," said Chegou. “Future work would involve multi-centre trials to evaluate efficacy and to compare to other tests as well as looking at using the same test for children."

Photo by Damien Schumann

​Young people with mental health problems, especially those in low- and middle-income countries, are often being left in the lurch when they need help. They don't always get the necessary treatment despite the fact that mental illnesses among young people are on the increase globally.

“Mental health problems among young people are serious. If left untreated, they can adversely impact young people's social, personal and academic development. Young people with mental illnesses also face problems with social stigma, isolation and discrimination," says Dr Jason Bantjes a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Stellenbosch University (SU). Bantjes does research on the suicide prevention and the promotion of mental health. His work is supported by a grant from the South African Medical Research Council.

Bantjes says it would be naive to think that young people do not develop serious mental health problems like anxiety disorders and depression. Young people are also prone to stress- and trauma-related disorders, and behavioural disorders, including problems with attention and impulse control.

“The fact that the theme for this year's World Mental Health Day (10 October) is 'Young people and mental health in a changing world,' shows that this is much more serious than we may think."

Bantjes also points to studies that highlight the gravity of the situation.

“The World Health Organisation reports that worldwide between 10 and 20% of children and adolescents have mental health problems. Approximately half of all mental illnesses begin by the age of 14 and three-quarters start by the time an individual is in his/her mid-20s, although these often go undiagnosed and untreated."

“A large international study found that one-fifth (20.3%) of university students experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months; 83.1% of these cases had pre-matriculation onsets."

“Ongoing research as part of the Caring Universities Project, undertaken by a consortium of researchers from UCT and SU, suggest that only about only about one fifth of first-year students with a mental health problem receive treatment."

“Closer to home, a study of school-aged children in Cape Town found that 22.2% of children met diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder."

While genetic factors and temperament play a role in predisposing young people to mental illness, Bantjes says there's evidence that early childhood adversity makes individuals vulnerable to mental and physical health problems.  He adds that the psychological wellbeing of children also suffers when their parents have untreated mental health problems.

Bantjes says it remains a concern that in many parts of the developing world, young people with mental illness struggle to access effective evidence-based mental health care and face the possibility of exclusion from educational institutions.

“Left untreated childhood mental disorders persist into adulthood and cause impairments in both physical and mental health. Longstanding mental health problems impede a person's ability to lead a fulfilling live, form mutually satisfying relationships, and be an active engaged member of their communities."

According to Bantjes, there are many reasons why so many young people with mental health problems do not receive the help they need. 

“Common barriers to accessing care in low- and middle-income countries include ignorance about the signs and symptoms of childhood disorders, a lack of understanding about children's emotional and attachment needs, a lack of suitably qualified mental health professionals, and inadequate child and adolescent mental health services."

He says it is not always easy to recognise a young person with a mental illness.

“Sometimes we dismiss the signs and symptoms and think that the person is being demanding or is just going through a 'difficult phase'." 

“When it comes to children who need psychological care, it is not uncommon for them to be labelled as naughty or uncooperative by those who don't understand the emotional needs of children and don't recognise that children sometimes use challenging behaviour to communicate psychological distress."

Bantjes calls for accessible, affordable and effective psychiatric and mental health care services for young people and their families, as early intervention and the provision of evidence-based treatments is one of the cornerstones of promoting mental health.

“Schools, universities and families have an important role to play in facilitating young people's social and psychological development and building their resilience. We need schools and universities which are safe, free of bullying, and where young people can find a sense of belonging and connectedness."

Bantjes says we must help young people learn interpersonal skills, so that they foster mutually satisfying relationships, since interpersonal connections act as buffers against the vicissitudes of life.

• ​Photo courtesy of Pixabay.
  
• Infographic by Nicolas Dorfling (Corporate Communication Division).
  

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY

Dr Jason Bantjes

Department of Psychology

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Stellenbosch University

Tel: 021 808 2665

E-mail: jbantjes@sun.ac.za    

        ISSUED BY

Martin Viljoen

Manager: Media

Corporate Communication

Stellenbosch University

Tel: 021 808 4921

E-mail: viljoenm@sun.ac.za 

​​

Last month, the Equality Unit at the Centre for Student Counselling and Development had the honour of hosting two visitors from the New York University's Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity and Strategic Innovation.

Dr Lisa Coleman (Senior Vice President: Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity and Strategic Innovation - NYU) and Mr Monroe France (Associate Vice President: Office of the VP for Student Affairs - NYU) were welcomed by a team from the Equality Unit, Mr Jaco Greeff Brink (Head), Mrs Qaqamba Mdaka (Case Coordinator) and Mr Dumile Mlambo (Communication and Research Coordinator).

The group shared knowledge, expertise, success stories and challenges; and how they can be translated into tangible outcomes for both. Another overarching point of discussion was that of possible collaborative work between the two universities, especially on matters related to social justice and transformation at institutions of higher learning.

According to Mr Brink, it was exciting to host a delegation from one of the top rated global universities and sharing insights and experiences in the area of social justice, diversity and inclusion.

“The work that they have been dong over decades in this area is very relevant in our local context. We will draw extensively from their work in order to improve the quality of our services to the SU community at large" – said Brink.

This is an ongoing effort by the EqU to advance the SU internationalization strategy as underpinned by one of the six themes of the Strategic Framework 2019 - 2024 - "Purposeful partnerships and inclusive networks". 

​As a way of remembering the 3 700 residents who were uprooted from central Stellenbosch because of the Group Areas Act, Stellenbosch University's (SU) Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation (AOI) on Tuesday officially named its offices after the first residents who lived at 7 Joubert Street in Stellenbosch. This particular street later became known as the eastern border of an area that was known as Die Vlakte.

The AOI falls under the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at SU and is an interdisciplinary music research institute founded in 2016. The Institute developed from the Documentation Centre for Music (DOMUS), to which it remains connected through its funding of the DOMUS archive, its intellectual and creative programmes, curating activities, archival collection initiatives and core vision of creating in DOMUS the largest open-access archive for music on the African continent. The intellectual and creative programmes of AOI focus on music, research and innovation, which includes music research, research innovation and innovative approaches to music-making.

The property at 7 Joubert Street, which belonged to the Okkers family – many of whom live in Idas Valley today – will now be known as the Pieter Okkers House at the request of the family. The house is named after the first resident, Mr Pieter J.A. Okkers (1875-1952).

Speaking at the event, Prof Wim de Villiers, the SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor said: “Stellenbosch University is this year commemorating its centenary. And in our Centenary year, we have been celebrating the University's many achievements the past 100 years – with appreciation to all who have helped build the institution into what it has become today. But, at the same time, we have been apologising unreservedly to those who were excluded from the privileges that Stellenbosch University enjoyed in the past."

“A very painful part of our history occurred here a half a century ago when residents of Die Vlakte were removed from this community supposedly because they had the wrong 'skin colour' according to the hated Group Areas Act of that time. This was the handiwork of the government, but the university did not object and later benefitted when some of the expropriated land and properties were transferred to the university.

“What happened then was wrong. It is why I am thankful that SU, already in 2000, said that “the University acknowledges its contribution to the injustices of the past" and that the institution in the same breath committed itself to redress and development," said De Villiers.​

In 1964 Die Vlakte, as it was referred to by those who lived there, was declared an area for so-called white persons, leading to the relocation of many families who lived there between the years 1964 and 1971. Die Vlakte stretched from Muller Street in the north of Merriman Avenue in the south, eastwards to Joubert Street and then to the west in Bird Street. The relocation affected six schools in the community as well as a mosque, a cinema and 10 businesses.

In 2017, when the institute moved into the university-owned property, it did so with the intention of celebrating their “new premises with an inauguration and a naming of the house".

“However, this was not possible," says Dr Marietjie Pauw, Postdoctoral Researcher at the AOI, “without first engaging in research about the history of the plot, the built structure, the area, and possible connections to people who had lived there".​

“Pieter is a great-grandchild of Piet Okkers. However, there was more: Hilton's wife, Colleen (born Gordon), had a story to add: her mother, Rosina (Sinnie) Gordon, had been born in Joubert Street. She had always asked the children to take her to Joubert Street to see in which house she had been born. Sadly, Ma Sinnie passed on only a few months before the research on the property was begun."

A year after the Joubert Street property was bought, Piet Okkers passed away. The properties were then transferred to his son, Pieter James Andrew Okkers, who proceeded to build a house at 5 Joubert Street (in 1926) and 7 Joubert Street (in 1927). The Okkers family lived in these premises until the houses were sold to the Conradie family (5 Joubert Street) and the Du Toit family (7 Joubert Street). The exact year of their relocation to Erasmus Smit Street is not known, but it may have been as early as 1946, when their grandchildren twins were born.

According to Colleen Biscombe, the great granddaughter of Pieter James Okkers and wife of Hilton Biscombe – author of the book, In Ons Bloed, depicting the history of Die Vlakte – her mother Rosina, had often in her old age asked to be driven past the homes in Joubert Street.

“My only real knowledge of the properties in Joubert Street was the times my mother would ask us to remember to drive her down Joubert Street one day as there were two houses in that road that looked exactly the same, and she was born in one of those homes, she just couldn't remember which one. Thanks to Marietjie we now know Ma Sinnie was born in Joubert Street 5," said Biscombe at the event.

The naming/re-naming of buildings at SU is guided by the Naming Policy and the application to name the house went through the necessary institutional processes – with full consultation and final approval by the SU Council.

Linked to the naming processes, the Visual Redress Committee worked closely with AOI in order to visually represent and contextualise the name.

“Visual Redress at SU has as aim to visually represent our stories, histories and experiences in a number of ways. As such it goes hand in hand with the naming processes. The Pieter Okkers house will be the first of many houses in Die Vlakte that will be contextualised as part of restoring the stories of the houses and the broader historic neighbourhood. SU will thus enter into conversation with many other families to visually represent their stories in relation to many others over generations. This is one attempt (of many others) to restore the historical relations between the SU community and the broader Vlakte community," says Dr Leslie van Rooi, Senior Director: Social Impact and Transformation.

Pauw says the naming of the house was important to the AOI, because the Institute wanted to honour the first person who built the house and who lived there.

“Pieter Okkers is today considered to be a man who brought about much good in this town. He was a founding member of the politically radical Volkskerk, he was a founding member of the Spes Bona Soccer Club, and he was a Chairman (for the period 1927-1930) of the Free Gardeners organisation when they first opened an Order in Stellenbosch (the fourth order in South Africa)," says Prof Stephanus Muller, Director of AOI.

“He is also honoured for the provision he made for his family and descendants. To this day the Okkers family is proud to be associated with him and his wife, Rosina. Heidi Okkers, great-grandchild of Pieter Okkers, plans to begin an online blog on which family and friends can post photographs of members of the Okkers family and the wider web of relations, documents, and stories."

Over the years, a number of initiatives honouring those who were displaced from Die Vlakte have been carried out by SU, which owns many of the old homes that formed part of this community, and new buildings that later replaced the demolished properties. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences hosts a permanent installation that includes panels with photographs of the area depicting the everyday lives of the people who lived there, as well as testimonies from former residents, their children and grandchildren and a write-up of the historical context of the time. In 2016, SU also established Die Vlakte Bursary Fund by allocating bursary funding to children of the families who were removed from the area. It was thanks to Mr John Abels, a former resident of Die Vlakte and an ex-learner of the old Lückhoff School, that the idea to set up such a bursary was first suggested.

The office will now also form part of a walking tour of Die Vlakte that is currently being planned.

“The Africa Open Institute office will in future form part of the walking tour of Die Vlakte that is being planned by the SU Transformation Office and the Committee for Visual Redress. Uniform wall plaques with information and photos of former residents are planned for buildings in Die Vlakte, curated by Dr Van Rooi and Prof Elmarie Costandius of the Visual Arts Department," adds Pauw.

Photos: The Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation (AOI) on Tuesday officially named its offices after the first residents who lived at 7 Joubert Street in Stellenbosch. The house will henceforth be known as the Pieter Okkers House. It was first owned by Mr Pieter JA Okkers, who build the two similar looking houses at 5 and 7 Joubert Street. Here is Okkers (far right) in ceremonial dress (with chairman's collar) of the Free Gardeners in approximately 1930. His wife, Rosina C. Okkers (middle), is pictured with two of her granddaughters: Roslyn Brandt on the reader's left, and Elizabeth Olkers on the right. (Photos provided by Leonard Meyer and Elizabeth Meyer, born Okkers)

Pieter Okkers (far left), the great-grandchild of Piet Okkers, attended and spoke at the  unveiling of the AOI office's name. (Lynne Rippenaar-Moses)

Only a hundred years ago, all the glassware and chemicals for the first professor of Mathematics and Natural Science's Laboratory for Experimental Sciences were stored in two small cupboards in a two-room building that is still standing in Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch.

Today the Faculty of Science, one of the four founding faculties of Stellenbosch University, has grown to more than 170 laboratories in eight academic departments, housed in 13 academic buildings, with access to R226 million worth of state-of-the-art-analytical equipment.

During the Faculty of Science's centenary gala dinner on Monday, 1 October 2018, at Spier Wine Estate, Professor Louise Warnich, dean of the Faculty of Science, thanked the many staff, teachers, researchers, support staff and students who over the past one hundred years contributed to the faculty's achievements. The dinner also included the official launch of the Faculty's centenary book, A Particular Frame of Mind, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, 1918-2018.

Referring to the striking image of the molecular structure of a red garnet on the cover of the book, Professor Warnich said it provides an apt metaphor for the Faculty and its people: “Through their research, and will to knowledge, our scientists reveal the beauty of the natural world when they investigate intricate cellular infrastructures under a confocal microscope at nanoscale resolution, or when they master a new mathematical proof. But apart from being beautiful gemstones, garnets have many uses in industry. Likewise, science is applied in an amazing array of applications."

She reaffirmed the faculty's commitment to strengthen science and higher education in South Africa: “We have a proven track record in delivering some of the best postgraduate students in the country. We remain committed to developing the next generation of South African scientists – men and women who will become catalysts in creating the knowledge-intensive economy that is so crucial to South Africa's growth and development." Click here for the full speech.

Professor Wim de Villiers, SU Rector, congratulated the faculty on its many successes and achievements: “In future, the University needs to be a national asset that serves the diverse needs of our communities, with impact on our continent, and with global reach. We aim to become Africa's leading research-intensive university, and in realizing this bold ambition, the Faculty of Science has an indispensable role to play". Click here for his speech.

Dr Thomas auf der Heyde, Deputy-Director-General: Research, Development and Support with the Department of Science and Technology, said the basic sciences are the building block for applied science and technology, and universities are the training schools for the PhD-level researchers required for a knowledge-intense, innovation-driven economy. Click here for the full speech.

In a short overview of the centenary book, Professor Jannie Hofmeyr emphasized how important it is that universities today continue to foster this “certain frame of mind" that Professor James Shand referred to in a 1916 lecture, “The making of a university":

A university is not a lecture-theatre, or a library, or a laboratory; it is not a building or a place at all; its essence is a frame of mind. We hear much in these days of the “will to power": the true character of a university is the “will to knowledge". The real university is neither a collection of books, not a collection of buildings, nor a collection of lecturers; it is a collection of students who possess the will to knowledge – the will to possess it and still more the will to advance it. A university if constituted by its students, and by them alone. When I say students, I mean not only the temporary students who join the university for few years, but far more the permanent students who constitute its staff, for every professor worth his salt is a student to the end of his days. If the students are animated by the will to knowledge, there is a university; if they are not, if their studies are only a means to a selfish end, such as the learning of a narrow trade, the securing of a position or an income or an academic distinction, or the propagation of a favourite doctrine, then no university is there though millions be spent on staff and buildings and equipment. Where two or three are gathered together in the name of knowledge, there is a university.

He said the centenary book not only chronicles the endeavors of a century's worth of such excellent academics, it also contains a few amusing anecdotes, such as the first Professor of Chemistry, Berthault de St Jean van der Riet, who was nicknamed Oubaas Fenol because of his interest in essential oils; or Prof Robert Broom, first professor of Zoology in 1903, who defied Senate's wishes that he takes a roll call at each lecture. Here is a link to his speech.

During the festivities, Prof Warnich handed two centenary books in red leather slip covers to Prof. De Villiers and Dr Auf der Heyde.

On the photo above, Professor Louise Warnich, Dean: Faculty of Science, presented copies of the Faculty's centenary book, A Particular Frame of Mind, to Professor Wim de Villiers, Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, and Dr. Thomas auf der Heyde, Deputy Director-General: Research at the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Photo: Nardus Engelbrecht

In 2008, after finishing matric and spending six months working in a hotel in England, Matie alumnus and upcoming Careers Café speaker Philip Parrock, realised one thing – he was not prepared to slog away at a job that was not fulfilling him.

After travelling more than 13 000 kilometres from South Africa to England to see the world, discomfort with where he found himself pushed him to return to Cape Town six months later. Back in Cape Town, he took up a full-time job working as a care assistant for a local retirement home.

“I spent a lot of time in Stellenbosch over weekends, because a few of my friends from Pretoria were studying there. That's when I first started thinking about studying at Stellenbosch University (SU)."

“I actually applied very late, on 28 August, with only two days left before applications for degree programmes closed on 30 August," he adds and laughs.

Philip enrolled for a BA in International Studies in 2010 and upon completion of that degree, finished an Honours and Masters in Political Science at the university as well.

“By February 2015, I was working on the last draft of my Masters and getting ready to start looking for permanent work. I sent out 60 CVs to a number of companies in South Africa, but received no response from any of them. It's at that point that you realise you don't have the experience to compete with other applicants and that you need to gain that somehow."

When he spotted a seasonal job advertised by Amazon Web Services, the largest cloud computing service (it has 65% market share) in the world which is owned by Amazon, he submitted a CV, not sure where it would lead.

“I specialised in risk analysis during my studies, and without me enquiring about it Amazon Web Services offered me a permanent job as a Technical Customer Service Associate. I started working in their global customer service department training new staff recruited to the company a few days after submitting my Masters thesis."

Today Philip works for Amazon Web Services as a Technical Team Manager. On 18 October, he will be sharing more with students on the soft skills he learnt as a varsity student, employee, and student of life during Alumni Relations' Careers Café. The TedTalk-styled event will take place between 13:00 and 14:00 in Room 230 on the second floor of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences building on the corner of Merriman and Ryneveld Street and is open to all students. 

The Careers Café series was launched in 2016 by the Alumni Relations Office to provide a platform for alumni to engage with the university in a different manner by offering their time and skills to help current students prepare for the careers they want. Through this interaction, current students are able to learn from the real-life experiences of Matie graduates in the corporate world and benefit from advice and tips from them as well. Other career development opportunities on campus are also promoted through this event, encouraging students to further improve their work preparedness.  

If you want to attend this free talk, you can RSVP for the Careers Café here.

• For more information about the Careers Café, follow the Alumni Relations Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stellenboschalumni and the SU Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stellenboschuniversity. 
• Two students can also win a seat at the dinner table with Philip on the evening of the Careers Café by entering the Careers Café Facebook competition that will be advertised on the Stellenbosch Alumni page. 
  
• Photo: Philip Parrock
  

​​The 10^th annual SAICA Student Leadership Summit was held from the 4^th to the 6^th of October in Gauteng. The 3-day summit started out with a networking gala evening (that was preceded by a thorough coaching session on how to network). This is where all the prize-winners were announced. The summit continued with workshops that were hosted by Deloitte on how to pitch a business idea, business innovation and encouragement to 'just do it'. The finalists also got an opportunity to question what leadership means and were challenged to commit to 1 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as developed by the UN.

The final day was an eye-opening experience filled with emotions as the finalists visited a park in Hillbrow where we got to engage with drug-users, visited the Home of Hope where adolescents who were sold into prostitution are well cared-for and visited a child-care centre in Alexandra Township that cares for destitute children as well as the children within the community.

The over-arching theme for the summit was responsible leadership. However, we were not only taught that, but we were also reminded to be responsible in taking care of our bodies and to be sensitised to the realities of South Africa.

The prize winners were:

Lungelo Ngobese (US- 1^st place)

Ashleigh Langton (UJ- 2^nd place)

Asanda Mhluzi (UCT-3^rd place)

A book which traces the steps of the first pioneers who laid the foundations for training and research in various disciplines in the natural sciences at Stellenbosch University, will be available from 1 October 2018.

The book, A Particular Frame of Mind – Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, 1918-2018, also documents the contributions of various individuals to the establishment of research fields such as nuclear physics and polymer science in South Africa.

Prof. Chris Garbers, former professor of organic chemistry from 1958 to 1978 and president of the CSIR from 1980 to 1990, writes in the Foreword that key institutions such as the SU's Faculty of Science have contributed “to transforming South Africa from a mainly rural society to an industrial giant on the African continent".

“The book is a succinct summary covering the past one hundred years, with the exposition of diverse scientific findings in layman's terms, as well as the documentation of anecdotes about various eccentric characters. The book is further enhanced by the insets of colleagues with specialist knowledge and understanding of contemporary developments in science," he continues writing.

This limited edition red linen hard case book is embossed with foil on the front and spine, and contains more than 200 photographs and images from the SU Archive, the Africana section of the SU Library, and various artefacts from departmental collections, including scientific images of historical and current research.

“The reader will obtain a vivid and striking view of the particular way of thinking of the historical and current natural scientist," explains Professor Piet Swart, emeritus professor at SU and one of the editors of the book.

According to Professor Louise Warnich, the first female dean of the Faculty of Science, the book is an attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the first one hundred years of tertiary education and research in natural sciences at the University. Several of the department's founding histories have now been documented for the first time.

“In the process several staff members took on the challenge to open storerooms and dust off old documents and equipment. In the Department of Botany and Zoology, for example, we found an expenditure book dating from 1918, with entries documenting the buying of 19 rabbits and 20 doves. We also found the oldest photo to date of the very first professor of mathematics and natural science, Professor George Gordon, surrounded by a group of eight students, dating from circa 1880."

She says the Faculty of Science is very much aware of the scars left by apartheid: “Now, and over the next few decades, we have the opportunity to do things differently. The compilation of this book showed us that what we do today, and how we do it, will make a difference to the lives of those coming after us."

Book specifications

Red linen hard case book with foil embossed on cover and spine, covered with a dust jacket with French folds and individually shrink wrapped. Available in Afrikaans or English.

Paper: Text printed on 157 gsm Gold East Matt

Format: 280mm deep and 280mm wide

Extent: 200 full-colour pages plus endpapers

ISBN English edition: 978-0-7972-1731-7

ISBN Afrikaans edition: 978-0-7972-1730-0

Publication date: October 2018

Price: R780 (discount available on orders of four and more)

How to order the book

To order your copy, send an e-mail to science2@sun.ac.za, upon which you will receive an invoice with payment details and information about when and where to collect your copy. If the book must be sent via courier, the cost will be added to the price of the book.

A book which traces the steps of the first pioneers who laid the foundations for training and research in various disciplines in the natural sciences at Stellenbosch University, will be launched on 1 October 2018.

The book, A Particular Frame of Mind – Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, 1918-2018, also documents the contributions of various individuals to the establishment of research fields such as nuclear physics and polymer science in South Africa.

Prof. Chris Garbers, former professor of organic chemistry from 1958 to 1978 and president of the CSIR from 1980 to 1990, writes in the Foreword that key institutions such as the SU's Faculty of Science have contributed “to transforming South Africa from a mainly rural society to an industrial giant on the African continent".

“The book is a succinct summary covering the past one hundred years, with the exposition of diverse scientific findings in layman's terms, as well as the documentation of anecdotes about various eccentric characters. The book is further enhanced by the insets of colleagues with specialist knowledge and understanding of contemporary developments in science," he continues writing.

This limited edition red linen hard case book is embossed with foil on the front and spine, and contains more than 200 photographs and images from the SU Archive, the Africana section of the SU Library, and various artefacts from departmental collections, including scientific images of historical and current research.

“The reader will obtain a vivid and striking view of the particular way of thinking of the historical and current natural scientist," explains Professor Piet Swart, emeritus professor at SU and one of the editors of the book.

According to Professor Louise Warnich, the first female dean of the Faculty of Science, the book is an attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the first one hundred years of tertiary education and research in natural sciences at the University. Several of the department's founding histories have now been documented for the first time.

“In the process several staff members took on the challenge to open storerooms and dust off old documents and equipment. In the Department of Botany and Zoology, for example, we found an expenditure book dating from 1918, with entries documenting the buying of 19 rabbits and 20 doves. We also found the oldest photo to date of the very first professor of mathematics and natural science, Professor George Gordon, surrounded by a group of eight students, dating from circa 1880."

She says the Faculty of Science is very much aware of the scars left by apartheid: “Now, and over the next few decades, we have the opportunity to do things differently. The compilation of this book showed us that what we do today, and how we do it, will make a difference to the lives of those coming after us."

Book specifications

Red linen hard case book with foil embossed on cover and spine, covered with a dust jacket with French folds and individually shrink wrapped. Available in Afrikaans or English.

Paper: Text printed on 157 gsm Gold East Matt

Format: 280mm deep and 280mm wide

Extent: 200 full-colour pages plus endpapers

ISBN English edition: 978-0-7972-1731-7

ISBN Afrikaans edition: 978-0-7972-1730-0

Publication date: October 2018

Price: R780 (discount available on orders of four and more)

How to order the book

To order your copy, send an e-mail to science2@sun.ac.za, upon which you will receive an invoice with payment details and information about when and where to collect your copy. If the book must be sent via courier, the cost will be added to the price of the book.

“We are thankful to people who, with generous donations, make it possible for others to get a good education. We thank them because they help to change the lives of students for the better."

With these words, Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU), on Wednesday (10 October 2018), expressed the institution's gratitude to one of its most prominent donors Mr Pat Goss. Having made his mark in the business world, Goss recently donated a significant amount in the form of bursaries for needy students in Simonsberg Mens Residence on the Stellenbosch campus. He is a former Matie and resident of Simonsberg and it was therefore fitting that a function was held at the residence to thank him.

Apart from De Villiers and the Goss couple, some of their friends, Dr Leslie van Rooi, SU's Senior Director for Social Impact and Transformation and also Simonberg's Residence Head, and Prof Niel Krige, Chair of US's Development Office, attended the event. The bursary holders were also announced during the function. A total of 13 students received bursaries.

For Ridhwaan Allie, a BA Humanities student, it was wonderful to hear that he was one of the bursary holders, while Edward Buys, who studies towards a degree in Education, was surprised to be a recipient.

“This bursary means a lot to me because it will relieve the finance pressure on my mother," Buys said.

Another happy recipient, Simon van Eeden, who studies Sports Science, said the scholarship will help him complete his studies in the allotted time.

“My mother is very pleased that I got a scholarship because now she does not have to worry about where the money for my studies will come from," said Jay Stevens, another Sport Science student.

In his short address, Mr Goss said it is an enormous pleasure to contribute to the overall funding of SU and to help students study here.

• ​Main photo: Bursary holders with Pat Goss, his wife Karin, Jannie Mouton, GT Ferreira and Prof Wim de Villiers at the event.
  
• Photo 1: Pat Goss speaks to the bursary holders and other Simonberg's residents. Photographer: Marcel Kok
  

Three postgraduate students in Mathematics had the privilege of attending the Heidelberg Laureates Forum which took place from 23 to 28 September 2018 in the historic town of Heidelberg in Germany.

This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to learn from and interact with the recipients of the most prestigious awards in the fields of Mathematics and Computer Science, namely the Abel Prize, the Fields Medal and the Nevanlinna Prize in Mathematics, and the A.M Turing award and the ACM Prize in Computing. These awards are on the same level as the Nobel Prize.

Sogo Pierre Sanon, Hosana Ranaivomanana and Dylan Nelson had to compete against postgraduates students across the world in order to be able to attend.

Sogo, who recently completed his MSc in Mathematics at SU, is now pursuing his PhD at the University of Kaiserslautern in Germany. While at SU, his supervisors were Dr Karin Therese-Howell and Dr Bruce Bartlett.

Dylan is busy with his Phd in Mathematics under the supervision of Dr Dirk Basson, while Hosana is an MSc student in Mathematics with Dr Bartlett as supervisor. 

Stellenbosch University (SU) honoured 87 students last night (11 October) who excelled in areas ranging from academics to co-curricular fields at the annual Rector's Awards for Excellent Achievement. 

Prof Wim de Villiers, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor, said at the event that this Award ceremony is an important highlight on the University's calendar, especially in 2018 as it is also SU's Centenary year.

“In 2018 we are reflecting on the past and the lessons learned. We are also going forward. One of our themes is to create a transformative student experience. We want to ensure that the University is accessible to all students and then to enable them to be successful. We want access as well as success," De Villiers said.

Dr Wynoma Michaels, who received the Student Representative Council (SRC) Award for Exceptional Alumni from outgoing chair Lwando Nkamisa, was a guest speaker.

Michaels is a business and management consultant who gained business experience as a consultant in the agriculture and food and beverage sectors, as well in the service industry. She started her career as a scientist and obtained a PhD in Polymer Chemistry from  SU. She presently owns the business Wynoma Michaels Consult.

In her captivating speech, she prepared students for the opportunities and challenges awaiting them after their studies. “You need to find out what drives you, what is your purpose. Living a life of purpose is usually not about ourselves. It is about living beyond ourselves.  Recognition, success and promotion are great, but should it not rather be the products of purpose than the purpose itself….?  Seeking after recognition and promotion can cause us to deviate from our purpose or become our purpose."

“When we are driven by purpose, our definition of success changes as success then is not merely about ourselves, but more about WHO we want to become rather than WHAT we want to achieve," Michaels said.

She warned them that the biggest challenge when entering the marketplace is not to get “sucked into the 'hamster on the wheel' of more promotions, bigger salaries, bigger offices, bigger clients, bigger cars. “Relax. Yes, let this come, but should it be at the expense of our purpose…? Should these things not be a by-product of living a life of purpose…?"

Michaels received a standing ovation from the guests after her speech.  

The following students were the recipients of the SU Medal for Top Magister Student: Michelle Eckert (AgriScience); Jessica Lee Staple (Arts and Social Sciences), Maria de Man (Education), Johann Pfitzinger (Economic and Management Sciences), Corinna Jeske (Medicine and Health Sciences), Johann Christiaan van der Walt (Engineering), Melise Steyn (Science), Kerry-Terry Lamb (Law);  Refilwe Maria Mahlaku ( Military Science)  and Juanita Greyvenstein (Theology).

The other students that received awards for co-curricular achievements were:

Rector's Award for Excellent Sport Achievement: Lwazi Madi; Jacques Lloyd; Charmaine Baard; Stephanie Brand; Emma Chelius; Nicky Giliomee; David Bedingham; Keenan Horne; James Murphy.

Rector's Award for Excellent Contribution to Culture:Mercy Kannemeyer; Shaen Maré

Rector's Award for Excellent Social Impact: Avuyile Mbangatha; Ben Moolman; Cailin Perrie; Ashleigh Purdon

Rector's Award for Excellent Service Provision: Rabia Abba Omar; Eduard Beukman; Garrick Blok; Jeanine Botha; Lize-Mari Doubell

Rector's Award for Excellent Leadership: Anthony Andrews; Wiann Bester; Chanté du Plessis; Jauné Gouws; Nhlakanipho Mahagane; Fatima Ouiza Mazari; Lethiwe Mbatha; Ben Moolman; Tevarus Naicker; Eduard Roos; Victoria Thomas; Rhys Williams; Eduard Beukman.  

 Dr Michaels full speech:

Videographer: Stefan Els

​​​​Do you have a free will, or not? Is this something you have ever thought about? If your answer is YES, then you are in the company of biomedical engineering researchers at Stellenbosch University who like to 'grapple' with this question.

The thought-provoking issue regarding the human brain and free will no longer has to remain in the sphere of mere intellectual debate. The Biomedical Engineering Research Group (BERG) at Stellenbosch University (SU) recently purchased state-of-the art brain imaging equipment that can possibly shed more light on this interesting topic.

Dr Dawie van den Heever, who now heads BERG, says: "The new piece of equipment is a welcome addition to the already well-equipped research group aiming to be the leading biomedical research institute in South Africa. One of the focus areas of BERG is neuroscience and we are currently investigating brain processes during decision making which might leave our common notion of free will in the balance."

The brain imaging equipment comes from Obelab, in Korea. NIRSIT is a device designed to measure variations in cerebral blood oxygen saturation by radiating a near-infrared light beam into the cerebral cortex. Software is then used to monitor the distribution of cerebral oxygen saturation via multiple channels. The device can record up to 204 channels on the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain believed to be responsible for higher order decision making.

In 1983 the world was shocked with the first neuroscientific evidence against free will. Benjamin Libet and his team of researchers showed the presence of brain activity in the motor cortex preceding voluntary hand movement up to half a second. The surprising finding was that this brain activity also preceded the participant's conscious awareness of this 'voluntary' action. Since then several variations of the study have been carried out and all seem to confirm the findings with a sufficient degree of reliability. 

Dr Van den Heever elaborates: "However, many people are still sceptical and refute the claims made by some of these researchers and also question the practical relevance of these studies. Thus, research at BERG is currently addressing some of these limitations to the previous studies. 

"Our research shifts the focus to real-life decisions with consequences, while comparing brain activity associated with both arbitrary and deliberate decisions. Furthermore, the research tries to determine the neural mechanisms underlying deliberate choices. We are investigating the use of machine learning techniques to look for other networks or markers involved in the onset of the action prior to conscious intent and, in doing so, deliver another blow to the argument of free will."

He continues: "The hypothesis is that there are other signals or markers in the brain that might not be easy and straight forward to discern and therefore the power of machine learning techniques will be used to search for these hidden markers. Currently a 128-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) system is being used due to its high temporal resolution compared to other imaging modalities. EEG measures the electrical activity in the brain on millisecond scales. We will be looking for electrical signals that precede conscious awareness of the decision earlier than Libet by looking in different areas (like the frontal cortex) and using better techniques. However, EEG has very poor spatial resolution and might not be able to accurately locate the areas involved.

"Enter the new NIRSIT system with very high spatial resolution, up to 204 channels overlaying the prefrontal cortex, the seat of deliberate decision making. The first results of the EEG study can be expected at the end of 2018. Data has been recorded and we are in the process of processing the data and looking for signals that precede decision making. In the future we will be using the NIRSIT device to replicate these studies with better spatial resolution to pin-point the area in the frontal cortex responsible for decision making more accurately and decisively," Dr Van den Heever concludes. 

Not all of BERG's research projects are at such a cerebral level. Research themes that are covered, include: 

1. Medical devices (for example an electronic game on a tablet or iPad that is used to diagnose ADHD).

2. Orthopaedic Engineering (for example the design of knee implants that are patient-specific, anatomically accurate, and reproduce normal knee motion).

3. Biomechanics (for example using computer or simulation models for the three-dimensional dynamic behaviour of a heart valve during a cardiac cycle).

4. Nanosensors (small, hand-held devices that are used for the early detection of E. coli or cancer, using one drop of blood). 

Photo:

On the left is Dr Dawie van den Heever (Head of BERG) and Llewellyn Groeneveld, master's student in Biomedical Engineering who is posing with the new brain imaging equipment, NIRSIT.

​The question is actually not whether you can afford to spend time on public science communication. It's whether you can afford not to!

This was the message of Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU) in handing over the inaugural Media Excellence Awards, giving recognition to 30 of SU's top media commentators and newsmakers for 2018

The awards were made earlier this week (Monday 13 October) and formed part of the launch of a special edition of SU's annual research report, Research@ Stellenbosch University, held at the Wallenberg Research Centre at STIAS.

The awards, an initiative of the Corporate Communication Division, were bestowed in three categories, namely newsmakers, thought leaders, and for co-workers – those contributing towards getting other colleagues in the media.

“Having a positive media profile is crucial in vision attainment at the institutional level, but research leadership and science communication go hand-in-hand. Investing time and effort in effective communication helps you to become a better scientist," De Villiers said.

Pointing to studies on science communication, De Villiers said sharing research with the public also holds benefits for SU and its academics. “Visibility in the media helps academics build their own research profile. We now have research evidence that a high media profile – mass media and social media – can boost your academic networks and citation rates, and that it provides a pathway to policy influence. 

He also highlighted the importance of communicating the institution's research to the public in an accessible way saying that it will inform, educate and inspire the public. “May these awards inspire more and more colleagues to communicate their work through the media."

He added that the University is among the top three universities most of the time in terms of total volume of media mentions and for the past two months number one in the country in terms of research reporting.

Recognition

Commenting on the inaugural awards, Mr Martin Viljoen, Manager: Media, said that the awards symbolised a start to giving recognition to not only those who regularly feature in the media, “but also to those who are always available to the media – even at the weirdest times of the day!"

He stated that the process and criteria must now be refined going forward. “For the inaugural awards we relied heavily on volume – the number of times our colleagues 'featured' in the media – according to data provided by the University's media monitoring service provider. This was also measured against our own list of colleagues who are always ready to provide comment and to be interviewed.

“In refining the process, one will need to, for example, compare the 'importance' of say writing an opinion editorial with being interviewed on a news programme on radio or TV to get to a score to be eligible for an award. Add to that comparing being featured seven times in a provincial newspaper versus being interviewed for a national newspaper and it is quite a challenge. Another consideration is increasing the  number of categories, distinguishing between commentators and thought leaders, for example. There should also be a way in which we can honour those who are always available to the media."

Categories

The Newsmaker category honoured entities at the University that ensured a great deal of media coverage. The recipients were the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' TB Research (award received by Professors Anneke Hesseling and Gerhard Walzl), the Stellenbosch University Choir (Mr André van der Merwe), the SU Law Clinic (Dr Theo Broodryk) and AgriSciences' Landscape Art Project (Prof Danie Brink).

The Media Thought Leaders 2018 Awards gave recognition to those colleagues who either commented, who took part in interviews, who wrote opinion editorials and in some way shaped thinking in our country via their contributions in the media.

The recipients are:  Prof Thinus Booysen (Faculty of Engineering), Prof Nuraan Davids (Faculty of Education), Prof Faadiel Essop (Faculty of Science), Prof Abel Esterhuyse (Faculty of Military Science), Prof Johan Fourie (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences), Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela (Research Chair, Studies in Historical Trauma and Transformation), Prof Amanda Gouws (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), Prof Pieter Gouws (Faculty of AgriSciences), Prof Jonathan Jansen (Faculty of Education), Prof Chris Jones (Faculty of Theology), Prof Nico Koopman (Vice-Rector: Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel), Ms Irene Labuschagne (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences), Prof Michael le Cordeur (Faculty of Education), Prof Thuli Madonsela (Faculty of Law), Dr Morne Mostert (Institute of Futures Research), Prof Piet Naude (Director of the SU Business School), Prof Renata Schoeman (SU Business School), Prof Erwin Schwella (School of Public Leadership), Dr Nic Spaull (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences), Prof Jantjie Taljaard (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences), Prof Anton van Niekerk (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), Dr Leslie van Rooi (Senior Director: Social Impact and Transformation) and Prof Jimmy Volmink (Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences).

In the third category, awards were made to staff members who made a significant contribution to facilitating processes to ensure either the University or other colleagues are featured in the media. For 2018, Corporate Communication excluded their own staff to avoid bias. The recipients are Ms Wilma Stassen, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Ms Wiida Fourie-Basson, Faculty of Science and Dr Marina Joubert, CREST.

Photo: Prof Jonathan Jansen of the Faculty of Education, was a recipient of an award in the category Media Thoughtleader 2018. (Photo by Hennie Rudman)​​​

​​​The first career portal focused only on the agricultural and food sector has been launched by Stellenbosch University's Faculty of AgriSciences.

This comprehensive portal for the agricultural sector is the first of its kind in South Africa and on the continent. It is the brainchild of Prof Danie Brink, dean of the faculty.

This web portal is expected to contribute significantly to students' career development and to help deliver on industry needs, Prof Brink said at the launch event on 4 October. Students in their final year, as well as postgraduate students in the faculty and roleplayers in the agricultural industry, attended the event.

“We believe this portal will help to unlock new opportunities for our students and also benefit the agricultural sector," Prof Brink said. “We want to see our graduates entering the marketplace successfully."

The faculty has taken the initiative to provide seed funding for the establishment of the platform. It will be extended to other South African universities and tertiary institutions and, possibly, to international and private universities.

The private sector is ready to invest in this initiative as they experience challenges to recruit suitably qualified graduates and experienced staff, he indicated.

The requirements of the agricultural sector and educational needs of students have changed significantly over the last few decades, Prof Brink pointed out. “Less than 20% of our students in the faculty now come from an agricultural background. We believe that this portal will help to build bridges between our students and roleplayers in the sector."

The agricultural sector and related industries are complex, added Rico Basson, Executive Director of Vinpro. “We need a new generation of multidisciplinary experts that are passionate about agriculture."

The platform is a useful tool that enables the agricultural sector to better reach students, said Monika Basson, coordinator of undergraduate recruitment and marketing at the faculty. Students, graduates, and people already working in the agricultural sector will be able to register as job seekers and apply for positions, while agricultural companies can gain access to candidates by advertising job opportunities, internships (long- or short-term) and bursaries.

This portal fills a huge gap in the industry, according to Marianne van der Laarse, Managing Director of Agrijob. “The current trend of young people showing reluctance to study in agricultural science is by now well-known and is of great concern to the agricultural industry," she said.

“Discussions with companies and organisations in the agricultural and agri-food supply chain revealed a shortage of agricultural science graduates with appropriate skills. However, from a recruitment perspective, this perception from industry is contradicted by the rather large number of agricultural graduates and postgraduates that are struggling to find employment or internship opportunities."

“We are, therefore, very excited about this interactive, comprehensive platform that will provide access to possible agricultural employment opportunities."

According to Van der Laarse, the platform also enables students to become proactive about their own career development. “Be ready to stretch yourself and operate outside your comfort zone when you enter the job market and the workplace. Pursue internships and do extra courses to gain more skills.

“It is your career story - take ownership of it," Van der Laarse concluded.

Visit www.agrijob.co.za for more information. Contact Marianne van der Laarse at marianne@agrijob.co.za or 0823881000.