We're creating a human rights culture
We're creating a human right's culture grounded in social justice
Stellenbosch University is bound by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, and the Higher Education Act, 101 of 1997, which also informs the legislative framework on which the Institutional Statute (in simple terms, the University’s constitution), is based.
SU staff and students are also guided by the institution’s Vision 2040 and the Strategic Framework,Code 2040, the SU Transformation Policy, the SU Student Constitution, as well as the Student Affairs Transformation Charter.
Navigating Vision 2040 and the Strategic Framework
Vision 2040 consists of SU’s vision, mission, values, attributes (those special qualities that make us who we are), and enablers (the things that help us succeed, like our capabilities and resources), while the Strategic Framework is made up of the University’s six strategic themes. These two components are supported by SU’s Restitution Statement and Code 2040, SU’s integrated code of ethics and code of conduct.
Our Vision
Stellenbosch University will be Africa’s leading research-intensive university, globally recognised as excellent, inclusive and innovative, where we advance knowledge in service of society.
Our Mission
Stellenbosch University is a research-intensive university, where we attract outstanding students, employ talented staff, and provide a world-class environment; a place connected to the world, while enriching and transforming local, continental and global communities.
Code 2040 and our pledge
Code 2040 translates our values into a set of guidelines. It provides a mechanism to guide and manage organisational integrity and ethical culture at SU and promotes and maintains ethical behaviour in the conduct of SU’s business with its stakeholders. This is applicable to all staff and students. In recognition of the principles outlined in Code 2040, SU pledges itself to ethical behaviour at all times, specifically relating to excellence in our work, respect, equity and compassion in our interaction with others, and accountability for our actions.
Guided by our values
The University’s shared values relate to the beliefs and attitudes that guide our behaviour towards ourselves and others (“our action guides”). The SU values are equally important, are interconnected, and inform SU’s Code of Ethics and Conduct (Code 2040).
1. Excellence
Academic freedom to pursue knowledge that adheres to the highest standards of integrity, innovation, and relevance.
2. Compassion
Recognition of and care for the well-being of all our students and staff.
3. Accountability
Accepting the highest level of responsibility for our actions.
4. Respect
Civility in our mutual and public discourse, due regard for the freedom, equality and dignity of all, and respect for the environment.
5. Equity
Restitution in response to our past legacy and fairness in our aspirations.
You'll acquire graduate attributes
What are graduate attributes?
SU focuses on creating conditions that will enable each student to acquire the attributes outlined below by the time they graduate.
ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP
Graduates understand the values underpinning critical citizenry in the South African Constitution, and are committed to providing socially just leadership with the development of democracy and equity in society in whatever roles they perform professionally.
DYNAMIC PROFESSIONAL
Graduates are proactive change agents, able to collaboratively define and understand complexity in a variety of changing contexts within multiple plausible futures. They make responsible choices and find the best and most ethical answers to challenges in collaborative and entrepreneurial ways.
ENQUIRING LEARNER
Graduates are curious, independent thinkers, open to learning, and able to form and defend their ideas, approaches and values. They creatively use different knowledge systems and interdisciplinary methods that are clearly expressed with academic integrity.
CARING INDIVIDUAL
Our graduates are aware that everyone has a responsibility for the wellbeing and flourishing of living and non-living beings. In their professional and personal lives they act by taking care of themselves, others, and the natural world.
DIGITAL KNOWER
Our graduates are digitally knowledgeable and agile individuals who function competently, critically, and ethically in the context of digital change and challenges in the world.
These Graduate Attributes link to the institutional goals:
Increase student access
Increase access for designated groups (e.g. previously disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, and by removing other relevant obstacles that could constrain access).
To improve student success
By strengthening comprehensive student support system, increasing the number of students who successfully complete their degrees, and the number of graduates converting to higher levels of qualification.
- To build the digital skills you need to learn, collaborate and succeed to enable students to use new digital technologies.
A TRANSFORMATIVE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Providing a transformative student experience to all Maties is one the University’s key goals. But what does that actually look like for you as a Matie?
You get high-quality teaching and learning
Our lecturers use modern, research-informed teaching methods and you benefit from strong academic support and supervision.
You are supported as a whole person
SU’s support systems help you succeed not only academically, but also personally and socially. We want every student to feel supported, confident and able to thrive and do this by addressing academic, personal and socio-economic needs of students. Everything we do is guided by SU’s values: respect, accountability, excellence, equity and compassion.
You will leave prepared for the world beyond university
Our programmes are designed with the future and changing professional landscapes in mind so that you’re ready and thoroughly equipped for a wide range of careers and environments. You’ll develop important digital competencies and professional skills, and grow as an ethical, responsible and engaged citizen ready to make a positive impact. At SU, we call these Graduate Attributes.
Student Affairs pledge to you
We are committed to ensuring that our values become more than just words on a piece of paper. In March 2020, the RC unveiled an important document – the Student Affairs Transformation Charter Pledge.
This is our official promise to recognise the dignity of every single person and respect all individuals and groups. It’s about creating a space where everyone feels valued and heard. As staff within this RC, we’re all in this together and we’ve got a responsibility to turn this pledge into action. To us, it’s not just a piece of paper – it’s a roadmap for making real, positive changes. It’s our pledge to you!
STUDENT AFFAIRS TRANSFORMATION CHARTER PLEDGE
Student Affairs acknowledges the privileged roots that SU has been born out of. Many communities have been adversely affected by forced separation and the annihilation of most South Africans’ human rights based on various factors including colonialism, apartheid, and subsequently unequal access to education and resources.
With reference to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, the Student Affairs Transformation Charter therefore recognises the importance of equity, equality, inclusivity, freedom, universal access, and the lived experience of the staff and students we serve, and takes into consideration the values of the University as well. Aligning the institutional culture of the University to serve the needs of a diverse student body is a key requirement for the University’s transformation.
Within Student Affairs, we aspire to create a transformative learning, living, and working experience for our students and staff; an environment which is inclusive of every person regardless of socio-economic status, age, race, gender, ability, sexuality, marital status, belief, ethnic or social origin, culture, nationality, language, or birth, while making universal access, and respect for one’s multiple and varied identities and expressions thereof a lived reality.
STUDENT AFFAIRS ARE COMMITTED TO:
creating awareness around decolonisation and transformation within the RC:DS
fostering an inclusive and supportive culture to facilitate intentional and purposeful engagement between stakeholders from various environments, i.e., students and staff, and the surrounding communities of the University;
giving impetus to coordinated institutional efforts to redress and building a society envisioned by post-apartheid stakeholders;
promoting and affirming our unwavering commitment towards building a culture of courage and solidarity in doing transformational work within the Division. This culture celebrates differences, challenges prejudices, and ensures fairness.
We therefore pledge to:
provide a learning home for all persons to thrive and be treated with respect and dignity;
foster a space where our staff and students have a safe space to be themselves; and
inculcate a sense of shared humanity and human dignity.
The above is achieved through all the work we do, as well as the ways in which we engage with students, colleagues, other staff, and external stakeholders.
We pledge to uphold the commitments made in the Student Affairs Transformation Charter in a manner that recognises the dignity of and respects all individuals and groups. We acknowledge that the DSAf Transformation Charter is aspirational and that as members of the Division, we are responsible for the realisation of this pledge.
SU's Restitution Statement
As we look ahead, we remain deeply committed to being a university that genuinely contributes to the growth of our nation and our continent. Our work is guided by a commitment to dignity, healing, justice, freedom and equality for all. At the same time, we are aware of SU’s complex history and the institution’s “contribution to the injustices of the past”. Acknowledging this is an essential part of how we move forward together and continue our shared journey of transformation. This is formally recorded in our Restitution Statement (2018) below:
Stellenbosch University (SU) acknowledges its inextricable connection with generations past, present and future. In the 2018 Centenary Year, SU celebrates its many successes and achievements. SU simultaneously acknowledges its contribution towards the injustices of the past. For this, we have deep regret. We apologise unreservedly to the communities and individuals who were excluded from the historical privileges that SU enjoyed, and we honour the critical Matie voices of the time who would not be silenced. In responsibility towards the present and future generations, SU commits itself unconditionally to the ideal of an inclusive world-class University in and for Africa.