Stellenbosch University (SU) is a frontrunner in research and a place of thought leadership. Our staff and students write academic articles for accredited journals and also perform very well when it comes to sharing their insights with the general public.

For several years now, SU has been maintaining the highest research output per capita of all universities in the country. For this measure, the Department of Higher Education and Training looks at publication outputs (journal articles, books and chapters), as well as research master's degrees and doctorates.

In addition to its research excellence, the University has also been maintaining a strong presence in popular media thanks to contributions by SU staff members and students. In 2016, around 183 op-eds and feature articles as well as 69 regular columns by our staff and students have appeared in the print and electronic media in South Africa and further afield – that we know of.

Some articles were by new doctoral graduates making their PhDs accessible to a non-academic audience. Others were by established scientists sharing particular research findings with the public. There were also articles linked to national or international days. And there were opinion pieces about topical issues or current affairs.

Click here for a list of popular media articles picked up by Corporate Communication, which facilitated the placement of many but not all of these contributions. It is quite possible that there were other articles as well. And this list also does not include regular blogs by SU academics.