​​From the launch of the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking to the implementation of a new finance system, staff members were given an overview of the latest developments at Stellenbosch University (SU) during the recent Staff Assembly.

Speaking at the gathering, which was held on Tuesday, 27 August 2019, Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, provided insight into the SU's new School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, which was launched earlier this year. De Villiers said the School is unique because it is not restricted to a single academic discipline only, but operates across all ten faculties with interdisciplinary collaboration. 

​​​“The world is changing fast – especially in relation to the gathering, sharing and exploitation of data – and the new School is SU's stake in the unfolding future," he said.

“We have to prepare our students for the new world of work where the discovery of useful knowledge from data will be integral to what they do … We want to produce graduates who lead and excel in a diverse world. We want them to become engaged 21^st-century citizens, agents of change who make a positive societal impact wherever they go."

De Villiers also announced that at a recent meeting, the Rectorate had decided that SU will migrate from its current fragmented “house of brands and logos" to a unified monolithic brand architecture. “There is only one Stellenbosch University, so, there can only be one Stellenbosch University brand."

He said there were currently 170 brand logos being used to represent the different SU environments. “We operate in a highly competitive environment, simultaneously dealing with national and global challenges. How successfully we manage our brand, plays a decisive role in attracting the best staff and students. We need to have a congruent and consistent narrative."

Other announcements included that SU was considering adopting the “Global Code of Conduct for Research in Resource-poor Settings" as one of the measures to ensure that there isn't a repeat of the pain and anger caused by a controversial article on race and cognition by SU researchers that was published in an international journal earlier this year.

“We don't want anything like this to happen ever again; if there are shortcomings in our processes, we need to fix it," De Villiers told the staff members in attendance as well as those who watched online via live streaming.

But, said De Villiers, it was important to note that this single piece of research in no way reflected the quality, ethics and values of Stellenbosch University's stellar research programme.

“The Research Committee recommended that we adopt the global code of conduct in settings with poor resources, this matter is receiving attention along with other suggestions … we hold ourselves accountable to our highest values which are integrity, social justice and excellence in everything that we do," he said.

An overview of various institutional processes was also delivered by members of the Rectorate.

Prof Hester Klopper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategy and Internationalisation updated staff on the processes linked to the implementation of the University's Vision 2040 and Strategic Framework 2019–2024, and highlighted the various priorities for the six core strategic themes. Some of the critical priorities include the following:

• Financial sustainability and renewal (Faculties PASS and Education)
• Equitable access with student success in SU's taught programmes
• Optimisation of stakeholder relations, and the SU Internationalisation Strategy,
• ICT support for residential and hybrid learning students
• Increased international research contracts and funding
• Staff and student health and wellbeing
• Increase effectivity, efficiency and agility of HR processes and practices

 Prof Stan du Plessis, Chief Operating Officer provided an overview on SUNFin, the new financial system which is currently being rolled out. The new system, Oracle ERP Cloud Financials solution, is a comprehensive, integrated and scalable financial management solution that will enable and support SU's decentralised Responsibility Centre Management Model. Du Plessis said the project is currently on time and within budget.​ Running parallel to the SUNFin project, is the SUNStudent project, which will see the introduction of a new student information system, which will use the Academia software provided by SeroSoft Solutions. Dr Ronel Retief, Registrar at SU said the new system will promises to be solid and reliable, yet also flexible, modern and student-centric. 

Prof Arnold Schoonwinkel Vice-Rector: Learning and Teaching updated staff on the recent student related incidents on campus, including the Huis ten Bosch Fire. Schoonwinkel commended staff and students for their support.

• Click here for the combined presentation of all the speakers
• Click here to read the Prof Wim de Villiers speech
• Click here to watch the Staff Assembly video