Stellenbosch University (SU) is one of the most successful institutions nationally in terms of number of creative outputs submitted and subsidy awarded. According to the outcome of the 2019 submission to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), SU came first nationally with a total of 87 submissions and 53.6 units received, whilst for the 2020 submissions we again submitted the highest number of submissions (a total of 39), with 34.45 units awarded.

The process is guided by the DHET policy on the evaluation of recognition of creative outputs and innovations. The purpose of this policy, announced by the DHET in 2018, is to recognise and reward quality creative outputs and innovations produced by SA public higher education institutions.

SU's submissions has included a vast variety of outputs - from musical compositions to sculptures, jewelry design and award-winning collections of poetry.

According to Prof Mario Nell, the chair of the internal SU review panel added, our success rate is a testament of the hard work done by our researchers to submit and explain their work as a creative research output. “These statistics is another confirmation of SU academics' commitment to research, and specifically to research that focus on advanced scholarly and creative engagement in the arts, performance, design and intellectual innovation".

The Division for Research Development (DRD) is responsible for submitting creative outputs and staff members of the DRD have been involved in institutional, as well as national discussions in this regard and also provided valuable input to the policy document. The next round of submissions is currently being finalised. For more information on the process, please contact Esmari Huysamen ([email protected]) 

Artwork: Elizabeth Gunter​