Final-year Engineering students at Stellenbosch University continue to demonstrate the real-world relevance of their work, with recent student projects earning recognition in both healthcare innovation and sustainability-focused research.

Hospital-assistant robots showcased at Mediclinic Winelands

Seven final-year Engineering students from the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering showcased their hospital-assistant robots at Mediclinic Winelands Orthopaedic Hospital as part of their 2025 final-year projects.

The floor-bound robotic assistants were designed to autonomously navigate clinical spaces, avoid obstacles and deliver essential items within a hospital environment. The showcase formed part of a competition sponsored by the Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology (IOR), highlighting the growing role of engineering innovation in healthcare delivery.

Despite limited access to laboratories due to departmental renovations, the students produced impressive working prototypes, many of which were designed and built largely from home. Hospital staff evaluated the robots based on real-world performance, placing equal emphasis on technical execution and clinical practicality.

The competition was hosted at Mediclinic Winelands Orthopaedic Hospital in late November 2025 and judged by clinical staff who provided valuable insight into the practical demands of a healthcare environment.

Prize winners were Arno Zulch (first), Matthew Barnes-Webb (second) and André Nieuwoudt (third). Also present at the event were Regardo Scholtz, General Hospital Manager of Mediclinic Winelands, and Dr Franz Birkholtz, Orthopaedic Surgeon and CEO of Mediclinic Winelands.

The event celebrated student excellence while strengthening collaboration between Stellenbosch University and the healthcare sector, demonstrating how Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering solutions can directly support patient care and clinical efficiency.

Civil Engineering student receives national sustainability award

Hannah Counihan, a final-year Civil Engineering student at Stellenbosch University, received the Sustainability in Action Award at the Growthpoint Greenovate Awards for her 2025 final-year research project.

The Greenovate Awards are hosted annually by Growthpoint Properties in partnership with the Green Building Council South Africa and bring together universities from across South Africa to showcase practical sustainability solutions for the built environment.

Hannah’s project, Assessing Non-Stationary Extreme Rainfall and Hydrological Design Implications in the Western Cape, examines how changing rainfall extremes under climate variability affect hydrological design practice. The judging panel recognised the project for its practical applicability, alignment with sustainability objectives and potential impact within the built environment.

Her research was supervised by Dr Katelyn Johnson from the Department of Civil Engineering.

Celebrating student excellence

These achievements reflect the diversity and real-world impact of final-year projects across the Faculty of Engineering.

Well done to all the students and supervisors involved.