Switched from music to law. Recipient of the Rector’s Award for best LLM thesis. A deep appreciation for the value of living and learning alongside people from different backgrounds.

SU’s Division of Health Systems and Public Health and the Institute for Life Course Health Research, in collaboration with partners at the University of Cape Town, the University of the Western Cape and Wits, hosted a symposium, entitled “Showing Courage and Solidarity with Refugees and Migrants in South Africa”. Held ahead of World Refugee Day on 20 June, the event brought together researchers, civil society organisations and asylum seekers to discuss the challenges faced by refugees and migrants. Discussions also focused on misinformation about why people leave their homelands.

International Women in Engineering Day was observed on 23 June. Prof Sara Grobbelaar of the Department of Industrial Engineering wrote an opinion piece. South Africa needs a systems- and lifecycle-based approach to development.

As Dean of Students, Dr Leslie van Rooi is a member of the Vice-Chancellor’s management team and provides strategic leadership for student life, wellbeing, leadership development and the overall student experience. Van Rooi officially assumed the role of Dean of Students on 1 May after serving in an acting capacity for the past 17 months. Central to Van Rooi’s philosophy is the idea that student success cannot be measured by academic throughput alone.

An aerospace engineer, drone pilot, and astronaut candidate focused on space and climate innovation. She co-founded Hisia Space, a climate-tech and geospatial intelligence company. Her time at SU was a period of personal growth, leadership development, and learning how to connect research with real-world impact.

World Refugee Day was on 20 June. Experts at Stellenbosch University co-authored an opinion piece. Many South Africans, civil society, and faith groups continue to stand in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers.

Stellenbosch University's (SU) Policy Innovation Lab recently presented AI training to more than 200 Members of Parliament (MPs). If Parliament is to provide effective oversight of AI in government, Members require more than a general awareness of the technology. The training programme was designed to provide MPs with a broad understanding of both the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence.

SU again broke into the top 300 universities in the latest QS World University Rankings. SU occupies third place in South Africa (and in Africa). SU improved on its overall score; also the leading university in citations per faculty in South Africa.

Stellenbosch University (SU) and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) have formalised a new partnership aimed at developing the next generation of researchers. The collaboration agreement, signed by the two institutions' research leadership teams, marks an important step in strengthening research capacity. The universities have committed to opening the first call for applications within three months of the signing of the agreement.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) continues to struggle. NSFAS needs a complete overhaul. The future of higher education funding and the sustainability of universities are at stake.