SU honoured top academics and innovators in teaching, learning and assessment at a prestigious celebration at STIAS. Prof Elize Archer received the Distinguished Teacher Award, while Profs Karin Wolff, Deborah Blaine and Sonia Fidder were celebrated for their national teaching award. Prof Ramjugernath said teaching excellence and research excellence are “deeply intertwined” in shaping the future of higher education.

Dr Panashe Chigumadzi, a historian and writer, was the speaker at Stellenbosch University’s 8th Annual Africa Day Lecture. Chigumadzi serves as rapporteur for the African Union committee of experts on reparations for racialised chattel enslavement, colonialism and apartheid. Africa Day, celebrated annually on 25 May, commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963.

SU’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences celebrated its 70th anniversary with a gala evening at the Biomedical Research Institute on the Tygerberg campus. Speakers reflected on the faculty’s legacy of healthcare innovation, scientific excellence and social impact in South Africa and beyond. Dean Prof Elmi Muller said the faculty’s true impact in the countless human lives changed through care, compassion and service.

SU’s Annual Youth Day Lecture explored the growing crisis of youth unemployment in post-apartheid South Africa. Speakers urged students to develop adaptability, networks and workplace skills alongside academic qualifications. A student and alumni panel offered a candid reflection on the pressures, sacrifices and uncertainty many young people face entering the job market.

#DayInTheLife As a leading higher education and research institution in South Africa, we are proud of our diverse and talented community of staff members – academics, researchers, and professional administrative support staff – who work together to create an environment where discovery, creativity and transformation thrive. Annually, throughout May, the #ADayInTheLife campaign shares the stories of Stellenbosch University (SU) staff who play a crucial role in shaping the institution’s impact.

Prof Riaan den Haan of the Department of Microbiology delivered his inaugural lecture on 26 May 2026. His research focuses on developing yeast strains for sustainable biotechnology applications. His work aims to convert biomass and industrial waste into useful products.

People with Down syndrome value relational, respectful and person-centred healthcare. Frequently excluded from conversations about their own healthcare. Important to incorporate voices, lived experiences of people with Down syndrome and their families.

The third annual Walter Parry Memorial Lecture honoured educator and pioneer Eva Johnson. Johnson became the first Lückhoff High School alumna to earn a master’s degree in 1986. Speakers reflected on overlooked educational histories and the legacy of Walter Parry.

#DayInTheLife As a leading higher education and research institution in South Africa, we are proud of our diverse and talented community of over 4 000 full-time staff members – academics, researchers, and professional administrative support staff – who work together to create an environment where discovery, creativity and transformation thrive. Annually, throughout May, the #DayInTheLife campaign shares the stories of Stellenbosch University (SU) staff who play a crucial role in shaping the institution’s impact.

Africa Day was celebrated on 25 May. Experts at Stellenbosch University wrote opinion pieces. They highlighted key Africa-related issues.