October is Mental Health Awareness Month. 10 October was World Mental Health Day. SU experts wrote opinion pieces on how to promote mental health.

SU’s marketing team will host a vibrant engagement hub at the Konservatorium Amphitheatre.  The space will feature the Ongehoord series, the Student Discourse series and the Science Café. These conversation series are free to attend and open to all festivalgoers.

Prof Regan Solomons from the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health delivered his inaugural lecture on Tuesday 7 October 2025 His research focuses on reducing preventable deaths from tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in children He helps to find practical and child-specific solutions to TBM in children

SU features amongst the best universities in the world in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings It is ranked in the top 350 tertiary institutions It is second in South Africa

Primary healthcare practitioners lack the required resources They are overworked and insufficiently trained They must be empowered to deliver mental health services

Language Day highlighted how multilingualism strengthens belonging, access and success across all areas of student life at SU. Students and staff shared experiences showing how language shapes identity, learning, and meaningful engagement in a multilingual community. Discussions affirmed that language is central to transformation — a bridge to dignity, opportunity and mutual understanding.

Prof Ryno Laubscher from the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering delivered his inaugural lecture on 2 October 2025 He harnesses deep learning to help optimise energy system components His research is relevant to coal-fired power plant reheaters and air-cooled condensers

Former residents of Die Vlakte gathered at SU for the presentation of a collaborative research project that digitally maps the history of the community displaced by apartheid-era forced removals. Using advanced GIS and counter-surveying methods, researchers and community members identified over 320 historical sites, transforming memories into a living digital archive of homes, shops, and shared spaces. The project has opened dialogue about restitution and memory, with attendees committing to develop the map into a community-led walking route to educate future generations about Die Vlakte’s history.

Stellenbosch University’s Division for Learning and Teaching Enhancement will be hosting the 18th annual Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Conference at the Protea Hotel Stellenbosch and Conference Centre in Technopark on 3 and 4 November 2025.