Professor Eugene Cloete believes that SU’s rise in PhD graduates will aid South African society. PHOTO: Stefan Els.
A record number of 361 PhD-degrees was awarded for the academic year of 2019 at Stellenbosch University (SU), during the first virtual graduation on 3 April.
The total of 361 doctorates was awarded across all faculties – an increase from 2018’s total of 308.
“We are very proud of the fact that we once again delivered a record number of PhD’s for the 2019 academic year,” said prof Eugene Cloete, vice-rector of Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies at SU.
“It is the result of dedicated students and supervisors, adequate research funding, excellent research infrastructure and support,” said Cloete.
PhD graduates have been on a consistent rise since 2014. PHOTO: Stellenbosch University.
Cloete also considers this achievement to impact South African society on a broader level.
“It makes contributions in the area [of] high-level manpower development for South Africa, an expansion of innovation and the associated impact that benefits the broader society,” said Cloete.
The effects for SU Science
One notable department that awarded a record amount of doctorates was the Faculty of Science that issued a total of 68 PhD-degrees. This was 18 more doctorates than the 2018 academic year, according to SU’s website.
This increase of doctoral degrees will significantly impact the Faculty of Science, said Prof Louise Warnich, dean of Sciences at SU.
The PhD graduates will now accept postdoctoral fellowships nationally and internationally, or enter the job market, said Warnich.
“We are thus looking forward to their contributions in their new environments where they, as alumni, will act as ambassadors for the science faculty, contributing to the expansion of our scientific and industrial networks,” Warnich said.
A research laboratory at the Department of Soil Science at Stellenbosch University. Such facilities are commonplace for PhD candidates at the Faculty of Science.PHOTO: Stellenbosch University.
Warnich also believes that this will enhance the faculty’s research output.
“All PhD students are expected to publish the results of their studies in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Many of the PhD graduates have also presented these results at national and international conferences,” said Warnich.
SU has seen a consistent year-on-year rise in the number of PhDs awarded since 2014. However, maintaining an increase may not be a certainty, said Martin Viljoen, SU’s spokesperson, as factors such as government financing might affect this upward trend in the long-term future.