The annual Stellenbosch University (SU) Transformation Indaba served as a platform for stakeholders to discuss the institutional SU transformation policy and plan which should have been presented to the SU Council on 2 December. This is according to Prof Nico Koopman, deputy vice-chancellor for social impact, transformation, and personnel at SU.
The annual Stellenbosch University (SU) Transformation Indaba served as a platform for stakeholders to discuss the institutional SU transformation policy and plan which will be presented to the SU Council on 2 December. This is according to Prof Nico Koopman, deputy vice-chancellor for social impact, transformation, and personnel at SU. PHOTO: Aurelia Mouton
Hosted by the Institutional Transformation Committee (ITC) on 23 October, the indaba included a keynote speech by Prof Saleem Badat of the University of the Free State (UFS) and plenary sessions around the theme ‘Accountability Matters’.
A long walk to transformation
The SU transformation policy has been years in the making, its process including consultation with students, staff, faculties, the Institutional Forum, the ethics committee of the Council, and the SU Senate, according to Koopman. This process concludes with the presentation of the transformation policy to the SU Council in December.
“In 2017 we had a transformation plan approved and when we had to revise that plan [in 2019] the rectorate decided [that] we must develop both a policy and a plan. So we have now finalised the policy, and [at the] end of this year [..] hopefully council will approve this policy,” says Koopman.
According to Prof Nico Koopman, deputy vice-chancellor for social impact, transformation, and personnel at Stellenbosch University (SU), transformation at SU is a priority for the Council, and the transformation office has been preparing the institutional transformation policy for Council consideration in “excited fashion”. PHOTO: Aurelia Mouton
According to Koopman, transformation at SU is a priority for the SU Council, and the transformation office has been preparing the policy for Council consideration in “excited fashion”.
“The [transformation] plan [will be] finalised in the first semester of next year. The plan will have more detail in it and it will be based on the policy. […],” says Koopman.
Solidarity, not charity
“[…] We have so many different cultures, so many different people, [and] so many different ideas so to try and get that into one cohesive document is so difficult,” says Liam Gillesen, outgoing transformation officer for the SU Juridical Society (JVS).
According to Gillesen, creating “a sense of solidarity” on campus is key to transformation.
“The privileged don’t understand their privilege […] and how powerful that privilege actually is,” says Gillesen. “What transformation and action means is getting those students around the table as well […]. Not in a sense of charity, but solidarity.”
Hosted by the Institutional Transformation Committee (ITC) on 23 October, the annual Stellenbosch University (SU) Transformation Indaba included a keynote speech by Prof Saleem Badat of the University of the Free State (UFS) and plenary sessions around the theme ‘Accountability Matters’. PHOTO: Aurelia Mouton
According to Dr Jean Farmer, programme manager for SU’s transformation office, “transformation on campus is far from being systemic”.
“Students and staff have different ideas and experiences of transformation. Most are not very concerned unless it affects them personally, like the Wilgenhof saga. Most also don’t see that as a transformation issue. Transformation is both the little and big changes,” says Farmer.
“Institutional culture is something we need to work hard on. This is why we have different workstreams to deal with the challenges. Each of us needs to take responsibility and accountability for reporting and changing things on campus. We must keep [an] open dialogue.”