Stellenbosch University
Encyclopedia : S : ST : STE : Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University (Afrikaans: Universiteit van Stellenbosch) is an internationally recognised university which is situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape.
Stellenbosch University designed and manufactured Africa's first microsatellite, SUNSAT, launched in 1999.
Students are also nicknamed Maties. Some claim the term arises from their maroon rugby colors: a tamatie is the Afrikaans translation for tomato. It is more likely to come from the Afrikaans colloquialism matie (meaning "buddy" or "mate") originally used diminutively by the students of the University of Cape Town's precursor, the South African College.
History
The origin of the university can be traced back to the Stellenbosch Gymnasium, which was opened on 1 March 1866, as well as the establishment of the arts department, which became the Stellenbosch College in 1881. In 1887 this college was renamed Victoria College; when it acquired university status on 2 April 1918 it was renamed once again - to Stellenbosch University.
Location
Stellenbosch is a university town with a population of about 90,000 (excluding students). It is located about 50 kilometres from Cape Town and is situated on the banks of the Eerste Rivier ("First River") in the famous wine-growing region and is encircled by picturesque mountains. Teaching at Stellenbosch University is divided between the main Stellenbosch campus, the Tygerberg Faculty of Health Sciences, the Bellville Park Business School and Saldanha Faculty of Military Sciences.
Language
Stellenbosch University is a predominantly Afrikaans medium university, especially at undergraduate and honours course level. However, students are allowed to write their assignments, tests and examinations in English.
At postgraduate level the language of tuition is determined by the composition of the class. The majority of advanced postgraduate courses are conducted in English.
This is still an ongoing issue for the University, since it is one of the very few institutions left in South Africa offering tuition in Afrikaans. Other institutions are gradually changing over to an English-only policy.
Faculties and schools
Stellenbosch University consists of about 150 departments divided amongst 10 faculties. It also has more than 40 research (and other) institutions.
The faculties that are situated on the main campus are:
- Arts and Social Sciences
- Science
- Education
- Agricultural and Forestry Sciences
- Law
- Theology
- Economic and Management Sciences
- Engineering
- Military Science
- Health Sciences
Facilities and services
The university has an extensive library which is catalogued on a computerised database. It also has a modern conservatory, including two concert halls where regular concerts are held. The Langenhoven Student Centre (Neelsie) houses the Student Representative Council, a food court, a shopping mall, an advice office and all student societies.
Sports facilities for the more than 30 competitive and recreational sports that are supported by the university include two sport stadiums, two large swimming pools, numerous playing fields and a modern gymnasium.
The campus offers more than 50 cultural, sporting, religious and political clubs and societies.
On-campus residences for circa 6,000 students are available.
Notable Alumni
- Andries Petrus Treurnicht, theologian and one of the last verkramptes.
- Antony Melck, researched the economics of education and lectured commercial law.
- Beyers Naudé, theologian and student of HF Verwoerd.
- Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven, Afrikaans poet and writer of the words of Die Stem.
- Danie Craven, prominent Rugby player and sport administrator.
- Daniel François Malan, former Prime Minister of South Africa.
- Deon van der Walt, was a singer who performed at the Nico Malan Theatre as a tenor.
- Edwin Cameron, is a Rhodes scholar and High Court judge.
- Elsa Joubert, her novel Die swerfjare van Poppie Nongena was translated into 13 languages and staged as a drama.
- Ernst van Heerden, was a leading Afrikaans poet.
- Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, is a Political analyst and a former leader of the official opposition of South Africa.
- Heinz Carl Heinrich Winckler, entertainer and former law student born after the Soweto riots.
- Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd, former Prime Minister of South Africa.
- James Barry Munnik Hertzog, lawyer, former Boer general and Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa.
- Peet Pienaar, weird art student who created an anatomy museum specimen from his own body...
- Jan Rupert, studied Mechanical Engineering, businessman and nephew of Anton Rupert.
- Johann Rupert, businessman and founding trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.
- Jan Smuts, prominent South African statesman, soldier and co-founder of the United Nations.
- Johannes Frederik Janse Van Rensburg, was a South African leader of the Ossewabrandwag.
- Lourens Wepener Hugo Ackermann, is one of the four judges appointed to the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
- Magnus André De Merindol Malan, last Minister of defence during the Apartheid era.
- Rona Rupert, musician and author of 33 Afrikaans books.
- Stuart Abbott, rugby player and former economics student born after the Soweto riots
- Uys Krige, famous writer, poet, playwright, translator, rugby player, war correspondent and romantic.
External link
| South African universities |
|
|---|---|---|
| Traditional universities Cape Town | Fort Hare | Free State | KwaZulu-Natal | Limpopo | North-West Pretoria | Rhodes | Stellenbosch | Western Cape | Witwatersrand Comprehensive universities Johannesburg | Nelson Mandela | Unisa | Venda | Walter Sisulu | Zululand Universities of technology Cape Peninsula | Central | Durban | Mangosuthu | Tshwane | Vaal | ||
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.