(2018) Annual Integrated Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY ANNUAL INTEGRATED REPORT 2018 1 Photo 2 STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY ANNUAL INTEGRATED REPORT 2018 COMMEMORATING A 1918–2018 Century Standing side by side with the town’s sturdy old oak trees for a hundred years, the University of Stellenbosch (Stellenbosch University today) has grown into a leading research-intensive university on the African continent. Starting out with four faculties: Arts, Science, Education and Agriculture (currently Arts and Social Sciences, Science, Education and AgriSciences), 503 students and 40 lecturing staff on 2 April 1918, SU today is home to 10 faculties, a vibrant and cosmopolitan community of more than 30 000 students and 3 000 staff members, spread over five campuses. As we commemorate our Centenary in 2018, we celebrate great achievements and ground-breaking discoveries. We salute the more than 250 000 alumni and students, educators, researchers and professional and administrative support staff, as well as our management and governance structures who have helped to mould this institution and cement its reputation as a world-class academic institution. SU, as a public institution, performed its higher education role within the various political, socio-economic, cultural and educational realities and developments of the 20th Century, including the particular form of injustice then prevalent in South Africa. SU has since “acknowledged its contribution to the injustices of the past and committed itself to appropriate redress and development initiatives”, as expressed in its Strategic Framework for the Turn of the Century and Beyond of 20 March 2000. We also honour the critical Matie voices of that time who would not be silenced despite revilement, and who were to become beacons on the journey towards a just society. Against this background of achievement and valuable lessons from our complex history, the Centenary with its theme “100 years of learning, growing and moving forward together” signifies a new beginning for Stellenbosch University. We strive toward becoming a relevant university that will play a key role in the development of our nation, and our continent. We are committed to contribute to a society of dignity, healing, justice, freedom and equality for all. STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY ANNUAL INTEGRATED REPORT 2018 1 New Stellenbosch University students were welcomed in January 2018 by the Rector, faculty and student representatives during the official welcoming ceremony in the Welcoming 2018 Danie Craven Stadium at Coetzenburg. More than 5 000 new students, their parents and guardians attended the event. With the focus on the University’s Centenary, the three main speakers encouraged new students to commemorate this important milestone with everyone at the University. Students gathered on the sports field where they formed a giant number 100 on the grass. History penned Birthday cake A Centenary Book with 536 full-colour pages about Stellenbosch To commemorate Stellenbosch University’s Centenary in 2018, the University’s history was launched in 2018. The editors are Prof Albert Senate were treated to cupcakes branded with the Centenary brand Grundling (Part 1) and Hans Oosthuizen (Part 2). In Part 1, seven identity. authors share their thoughts on the University’s history of the past 100 years, among others of its political and financial histories, as well as academic, sport and student life. 2 STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY ANNUAL INTEGRATED REPORT 2018 The Maties Rugby Club could not have thought of a better gift to give the Stellenbosch University for its Centenary than to bring home the Varsity Cup 2018 trophy. Maties Rugby won the Varsity Cup on 16 April Victory 2018 for the first time since 2010. It was Maties’ fourth victory in the Varsity Cup series. During this historic final, however, Maties beat Pukke 40-7 – the biggest points difference ever in a final. Glammed up Music spectacular A gala dinner to commemorate Stellenbosch University’s Centenary As part of Stellenbosch University’s Centenary commemoration, a was held in March 2018 for special guests of the University. These spectacular music concert was held at the Coetzenburg Sports Grounds included funders, government officials and other stakeholders. The where some of South Africa’s top artists performed, including Mi Casa, event was held at the Paul Roos Gimnasium. Valiant Swart, Brandon October, Coenie de Villiers, Gloria Bosman, and the celebrated Stellenbosch University Choir. STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY ANNUAL INTEGRATED REPORT 2018 3 4 STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY ANNUAL INTEGRATED REPORT 2018 OUR JOURNEY towards INTEGRATED REPORTING Without a long-term vision and a strong strategy, integrated reporting is not possible. On its journey to integrated reporting, Stellenbosch University (SU) has enjoyed the privilege of having a well- thought-out Institutional Intent and Strategy 2013– 2018 (IIS) for direction. This strategy is now giving way to the new Vision 2040 and the new Strategic Framework 2019–2024, adopted by the University Council in 2018. The year under review also marked SU’s Centenary commemoration. With this, our fourth integrated report, SU is still en route to like our integrated report, comply with the Department of Higher integrated reporting. In 2018, with the implementation of the King Education and Training’s Regulations for Reporting by Public Higher IV Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa 2016 (King IV), our Education Institutions as published in the Government Gazette, No. governance function was reviewed thoroughly, and the Registrar’s 37726 of 9 June 2014. role expanded with governance responsibilities. As befits a good corporate citizen, we will continue to enhance our institution’s You will also find the customary reports of the Chancellor (now structural capital by complying with all relevant laws and by improving describing the context in which the University operates) and the our management and control structures and processes. We plan to Chair of the University Council (now describing the Council’s improve our understanding of true materiality and true accountability governance resolutions over the cycle of the IIS). The Rector and across all our operations. We anticipate that integrated thinking will Vice-Chancellor reports here on our strategic priorities, and the eventually become second nature to us, so that we will be able to Chief Operating Officer and Vice-Rectors report on the IIS’s strategic make better decisions, and manage more efficiently and sustainably, goals. To these we add the faculty reports. Most of these reports, as befits a knowledge-driven institution such as ours. however, now highlight the value created over the reporting period in line with selected strategic priorities identified in the future- focused IIS that guided us between 2013 and 2018. This focus on value accords with the principles provided by the International <IR> Framework of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), which believes that “communication about value creation should OUR SCOPE AND BOUNDARIES be the next step in the evolution of corporate reporting”. It also accords with the King IV principles, arguably the world’s leading Our integrated report covers the full scope of University operations corporate governance standard. over the reporting period, 1 January to 31 December 2018. We add a few months more – until April 2019 – to enable us to include all our graduation data for the year under review. We also present the University Council who approved this report, as at 18 APPROVING THE ANNUAL June 2019, listing the retired members who were active in 2018 (see page 21). INTEGRATED REPORT Our report contains financial data about our operations over The Rectorate is closely involved in writing and compiling the Annual the 2018 financial year, and for the reader’s convenience, our full Integrated Report. The Audit and Risk Committee of Council examines financial report is still published as part of our integrated report. The the report and, with adjustments, recommends it for tabling at the University’s financial statements, including the subsidiaries, associate University Council meeting in June, where Council, acknowledging companies and trusts, are prepared in accordance with the relevant its responsibility for ensuring the integrity of the integrated report, policies of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and, considers and approves it for publication. STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY ANNUAL INTEGRATED REPORT 2018 5 Foreword by THE CHANCELLOR In the year under review, Stellenbosch University (SU) reached a major milestone when it turned 100 years old, having been created from its predecessor, Victoria College, by an Act of Parliament that came into effect on 2 April 1918. Institutions usually celebrate the 100th anniversary of their founding in a big way. Yet, from my vantage point as Chancellor, which is a ceremonial role and not a management position, I could not fail to notice that the University chose to “commemorate” its Centenary instead of celebrating it. Why was this the case, and was it the correct decision? Over the past 100 years, SU has become a leading higher education institution making a crucial contribution to human development in our country, on our continent and in the rest of the world. Its graduates are well qualified and are internationally in demand, its research is innovative and relevant, and its impact on society is extensive. LEARNING FROM THE PAST Yet the institution is clearly not blind to its mistakes. Against the backdrop