Stellenbosch University (SU) is among South Africa’s leading tertiary institutions based on research output, student pass rates and rated scientists, and is recognised internationally as an academic institution of excellence. This is confirmed by two world university rankings after SU was included in the Times Higher Education and QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) world rankings in 2012, for the second consecutive year. In 2011 the University was also listed on the Leiden rankings, and in 2012 SU was named the leading African University by the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities which ranks universities according to their web presence.
SU also boasts the second-highest number of scientists in South Africa who have been ranked by the National Research Foundation (NRF) – 306 in 2012. With 18 research chairs under the NRF South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChi), the University is regarded as a leader in the fields of biomedical tuberculosis research and management, wine biotechnology, animal sciences and mathematical biosciences. Another SARChi chair, in the field of invasion biology, is shared between SU and the University of Venda. This constitutes but one of SU’s many partnerships, both local and international. As preferred research partner, SU also participates in various international academic networks.
American Foulbrood is causing serious damage to the bee population in the Western Cape.
A protester outside the US Supreme Court of Appeal objects to gay marriage. An incident at a Cape Town university has raised issues of religious freedom.
REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
The furore around freedom of sexual orientation vs religious freedom at a South African university should lead to deeper thinking about Christianity’s historical role in promoting liberalism.
South African teachers must operate in extremely varied socioeconomic conditions. Their practical training in schools needs to prepare them for this reality.
EPA/Nic Bothma
There are a number of ways to improve the experience that student teachers have while completing their compulsory practical period in a school.
Schizophrenia is a complex disorder affecting how an individual thinks, feels and acts. New research has found that people with certain genetic errors are more susceptible to the disorder.
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How someone suffering from schizophrenia responds to treatment and manages their disorder is dependent on errors in their genes, according to new research.
Nelson Mandela believed education is the most powerful weapon which can change the world.
Reuters/Antony Kaminju
Nelson Mandela called education “the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world”. How can universities bring his words to life?
The World Health Organisation has declared Cuba the first country in the world to eliminate the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to child.
Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters
There are many lessons Southern Africa can learn from Cuba, which became the first country in the world to eradicate mother to child transmissions of HIV and syphilis.
Plants can play a role in revealing air pollution.
Zikhona Ndlovu
Despite being initially colonised by Austronesian people, dogs from the island of Madagascar hail from Africa – unlike the humans.
New African economic history is challenging earlier wisdom by showing, for example, that railways have had profound effects, both positive and negative on African societies.
Reuters/Thomas Mukoya
African economic history has had a renaissance and its most valuable contribution has been to show that Africans have not always been poor, nor are current poverty levels an inevitable destiny.
South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago is the third since the bank adopted a more transparent way of operating.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
The South African Reserve Bank is a fine example of clear communication of the decision whether to hold, increase, or decrease interest rates. It also gives clear signals of future decisions.
Buffalo are the main wildlife carriers of Bovine TB, a disease that poses a threat not only to animals but also to humans.
Thomas Mukoya/REUTERS
People living in close proximity to animals infected with Bovine TB are at a risk of contracting the disease through drinking their milk and eating their meat.