Course on critical human issues opened up to all SU students

A new Stellenbosch University (SU) learning experience is now an option for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as staff within the university, said Ruth Andrews, head of experiential education and head of the Shared Humanity learning experience at SU.

The course, Shared Humanity, is aimed at helping students develop an understanding of critical human issues, said Andrews. The team behind this course hopes it will become a compulsory course on campus, said Andrews. 

“When we piloted it in 2019, it was for SU second-year students only, but we want to position more young people strongly,” said Andrews.

The team involved in the Shared Humanity course offered to undergraduate and postgraduate students at Stellenbosch University. From left to right: Ruth Andrews, head of Shared Humanity, Zamafiso Nombulelo Sibande, Shared Humanity assessor and evaluator, Atlehong Nkotha, Shared Humanity faculty coordinator, Nolwazi Mfeka, Shared Humanity learning coach, Ramone Comalie, co-curriculum project coordinator and and Rolien van der Merwe, co-curriculum coordinator. PHOTO: Jess Holing

A wider reach 

Topics covered in the learning experience change every year based on current events in South Africa, said Rolien van der Merwe, co-curriculum coordinator and Shared Humanity team member. 

According to the course outline, students who take part will be exposed to questions such as, “Is the law a reliable instrument for the delivery of social justice?” and “Will climate change fuel the next pandemics?” 

Through the course, the team hopes to offer students an interdisciplinary exploration of these critical human issues, said Andrews.

They were also hoping that it might become compulsory campus-wide. “The course itself is built on the understanding that if we want to change systemic issues such as racism and homelessness, it starts with ourselves,” said Andrews. 

“It was kind of like an experiment the first time we did it,” said Brittney Brandt, law student at SU, and learning coach and student of this course. 

“We may not necessarily reach the students that most need it if it’s not compulsory,” said Andrews. She added that the faculty of medicine and health sciences has implemented the Shared Humanity learning experience as mandatory for all of their first years.

Stellenbosch University’s Shared Humanities course was recently opened up to students on undergraduate and postgraduate level. “Let’s get it campus wide!” said Ramone Comalie, co-curriculum project coordinator. PHOTO: Jess Holing

‘It starts with listening’

“These sessions are carefully constructed to fit into students’ schedules,” said Van der Merwe. This allowed for a wider range of students to complete this course, she said. 

“We can’t fix what’s going on in the world with a scientific programme or an algorithm,” said Andrews. The course aims to fill the gap between theory and engagement, involving interdisciplinary experts “from professors to people that work in civil society and NGOs”, stated Andrews.

“It starts with listening, communication and empathy,” but students struggle to apply the theory university teaches them, said Zamafiso Sibande, Shared Humanity assessor and evaluator. 

Students who enroll for the course, regardless of year group, will follow the same course material, said Andrews. Students will receive academic transcript recognition for having completed the course, Andrews added. 

“What really sparked this course was the need in the institution to help students to articulate themselves in a space of social impact and human rights in an impactful way,” said Ruth Andrews, head of experiential education and the Shared Humanity learning experience at SU. The Shared Humanity course is housed at the Centre for Student Leadership, Experiential Education and Citizenship in Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Jess Holing

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