Despite the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, Stellenbosch University (SU) last year recorded its largest number of graduates ever.
During 2020, a total of 9 234 students graduated at the institution. This was 101 more than in 2019.
This is according to Martin Viljoen, SU spokesperson. “There were definitely many challenges, but lecturers went to a lot of trouble to support students optimally,” said Viljoen in email correspondence with MatieMedia.
A total of 4 771 undergraduate students graduated, with 4 465 postgraduate students graduating, totalling to 9 234 graduates, said Viljoen.
A total of 9 234 students graduated from SU in 2020. During 2019, a total of 9 133 students graduated. INFOGRAPHIC: Erin Walls
Approximately 31 540 students enrolled in the 2020 academic year, with 20 272 being undergraduate students and 10 456 being postgraduate students, according to Viljoen.
“SU as a whole rose to the occasion, from the crisis committee, all the way down to the first years, everyone pulled together in the new online world,” said Prof Sandra Swart of the history department.
SU was able to provide extensive support for lecturers and students. This was made possible by the help of donors, such as the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust and the Harry Crossley Foundation, according to Viljoen.
The academic year during the third wave
Uncertainties were still present with regards to the 2021 academic year, said Viljoen. This was especially true since the start of the third wave. However, lecturers, students and staff are “again working together as ‘Team Stellenbosch’ to make a success of 2021”, he added.
The laptop project initiated in 2020, where 1 700 laptops were loaned out to students for online learning, has been extended to 2021, with an extra 500 laptops procured, said Viljoen.
Real-time online interpreting was introduced for the first time in 2021 to support students online, and data bundles have also been provided again, according to Viljoen.
Stellenbosch University recorded a record number of graduates during 2020, despite most students completing the 2020 academic year online. PHOTO: Erin Walls
“Additional tutor, psycho-social, technical and online design support were also put in place,” said Viljoen. This included additional funding of the SU Language Centre, for the translation of podcasts for online learning.
Lecturers’ experience with online
SU lecturers, too, had to adapt to teaching online, with podcasts and Zoom meetings. “We learned fast. We made it work. Improvisation stretched us and, refreshingly, low-technology options were preferable due to the digital divide,” said Swart.
Swart said she hoped that the “candour and openness” of lockdown presented in students and staff would be retained, and become a bigger part of conversations in the lecture theatre.
“We are all experiencing this pandemic collectively, if unevenly. It is so much easier to talk about loneliness, and how we can foster community and connection,” she said.
Swart said that she “felt profoundly sad for students”.
“Undergraduate years are a priceless, outrageous, desperately wonderful time to be alive and I’m damned sad that the current crop of students are missing out,” she said.
Jonathan Major, a BAcc honours graduate, like many other students, was unable to graduate in person, resulting in “lockdown graduations” at home. PHOTO: Erin Walls
For Jonathan Major, a BAcc honours graduate, online learning was hard. “I felt isolated, but it allowed for no distractions,” he said.
The assistance from lecturers and the quality of online lectures is what Major believes contributed to the successes of the 2020 academic year. “I think credit must be given where credit is due. SU did a great job,” he said.