Sustainable Development

Quality education has long been known as a gateway out of poverty, especially multi-generational poverty. Schooling disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic means that quality education is more important than ever, as many students fell behind in their studies during this time. 

Universities can drive a substantial change in this metric, by making education more accessible to a wider range of people and by ensuring that their educational offering is of an excellent quality. 

SDG 4 links with many others, as a good education can alleviate poverty (SDG 1), lead to better work and economic growth (SDG 8), and can reduce inequalities (SDGs 5 and 10). Quality Education correlates with the Agenda 2063 Goal 2: Well-educated citizens and skills revolution underpinned by science, technology, and innovation and Goal 18: Engaged and empowered youth and children.  

There are a range of programmes at Stellenbosch University that contribute towards SDG 4: Quality Education and AU Goal 2: Well-educated citizens and skills revolution underpinned by science, technology, and innovation and Goal 18: Engaged and empowered youth and children. For more information, For more information, see the Division of Social Impact’s Platform for SDG 4. 

Teacher training at Stellenbosch University 

The University’s Faculty of Education offers two undergraduate degrees in Education for Primary School Educators, the BEd Foundation Phase (Grades R to 3) and the BEd Intermediate Phase (Grades 4 – 7). BEd graduates are eligible for admission to the postgraduate BEd Honours programme. A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), undertaken after undergraduate studies in a specific field, will allow educators to teach at High School level, and can also be a basis for Further Education and Training opportunities. The Faculty offers further options to complete a Masters and Doctorate in Education.  

In addition to training schoolteachers, three Stellenbosch University academics were chosen to take part in the Teaching Advancement at University Fellowship Programme. This programme aims to increase the quality of tertiary education in South Africa. Stellenbosch University’s Division of Learning and Teaching Enhancement continued to provide lecturers with the opportunity to improve their contribution to quality education. 

The Stellenbosch University Library has online resources that are free to use for members of the public and a visit to the library can also be arranged by contacting library personnel. The Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy provides free resources for schoolteachers to raise awareness about sustainability among the youth of South Africa. 

Promoting a culture of learning

Since 2021, a peer-to-peer online facilitation course has been registered as co-curricular training, giving participants the tools to advance their careers. Shared Humanity, Activating Engaged Citizenship experiential training, and Equality Agent student peer education are among the courses offered. Through these courses, students can collaborate with local community partners, gain knowledge from various viewpoints, and develop their civic engagement and service-learning abilities.

Key community outreach and education programmes at Stellenbosch University: Contributing to education development 

• Stellenbosch University is committed to promoting lifelong learning among the local community and further afield. The University hosts public lectures that are open and free for any member of the public. The lectures are also recorded, and recordings are placed online for people who are unable to attend in person. 
• The Centre for Student Counselling and Development offers Continuing Professional Development courses open to students, staff, and the general public. This aims to promote lifelong learning among psychologists, psychometrists and counsellors.  
• The TRAC programme aims to help students from disadvantaged communities improve their academic performance at schools and to help them apply and plan for tertiary education, including helping them find funding opportunities to help them finance their studies. The programme reached 500 beneficiaries from five secondary schools during 2021. 
• The Stellenbosch University Life Science Outreach project presents practical sessions to Grade 10-12 Life Science learners at Lückhoff Secondary School in Idas Valley. They aim to improve student success and support teachers at the under-resourced school. 
• The Ex-Cell Project was launched in May 2021. This project is aimed at educating currently incarcerated and paroled individuals to better prepare them for the business world.