‘Transformation 101’ at Maties

Cape Town 151008- Deputy Chancellor in Stellenbosch Nico Koopman speaks about transformation at the University. Picture Cindy waxa.Reporter Ilse/Argus

Cape Town 151008- Deputy Chancellor in Stellenbosch Nico Koopman speaks about transformation at the University. Picture Cindy waxa.Reporter Ilse/Argus

Published Oct 9, 2015

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Cape Town - Stellenbosch University is developing a compulsory module for all first-year students, which it hopes will help sensitise students to transformation.

Called “Maties 101”, the module is being developed by academics and is expected to be completed by next year.

Transformation at the university has been under the spotlight this year and the Luister video, released by Open Stellenbosch and Contraband Cape Town, resulted in the university management being called to a meeting of Parliament’s portfolio committee on Higher Education and Training.

Council member Piet le Roux also caused a stir on Twitter last month when he tweeted: “Blade Nzimande en #transformanie gaan nie wen nie. Ondersteun die Afrikaanse Alumni-vereniging (Blade Nzimande and transformania won’t win. Support the Afrikaanse Alumni Association).” The tweet resulted in calls on Facebook and Twitter for the council to be dissolved.

The council has since indicated that it has mandated a committee to investigate Le Roux’s conduct.

In an interview with the Cape Argus on Thursday, acting vice-rector for social impact, transformation and personnel, Professor Nico Koopman said students had requested such a module.

“They will have to learn about the contemporary history of South Africa. We live in a society where there is a historical amnesia, we must build historical consciousness.

“They must learn how to acknowledge and overcome subtle forms of discrimination, like racism, sexism, homophobia and discrimination against people with disabilities.”

Koopman said the module would be credit bearing and similar modules for second-year and following years of study might also be developed.

“We hope they enjoy it and we believe that if the first group of students are through with it they can be good ambassadors for the next generation of students.”

Koopman said that the university would also increase the number of courses on diversity and transformation for staff.

“This will become part of the performance management process of staff members.

“It means that if the performance of staff is measured we will look at whether they have also have completed in-service courses like courses on transformation.”

“We all have to learn about life together.

“We all have to learn how we subtly, unintentionally function with discrimination.

“We all need to learn what type of language and expressions cause hurt to other groups. We need to acknowledge those things.”

Koopman said that while South Africans were experts at being diverse and apart, they had to learn to be diverse and together.

Koopman said a R70 million allocation from the vice chancellor’s strategic personnel fund would be allocated towards the diversification of staff.

“We want to increase the number of black, coloured and Indian staff members, especially at senior academic levels. We also want to support staff members in junior levels in order to facilitate their academic growth.”

He said there was still a lot to learn on the journey of transformation.

“It’s a journey that is not perfect but you are really resolute about this journey. It’s just the right thing to do,” Koopman said.

[email protected]

Cape Argus

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