'SU committed to multilingualism without exclusion' – Council

30 November 2015

The Council of Stellenbosch University yesterday (30 November 2015) accepted the following motion with an overwhelming majority at its scheduled meeting: 

1. The Council of Stellenbosch University (SU) noted the draft document of the SU Management issued on 12 November 2015. Council furthermore confirms its support for the motion by the Executive Committee of Council - EC(C) - adopted on 15 November 2015. 

2. In as far as the draft proposal and statement of Management concern the official Language Policy of Stellenbosch University (SU), Council states the following: 

2.1 Council remains committed to the Language Policy as accepted on 22 November 2014 and the interpretation thereof by Prof Wim de Villiers in his inaugural address: "Stellenbosch is not an Afrikaans university; Stellenbosch is not an English university; Stellenbosch is not an isiXhosa university; Stellenbosch is a multilingual South African university – one of few in this category, which is desperately needed in a country with 11 official languages".  

2.2 Council states unequivocally that language may never be an obstacle for any student who has no command of either Afrikaans or English wishing to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate study at SU. Thus Council requests Management to expand the necessary mechanisms to this end, and to monitor these continuously. If this should imply that the English academic offering exceeds the set target, it will be supported by  Council. 

2.3 Concurrently Council states that this may not be to the detriment of the agreed minimum target for the Afrikaans offering. Council requests that the Afrikaans undergraduate academic offering should also be increased. Council confirms that its multilingual academic offering is considered a strategic asset of SU that should be expanded as a competitive advantage.  

2.4 With regard to the administrative and communication language at SU, Council decided that language may never exclude full participation by students and staff. Council accepts that official documents and communication will therefore continue to be in Afrikaans as well as English. Students, staff and the public will continue to be addressed in the language of their choice, either in Afrikaans or in English, and if possible also in isiXhosa. 

2.5 Concerning the language used during meetings and events at SU, as well as in university residences, Council requests that the medium is mutually agreed upon with the aim to not exclude anyone.  

3. Council considers the growing diversity in student demographics at SU as a great asset to both the academic and personal development of the students who choose to study at SU. Council would like to, along with Management, continue to think creatively about how mutual understanding and appreciation for everyone associated with SU can be promoted, and the enrichment potential of diversity can be unlocked to the maximum.

Statement issued by the University of Stellenbosch, 30 November 2015