FVZS Institute Blog | Stellenbosch University

A new year brings new faces

Sarel van Baalen — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:39:19 +0000

When the FVZS Institute kicked off the activities for 2013, a new group of inspired student assistants and course coordinators came ready to be the change they want to see at Stellenbosch University. The team consists of enthusiastic students with a prominent ambition to develop leaders and active citizens. Through serving in various positional and non-positional leadership positions, each student assistant has developed into a skilled thought leader who is now focused on investing in the broader student community by sharing their experience, skills, networks and knowledge. The FVZS Institute is proud that some of the new team members have been participants in our courses over the past three years and that the process of growing ‘own timber’ has started.

Each assistant coordinates either an existing course or project or has taken the challenge to design and coordinate a new one. In this way the FVZS Institute ensures continual internal growth and updated course content that is relevant to students. At the same time the outcomes of the FVZS is being internalised by the student coordinators, developing them as contextual leaders who can address the need for sound leadership in South Africa.

The new team members at the FVZS Institute are:

Anina Botha

Anina has helped to design and now coordinates a new FVZS short course, Democracy and Citizenship. The course kicked off in May 2013 and will continue through the second academic semester. Anina has gained the expertise to lead this exciting new course through her action-packed student life, including serving on many student committees and culminating in her position as chairperson of the Student Representative Council (SRC) of Stellenbosch University in 2012, combined with the knowledge gained from her LLB-studies.

Anina is passionate about student leadership development as well as human rights and will, through the course, liaise with one of the FVZS Institute’s partners, InkuluFreeHeid to add a very unique element to the course. The aim of the short course on Democracy and Citizenship is to introduce students to critical questions on the themes of democracy, accountability and citizenship. The focus is primarily on South Africa, but it is considered in light of the southern African and African experience.

Delano van der Linde

Delano has been the coordinator of the FVZS Short Course in Leadership through Community Interaction since September 2011. This course is presented in collaboration with MGD’s One Stop Service, which is managed by Michelle Pietersen. Delano is closely involved with both the execution of the course as well as the planning of course content and related logistics. Delano also serves as a facilitator for three of the course modules.

The short course is presented to various student groups, including student leaders with community interaction as a house committee portfolio, student volunteers, Thuthuka bursary holders and currently also to participants of the South African Washington International Programme (SAWIP). More than 100 students will participate in the course in 2013!

Lisa Lotter

Lisa is the 2013 coordinator of the 2DO program which is focused on second year students, and she holds great ambitions to invest in the young and upcoming leaders of Stellenbosch University. Lisa has served in various positional leadership positions within university structures which makes her the perfect candidate to engage with second year students through 2DO. Lisa holds a LLB-degree and is currently doing her postgraduate diploma in education.

2Do is a six-week programme which is focused on the leadership development of second year students at Stellenbosch University and encompasses themes such as self-exploration, social change, creativity and innovation. Participants additionally gain relevant skills to enhance their understanding of diversity, project management, different leadership styles, time management, professionalism, communication and public speaking. Opportunities are given to allow students to engage in debate with one another on topics that include global citizenship and critical contemporary contextual challenges.

Marnus Havenga

Marnus graduated with a degree in theology in 2012 and is currently enrolled for a Master’s Degree at Stellenbosch University. He has served in various leadership positions on campus, including being a member of the SRC in 2012. He resided in Eendrag Men’s Residence and is now part of the university’s LLL-initiative.

Marnus coordinates the extremely popular FVZS Discourse Café. Through this platform a variety of students are presented with the opportunity to meet well-known thought leaders from every sphere of the South African society who visit our campus and engage with our students in conversation while enjoying a meal together. The idea of Discourse Café started in 2012 when it was termed Breakfast Conversations. In 2013, Discourse Café has already hosted guests such as Tony Leon, FW de Klerk, Breyten Breytenbach, Ruda Landman, Roelf Meyer and Desmond Tutu and will continue to bring inspiring leaders to campus throughout the rest of the year.

Sarel van Baalen

Like the rest of the FVZS team, Sarel has served in various leadership positions at Stellenbosch University. Though an engineering student, Sarel has a keen interest in media and marketing and, through his active student life, he has gained valuable experience in this field. Sarel will graduate from Stellenbosch University with a Master’s degree in Engineering at the end of 2013. He is an alumnus of Huis Marais Men’s Residence and currently resides in a LLL-house for the second consecutive year.

Sarel has been part of the FVZS Institute team since 2012 and has grown the portfolio over the past year. His responsibilities include coordinating all FVZS Institute social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) as well as web development, graphic design and e-mail correspondence. His objective is to ensure that the maximum amount of students is informed of the amazing opportunities presented by and through the FVZS Institute.

Sibusiso Dhlamini

Sibusiso is a B.Comm. Financial Accounting student and has been involved with various activities at the FVZS Institute including the annual Stellenbosch University Leadership Conference of 2012. The main focus of Sibusiso’s current involvement is his role as facilitator of the Students as Agents of Social Change course under the guidance of Lloyd Blake. Sibusiso was a participant of this course as well as the Emerging Maties course in 2012 and also served as an assistant for the Women in Leadership, Advanced Course in Mentoring and Coaching, and Growing Multicultural Citizens short courses.

In addition to his involvement at the FVZS Institute, Sibusiso is also involved with the Enactus Society, previously known as Students in Free Enterprise. He has a passion for student leadership development and he keeps on developing himself by continuously giving back to students.

JD Labuschagne

JD heads up the Nucleus Entrepreneurship Project which aims to create a platform for students to interact with industry-linked thought leaders and experienced entrepreneurs. His current focus is to heighten students’ exposure to entrepreneurial thought and processes by hosting events and workshops about entrepreneurship, among other things. He is also working on establishing a student “slow” market.

JD’s position at the Institute is shared with InnovUS, Stellenbosch University’s technology transfer company. His joint mandate is to foster a culture of entrepreneurship on campus through which the out-of-class experience of students is enriched.

Written by Sarel van Baalen, FVZS student assistant for media and marketing.

Om as mentor te ontwikkel en as lewensafrigter te begelei

Sarel van Baalen — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:38:50 +0000

Die Gevorderde Kortkursus in Mentorskap en Lewensafrigting het oor ’n 7-week-periode verloop met een sessie van ongeveer twee ure per week. Onder leiding van Scott Hewitt is die basiese beginsels van mentorskap en lewensafrigting deurgewerk, bespreek en getoets. Tydens oefenlopies met die ander deelnemers deur die loop van die week, het jou persoonlike verstaan van die beginsels as basis gedien om dit prakties te implementeer.

Tydens die praktiese sessies met mede-aspirant afrigters leer jy baie van die ander persoon maar, tot eie verbasing, leer jy nog meer oor jouself. Hoe meer die mentorskapstegnieke ontwikkel, hoe meer word dit van toepassing op jou eie lewe – die kenmerk van ontwikkeling. En juis daarom is elke ervaring ‘n nuwe blaadjie in jou groeiende lewensverhaal.

Vaardighede wat aangeleer en ingeoefen was in hierdie kursus is nie uitsluitlik vir afrigting bedoel nie, maar is waardevol in alle sfere van die lewe – veral ook die werksomgewing. Om met mense te werk, is ‘n algemene realiteit vir alle beroepe, van die ingenieursbedryf tot kuns, en juis daarom is dit baie belangrik om ‘n begrip te hê van verskillende lewensfilisofië, menswens en gewoon ook van persoonlike doelwitte.

Die kuns om aktief te luister is een van die vaardighede wat tydens die kursus ontwikkel is. Hier gaan dit veral daaroor om die regte vrae te vra gebaseer op wat daar gesê word (of nie gesê word nie) en om dieper denke te prikkel. Die betekenis van woorde word gevul deur die individu, nie deur die woordeboek nie. Elke persoon is besonders en kleur self die beeld wat gesien word in.

Wat vir elke deelnemer vinnig duidelik geword het, is dat lewensafrigting en mentorskap afhanklik is van vertroue: vertroue in jouself, vertroue in die ander en vertroue in mekaar. Deur hierdie beginpunt word ‘n veilige omgewing ontwikkel waarin beide jy en die persoon wat gementor of afgerig word, ontwikkel.

Die kortkursus in Gevorderde Mentorskap en Lewensafrigting bied die geleentheid om nuwe vaardighede te ontwikkel en skep die ruimte vir deelnemers om hierdie vaardighede te internaliseer. Volgens my is daar geen beter talent as om die talente van ander te ontgin nie – so word jy self ook verryk!

Geskryf deur Wolfram Klingenberg, deelnemer aan die Gevorderde Kursus in Mentorskap en Lewensafrigting

Om te luister, te gesels en saam te bou aan ’n nuwe pad – die FVZS Instituut se Diskoerskafee

Sarel van Baalen — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:25:09 +0000

By die FVZS Instituut word die wonder en waarde van gesprekvoering as sentraal tot die vorming van die leiers van môre geag. Juis daarom is daar aan die einde van 2012 besluit om die Ontbytgesprekke-inisiatief uit te bou as die FVZS Diskoerskafee.

Diskoerskafee bied studente die geleentheid om met denkleiers uit alle sfere van die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing ‘n gemaklike tafelgesprek te voer waar daar prontuit en openhartig oor die lesse uit die verlede, uitdagings van die hede en moontlikhede van die toekoms gesels kan word. Daar word saam geluister, gesels, gedink en gedroom oor hoe goeie leierskap wêrelde kan verander.

Vanjaar het verskeie interssante gaste by die Diskoerskafee aangesluit, onder andere bekende denkleiers soos Tony Leon, FW de Klerk, Breyten Breytenbach, Michael Savage, Ruda Landman en Roelf Meyer. Daar is ook ‘n Diskoerskafee-geleentheid in Kaapstad gehou, waar ‘n groep studente die voorreg gehad het om ‘n ontbyttafel met Emeritus-Aartsbiskop Desmond Tutu te deel.

Wat by al hierdie byeenkomste uitgestaan het, was studente se gretigheid om by ons gaste te leer, hulle in die verhale van ons gaste te verdiep, moeilike vrae te vra en ook hul eie verhale, verwagtinge en vrese sonder voorbehoud te kon opper. Dit was opmerklik dat die gesprekke keer op keer nie by die Diskoerskafee-geleenthede geëinding het nie, maar ook na die tyd op die kampus voortgesit is.

Die Dalai Lama het eens opgemerk dat ’n menigte van die wêreld se probleme opgelos kan word indien mense slegs om ‘n tafel sit en met mekaar gesels. Die boodskap van elkeen van ons gaste was dan ook dat interaksie met ‘n mens se medemens, vriend of vyand, die beginpunt van positiewe verandering en ‘n hoopvolle toekoms is. Ons is geïnpireer om aan te hou om met mekaar en ander te gesels en om deur gesprek mekaar uit te daag om van ons wêreld ‘n beter plek te maak.

In die tweede helfte van die jaar sal verskeie bekende denkleiers weer by studente aansluit vir nog Diskoerskafee-geleenthede en ons sien daarna uit om selfs ‘n groter verskeidenheid kwessies in woord en daad aan te spreek.

Geskryf deur Marnus Havenga, koördineerder van die FVZS Diskoerskafee.

Creating a global social awareness: A Short Course in Global Citizenship

Sarel van Baalen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:43:01 +0000

“We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human community.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

What is global citizenship and why is it important for students from Stellenbosch University?

Every one of us can be called a global citizen whether we choose to carry this name or not. Globalization, interdependence between nations, cultural learning and social media has created a “borderless” community where you are constantly affected by what people on the other side of the world are doing.

Global citizenship can be seen as a relatively new term, but it is based on ancient concepts. The Greeks and Romans both referred to “a citizen” as someone who not only belonged to a place, but who also played a role in advancing society.

It is exactly this role in advancing society that is a critical skill for university graduates and that should be fostered by the institution.

The Global Citizenship course is a co-curricular program with a strong academic focus but with the explicit aim to enhance students’ awareness and skill levels with reference to personal influence and roleplaying. This course therefore involves both academic and non-academic environments from the public sector, government and alumni.

The course offering for 2013 is already in full swing and the main outcomes identified for this year are to develop a better understanding among students of what global citizenship entails, to help create a global social awareness, to enable students to actively take part as global citizens, to contribute to developing well-rounded world class students/citizens, to develop leadership skills, to develop critical thinking and public reasoning, and to promote Internationalisation @ Home.

This year’s group of participants have already had their first three sessions and also partook in the International Food Evening, where the group proudly represented South Africa. When the participants were asked to coin their own definition for the concept of global citizenship, they had the following to say:

“A global citizen is a globally-minded individual who believes the world is filled with interconnected networks. A global citizen is concerned with showing an interest in social, economic, political and environmental and sustainability issues, as well as learning foreign languages and learning about different cultures.” – Callee Davis

“Global citizenship means grasping your role as a citizen of the world and the importance of your positive contribution towards its economic, social, political and environmental improvement.” – Elné

Written Olga Wyngaard, coordinator of the short course in Global Citizenship which is presented jointly by the FVZS Institute and the Postgraduate and International Office of Stellenbosch University.

Discovering how and why we stereotype – unlearning the just too ‘obvious’ …

Sarel van Baalen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:33:46 +0000

Stereotyping is a facet of everyday life, something we all do and act upon both consciously and unconsciously. Discovering the extent to which we all use social biases can be quite shocking and is a truth people are not always willing to admit to themselves.

The second session of the Emerging Maties Course began with a very interesting and ultimately revealing exercise. We were each given a few sheets of stickers with adjectives and descriptive phrases on them, such as ‘smart’, ‘dangerous’ or ‘owns a farm’, and on the wall were sheets of paper, each representing a type of person. The aim of the exercise was to use up all your stickers by placing them on the type of person you felt was best associated with the phrase or word on the sticker.

Despite the large amount of options available, most of us found it relatively easy to associate certain characteristics with certain types of people.

This ease would contradict another exercise we did where stickers were placed on our heads categorising us as a type of person, such as ‘nerd’, ‘atheist’ or ‘jock’. The objective was then to treat others based on their sticker. It was almost unanimously found to be awkward, as confronting people directly with what we thought of them was difficult and quite jarring.

I found this phenomenon to be particularly interesting as it implied that, while we all have prejudices, most of us act upon them in subtle, indirect ways. It might be something as simple as ignoring someone or only talking about a certain topic based on the type of person you assume they’ll be.

This is something that has been particularly prevalent in my life, as people have always been quick to make assumptions about my language and interests based on my ethnicity and are always shocked when they discover I don’t speak any African languages and listen to alternative rock.

At the end of our session we all discussed the impact of what we had learned and how we’d try to implement these lessons in our lives and the way we approach people.

As a leader it’s important to know your team, to understand not only their strengths and weaknesses but also their potential. Allowing stereotypes and prejudices to affect your judgement can prevent you from seeing the hidden talents inherent in those around you, and is something that we as the next generation of leaders need to overcome.

Looking forward to the sessions to come…

*This blog was written by Alex Dyers as a reflection on the second session of the FVZS Institute Emerging Maties Course.

What does Human Rights Day mean to me? – Abenathi Mzazi

Sarel van Baalen — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:31:10 +0000

To me, human rights are there to acknowledge one’s existence on earth and a human being by giving them all the things one needs to have a fair chance to survive and thrive on this earth. They are all based on the principles of firstly dignity, equality, justice and fairness. They are there to ensure that people be treated with equal dignity because all people are equal, being treated with dignity should not simply be a privilege bestowed on one based on skin colour, gender etc because that would mean that dignity is something given based on the accident of birth when we all begin life on a clean slate as people.

It is important that rights are inalienable, one is entitled to them based on the fact that we are all equal and if they are not treated with fairness then one may claim them because rights cannot be taken away from a person, they can only be violated and I think that that is the most important principle of human rights. That whether or not others accept you as a human being, you always are and that there is no basis by which it can ever be denied, that your rights are yours and aren’t defined by the opinions of others.

Human rights are important to me because they declare your humanity and ensure that no matter what happens and who happens, a person can still stand a chance at surviving in an unequal world because regardless of material possessions, we are all human and there are certain things we need in order to survive and thrive that we are entitled to those things so that we may have a fair chance at survival. No matter what awaits an unborn child on earth, whether poverty or privilege, human rights are here to remind us all that all people are born naked with a clean slate and deserve an equal chance to determine what is to be written on that slate. Human rights also ensure that whomever tries to deny the humanity of a person will be brought to justice based on the principle that human rights cannot be denied, they can only be violated for they are inalienable from the person.

What does Human Rights Day mean to me? – Anina Botha

Sarel van Baalen — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:27:50 +0000

The Issue of Human Rights: Stellenbosch as a microcosm of South Africa

Human Rights Day is a celebration. A celebration of how far our beautiful country has come, the struggles we have overcome and how we have come together as a nation to try and realise the inherent dignity of each and every South African. However, it is also a reminder – human rights violations still happen every day, everywhere.

Yes, even in Stellenbosch.

At first glance, Stellenbosch University isn’t anything like the rest of South Africa. The majority is white. And Afrikaans. According to Statistics from the 2011 Census, nationally 8.9% of the population is white and 13.5% of South Africans consider their home language to be Afrikaans. Apparently, you also have to be able to Sokkie, sing “dis altyd lente” during a rugby match, have an “akker” fall on your head and kiss someone in a certain avenue. Or, at the very least, that is the perception of what it means to be a Matie.

Stellenbosch doesn’t seem like the rest of South Africa. However, although we may seem different, we deal with the exact same issues that the rest of SA is dealing with.

South Africa has an enormous division between rich and poor. Our country’s gini coefficient (indicator of inequality) is the 2^nd highest in the world. In Stellenbosch, the gini coefficient is said to be 0.61%, one of the highest in South Africa. Stellenbosch is seen as a place of the elite, the rich and soon to be famous South African business people. But don’t let the “Wingerd Gordyn” cover the reality of a very, very poor community. A trip to Kaymandi or any of the other townships just a few kilometres from main campus paints a very different picture than that what we see at the Mymaties.com homepage.

Also, just like the rest of the country, we are trying to figure out how to uphold the constitution and incorporate the constitutional values of human dignity ,non-discrimination, non-sexism, non-racialism into our daily lives.

What does these values and rights mean practically?

We consider human rights violations to be the atrocities happening in Syria. Or, for those who watched and shared and tweeted the Kony2012 video, Uganda. We have this perception that human rights are only violated in the most horrid of circumstances – like to young girl gang-raped in India earlier this year, or closer home, the tragedy of the events that lead to Anene Booysen’s rape and death.

The reality is that there are human rights violations, every day. In South Africa. And in Stellenbosch.

It only takes a quick glance over Die Matie or Die Vryestudent in 2012 to get a sense of what I am trying to say. Whether it is homophobic remarks made by ’n HK member, or race-based room placements or racial attacks or even the controversy surrounding the Taaldebat or the Koshuisplasingsbeleid. There are so many complexities in trying to unify a university and at the same time effect redress.

For me all of it boils down to human rights. How we understand our own rights and how we understand our responsibilities. And figuring out what to do with (seemingly) competing human rights. Just take religion as an example – your right to freedom of speech vs someone else’s right to religion. Or my right to practice religion vs your right not to practice religion. This gets more complicated when you start to ask yourself about prayer before Huisvergaderings or the fact that Metanoia is currently the only residence serving Halaal food. And so the list goes forth.

The sinister view? The whole country is trying to figuring this out, why even try. The hope? Of we can get it right here, we can get it right in the rest of South Africa as well. As established, Stellenbosch is a microcosm of South Africa.

Last year I lived in a LLL House with 4 other people. The theme of our house was Gender Equality. The 5 of us couldn’t be more diverse – different studies, different gender, different home languages, different ethnicities, different religious views and different sexualities. To be quite honest, we rarely agreed on anything – from the value of the Olympics, to the rules of Poker to philosophical debates regarding the purpose of life. However, the important thing is that we lived together. For a whole year. In somewhat harmony. We respected each other, got a sense one of who the other person is and could thus see where someone else (and their particular view) was coming from. No one was right. No one was wrong. We just tried to find solutions together. In that process, we broke down our own stereotypes. Our own assumptions. Our own preconceived ideas. We were housemates, above and beyond anything else. In other words, we were free, equal and recognised as individuals with inherent human dignity.

Now, this gives me hope. If we could get it right in our LLL House, we should be able to get it right in the greater Stellenbosch community. That idea that this is your home. That you belong. No matter your age, gender, financial status, sexuality, religious views or anything else that seems to divide you from the person walking next to you on the Rooiplein. We are all Maties, but more than that we all have the same human rights. We share the same constitutional values. We are all free, equal in dignity and rights.

And if we can get that right here, we should be able to get it right in the rest of South Africa as well.

Thus, Human Rights Day for me is a cue that we still have a long way to go (don’t matter where in South Africa you are) but also gives me hope that we are closer to Nelson Mandela’s words than we have ever been before – “We enter into a covenant that we shall build a society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without and fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity – a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.“

Anina Botha

Erkenning bring Inspirasie!

Sarel van Baalen — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:35:11 +0000

Die Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Instituut vir Studenteleierskapsontwikkeling (FVZS Instituut) het in Oktober 2012 sy 2de jaarlikse Erkenningsfunksie aangebied. Tydens hierdie geleentheid het die FVZS Instituut erkenning gegee aan meer as 250 studente en fasiliteerders wie oor die afgelope jaar suksesvol deelgeneem het aan ons verskeie kortkurusse en enkele ander programme.

Wat die geleentheid veral besonders gemaak het is die feit dat ons studente-fasiliteerder en programkoördineerders elk kortliks namens elke groep studente kon reflekteer oor die afgelope jaar. So kon die gehoor en dus ook elke student teenwoordig op ‘n klein manier beleef wat die impak van die jaar se aktiwiteite en leer-ervaringe was op vele ander studente, skoliere en fasiliteerders.

Die FVZS Instituut se programbestuurder, Lloyd Blake, het namens die groter Instituut spesiaal erkenning gebied aan van ons fasiliteerders en programkoördineerders wie die Universiteit aan die einde van 2012 verlaat.

Om hierdie rede was die jaarlikse Erkenningsfunksie meer as net ‘n geleentheid waar ons suksesvolle deelnemers sertifikate ontvang het. Ons kon feesvier, lag en hulde bring aan diegene wat deur hul onbaatsugtige diens belê het in die lewens van soveel ander. Ons kon ook saam onthou, terugdink aan gedeelde momente en vorentoe kyk na die moontlikhede wat 2013 vir die FVZS Instituut en vir die groeiende getal deelnemers in mag hou. En so was die Erkenningsfunksie ook ‘n geleentheid waar almal teenwoordig geïnspireer kon word om nuwe moontlikhede raak te sien.

Die getal deelnemers aan die FVZS Instituut se reeks kortkurusse sal na verwagting in 2013 toeneem en in alle waarkynlikheid sal twee nuwe kortkursusse in die tweede helfte van die jaar bekendgestel word. So wil die Instituut dan juis meer studente en jongmense blootstel aan geleenthede vir hulle om te groei en te ontwikkel as denkeleiers wat direk in ons verskillende gemeenskappe ‘n positiewe verskil kan maak.

Die nalatenskap van een van ons land se groot leiers, wyle dr Frederik van Zyl Slabbert leef dus voort in die verhale, terugvoer en voorbeelde van vele van ons deelnemers en studenteleiers. En so kon ons juis ook sy groot voorbeeld erken en onthou tydens die jaarlikse FVZS Instituut Erkenningsfunksie en saam met vele ander Suid-Afrikaners hoop dat ‘n jong geslag denkleiers ons land sal bly voed.

Leslie van Rooi

Hoof: FVZS Instituut

Exchanging Ideas = Growing Leaders

Sarel van Baalen — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:34:37 +0000

South Africa is a country with many contexts and a diversity of realities. In that sense we are very fortunate. Our place on the world geographical map also pushes us to realise our diversity and variety of contexts and we are bound to travel North, West, East and South thus interacting with even more cultures and people.

This is the reality and privilege of South Africans and I’m excited that we value this more and more. I am of the opinion that, if we are to focus on developing leaders with the skills and outlook to address the challenges of the 21^st Century, we cannot but expose them to a variety of cultures to aid their understanding and value for diversity. Through exposure leaders think globally and act locally, they have the understanding and skills to deal with the issues of the day linked to a larger reality and they have the patience and understanding to continuously engage with a variety of contexts, people, challenges and opportunities.

The Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development (FVZS Institute) realises the value of intercultural and inter-continental exchanges of ideas, concepts and learning opportunities. As such we invest in building relationships with partners locally and abroad: the South African Washington International Program (SAWIP), the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary and the Mandela Rhodes Scholarships. The Institute further invests in local communities through presenting the Leadership Through Community Interaction short course presented with Matie Community Service and our partnership with Caylix Sport to present the Living Legends Project. All of these offer students opportunities of exposure to a variety of contexts, people, circumstances and ways of thinking to enhance their understanding of diversity and global realities.

The FVZS Institute also links with partner universities outside the borders of South Africa such as Georgia State University (USA), Samford University (USA), Hunan University (China) and University of Namibia (Namibia). Our students and participants will continue to engage and share ideas with these and other universities in the years to come and we hope to increase our international links over the next three years.

Exposure to a variety of contexts not only leads to a better understanding of differing environments but also to a fuller understanding of the self. And this is of the utmost importance. As such a continued and growing investment in exposing graduates and young people in general to a variety of contexts is imperative to their development and thus also to the development of our nation(s). This remains both an opportunity and a challenge.

Leslie van Rooi

Head: FVZS Institute

Sowing Seeds of Leadership – The Fundamental Journey of a First Year

Sarel van Baalen — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:51:27 +0000

The recently published National Development Plan (NDP) indicates several areas that require the immediate attention and participation of South Africa’s general public for effective change to take place in our society. Taking into mind their role and focus it is clear that Higher Education (HE) institutions have a key role to play in addressing the many challenges facing our nation. To play this role HE institutions will need to directly invest in the next generation of our country’s leaders in more than just the provision of degrees; it needs to ensure that graduates are relevant and aware of the context of our country and not just their own backyards. It further needs to ensure that graduates show the willingness to go beyond the simple state of knowledge and awareness thus becoming active and engaged change agents in and for our societies.

As clear as it is, this is a formidable task which lies before all South Africa’s HE Institutions; one which the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert (FVZS) Institute for Student Leadership Development is currently active in undertaking. The Institute realises that, to affect change in our country, we need to first affect change in the minds and perspectives of individuals. Students of our universities growingly interact with and for a variety of communities and to aid this, the FVZS Institute has been creating platform after platform for conversations and shared learning which can lead to educated positive shifts in perspectives and actions. We realise though that becoming and growing as a citizen and/or agent for change is not an overnight process but rather a continuous journey of sharing, reflecting and personal growth in relation to others.

For this reason the FVZS Institute invests in the next generation of citizens and leaders by beginning this foundation of development from the very start of their journey. To do exactly this, the FVZS Institute will for the first time ever offer various themed leadership workshops to the first years of Residences and PSO’s to participate in during the Stellenbosch University (SU) Welcoming Program. As such the Institute seeks to create a culture of leadership and a desire for continuous personal growth and development which compliments and reaffirms the concrete academic education which each student undertakes. Some of the themes that will be addressed during the workshops range from Creativity and Innovation to Understanding Stereotypes, Multicultural Citizenship to Personality and Leadership Styles. First year students will have the opportunity to engage and actively participate in these exciting and interactive workshops whilst critically developing their competencies and perspectives. The workshops will be facilitated by FVZS Institute staff members and senior student leaders and as such we will in a very real sense also mentor the first year students. For this reason we look forward to meeting all the first years of 2013 and embarking on this amazing journey together thus investing in our country and in our various communities.

More information on how to become involved in the mentioned workshops and in the general activities of the FVZS Institute can be obtained from the House Committee member of Leadership Development in each Residence or PSO.

Lloyd Blake

Program Manager of the FVZS Institute