Second posting from the Vice-Rector (Teaching)

Ons het die afgelope jaar op kampus heelwat gesprek gevoer oor die konsep “Pedagogie van Hoop” en wat dit binne die konteks van Universiteit Stellenbosch sou kon beteken. Eenstemmigheid oor die toepaslikheid van die konsep “pedagogie” om al die aktiwiteite van die universiteit (nl kennisontdekking, kennisoordrag en kennistoepassing) te beskryf, was daar verseker nie. Oor die verstaan van wat “hoop” beteken (een omskrywing sou wees om die moontlike bo die werklike te stel) was daar groter sinergie van denke. (Ek maak hierdie afleidings uit al die terugvoere wat ons ontvang het van die verskillende fakulteite, steundiensafdelings en studentegroeperings wat die konsepdokument oor die “Pedagogie van Hoop” bespreek het.) Die colloquium eerskomende Vrydag is die eerste kampuswye gesprek oor wat “Pedagogie van Hoop” in die onderrig-en-leer-omgewing sou kon beteken. Ek dink dit is ‘n belangrike stap in ons proses van vordering na ‘n gedeelde verstaan van ‘hoop’ en hoe dit in alles wat ons doen neerslag kan/behoort te vind.
Reversing the term “Pedagogy of Hope” into “Hopeful Pedagogies” as the theme of the colloquium may, I think, open up new ways of thinking about it, particularly in terms of the focus on the contribution of the university to the public good. Inasmuch as the contribution of higher education or universities to economic and technological development of society, and to democracy and citizenship, is important, I believe we should not lose sight of the fact that higher education as a private good is a source of immense hope to so many young people who are first generation students, and to their families and communities. Maybe another challenge we have is to equip those young people, in addition to the knowledge and skills required of them in the workplace, also with the moral inclination to employ their education/training (private good) to the benefit of broader society (public good), and make a substantive difference in our country in that way as well?
Magda Fourie