June | 2014 | FVZS Institute Blog | Stellenbosch University
29 June 2014, written by fvzs
Hamba kahle, prof Russel
Foto: Prof Russel Botman gesels in Mei vanjaar by die Diskoerskafee met van die studente.
-DR LESLIE VAN ROOI
Hoe interpreteer ons as individue die toekoms? En hoe lei ŉ mens ander die toekoms in?
Hierdie vrae was onderliggend aan prof Russel Botman se onlangse gesprek by die FVZS Instituut vir Studenteleierskapsontwikkeling se Diskoerskafee. Hierdie vrae het hy in sy eie lewe self doeltreffend beantwoord deur die voorbeeld wat hy as leier gestel het.
As student het hy sy medestudente in die onstuimige 1976 aangemoedig om deel te neem aan die groter politieke diskoers van die land, as kerkman het hy ŉ leidende rol in die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk van Suider Afrika ingeneem, as akademikus het hy die Universiteit Stellenbosch op ŉ pad van verandering geneem en as denker en sosiale omvormer, was hy een van die land se groot leiers.
Met die HOOP Projek het hy werk gemaak van ŉ visie waardeur die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US) die gemeenskap kon dien deur navorsing met praktiese oplossings vir ontwikkelingsvraagstukkke. Hy het die US op ŉ weg van ware inklusiwiteit en diversiteit geplaas en die mense – akademici, studente en ander – om hom aangemoedig en geïnspireer om self as leiers na vore te tree.
Hy het geweet hoe belangrik dit is om mense wat buite die borrel van Stellenbosch staan na binne te nooi. Want deur dit te doen en onsself bloot te stel aan invloede van buite, kan ons seker maak dat ons nie vasgevang word in verstarde denke nie. Deur die borrel van bevoorregting te prik, kan ons uitreik na ander mense en gemeenskappe en ŉ verskil elders maak.
As rektor en vise-kanselier van die US het prof Botman seker gemaak dat denkleiers van die toekoms op die kampus gekweek word. Onder sy se leierskap het die US besluit om aan nog ŉ groot leier, wyle Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert (in daardie stadium die uittredende kanselier van die US), erkenning te gee deur die FVZS Instituut hier te vestig.
Saam met die US se vorige viserektor vir Leer en Onderrig, prof Magda Fourie-Malherbe, het die US deur Botman nie net Van Zyl erken nie, maar ook deur die HOOP Projek, dit duidelik gemaak dat hierdie instelling denkleierskap deurlopend sal aanmoedig en dat daar daadwerklike en deurlopende belegging sal wees in ŉ nuwe generasie denkleiers.
Sedert die stigting vier jaar gelede, het Botman sy steun aan die FVZS Instituut gewys deur gesprekke, aanmoediging, informele gesprekke met studente en ŉ uitgesproke, diepe versugting dat die FVZS Instituut die US en Suid-Afrika moet voed met ŉ nuwe generasie denkleiers.
By die onlangse Diskoerskafee deelnemers herinner dat leiers elke gemeenskap van diens moet wees, en nie net vir uitgesoekte gemeenskappe nie.
Hy het ook graag daarop gewys daar is veral twee soorte leiers: dié wat die bestemming kan sien, en dié wat ander na die bestemming kan lei. Hy was ŉ leier wat beide die bestemming kon sien en ander soontoe lei.
Prof Russel Botman was een van die land se groot geeste. Ons huldig hom as iemand wie se nalatenskap ons vir baie jare sal inspireer.
Dankie vir jou voortreflike bydrae op soveel vlakke van die samelewing, prof Hayman Russel Botman.
Biografie van prof H Russel Botman
Professor Hayman Russel Botman was die Rektor en Visekanselier van die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US). Hy is in 2007 in dié amp aangestel, en in 2012 heraangestel vir nog ŉ 5-jaar termyn.
Ten tye van sy dood was hy ook Senior Visepresident van die Vereniging van Afrika-universiteite, Raadsvoorsitter van Kaapstad as Wêreldontwerphoofstad 2014, en ŉ Direksielid van Hoër Onderwys Suid-Afrika en van Media24. Hy het ook van 2006 tot 2011 as Direksievoorsitter van die Klein-Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees gedien.
Hy is in 1982 as predikant van die destydse NG Sendingkerk georden, en dien van 1982 tot 1993 as leraar in Wynberg. Hy sou ŉ sleutelrol speel in die totstandkoming van die Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk in Suider-Afrika, en was enduit ŉ sterk voorstander van eenheid in die NG Kerkfamilie.
In 1994 word hy as Senior Lektor in Praktiese Teologie by UWK aangestel, en in 1999 word hy tot Medeprofessor en Dekaan van die Fakulteit Godsdiens en Teologie bevorder. In 2000 word hy as Professor in Praktiese Teologie en Missiologie aan die US aangestel. Hy het 38 studente van UWK af met hom saamgebring toe daar besluit is om die VKSA se Kweekskool te verskuif weens rasionalisasie aan die UWK.
In 2002 word hy Viserektor: Onderrig, ŉ pos wat hy beklee tot sy historiese aanstelling as die US se eerste swart Rektor en Visekanselier in 2007. Hy het ook van 2003 tot 2007 as President van die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad van Kerke gedien, en het talle akademiese en populêre artikels oor menseregte, versoening, menswaardigheid en maatskaplike geregtigheid gepubliseer.
Die titel van sy inhuldigingstoespraak aan die US in April 2007 was “ŉ Multikulturele universiteit met ŉ pedagogie van hoop in Afrika”, en hy het gesê hy sou hom daaraan toewy om die US se uitgesproke verbintenis tot regstelling en ontwikkeling in die praktyk te verwesenlik. In 2010 stuur hy die US se HOOP Projek van stapel, waardeur die Universiteit ontwikkeling in die samelewing bevorder. In 2013 aanvaar die Universiteit onder sy leiding ŉ nuwe Visie 2030, wat daarop gemik is om die instelling meer inklusief, innoverend en toekomsgerig te maak.
In Maart 2014 het hy ŉ eredoktorsgraad van Hope College in die VSA ontvang vir leierskap in die hoëronderwys en die gereformeerde kerk om geregtigheid vir alle Suid-Afrikaners te bevorder. In April 2013 het hy die Abraham Kuyper-prys van die Princeton Theological Seminary in die VSA ontvang vir uitnemendheid in teologie en die openbare sfeer. Hy het ook erelidmaatskap van die Verenigde Nasies Vereniging van Suid-Afrika ontvang vir die bevordering van die Millennium Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte. En op 8 Julie 2014 sou hy ŉ eredoktorsgraad van die Universiteit van Aberdeen in Skotland ontvang het.
Prof Botman word oorleef deur sy vrou, Beryl en vier kinders: Hayman, Ilse, Roxanne en Lizelle.
28 June 2014, written by fvzs
Mnr George Steyn, Voorsitter van die Universiteitsraad het sy innige medelye met prof Botman se vrou, Beryl, sy kinders, familie en die Universiteit se personeel en studente uitgespreek. “Russel was ’n liewe en geliefde mens. Ek het groot ontsag vir sy integriteit en sy leierskap, onder meer die manier waarop hy gedurende die stormagtige jare destyds die Fakulteit Teologie van die Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland oorgebring het na die Universiteit Stellenbosch. Hy is ’n man wat vas gestaan het ten opsigte van sy eie oortuigings en beginsels, en daarvolgens geleef het. Die Universiteit Stellenbosch het die afgelope klompie jare groot baat gevind by sy visioenêre leierskap, wat ŉ weerspieëling was van sy lewensfilosofie dat die US se uitnemende navorsing en onderrig ’n verskil in die samelewing moet maak.
“Russel het gereeld in gesprekke tussen ons verwys na die feit dat die ‘plaaseienaar se kind en die plaasarbeider se kind ŉ gelyke kans moet hê om ŉ Matie te wees’. Ook het hy telkens vir my gevra of ons genoeg doen om te verseker dat die US, as 21ste eeuse universiteit, genoeg doen om terselfdertyd toe te sien dat sy en my kleinkinders eendag hier in Afrikaans sal kan studeer.
“Ek wil ook namens die breë Universiteitsgemeenskap vir Beryl bedank en ons waardering uitspreek vir haar liefdevolle en onbaatsugtige bystand aan Russel.”
Dr Johann Rupert, Kanselier van die US, het gesê dat prof Botman ŉ persoon met onkreukbare integriteit was wat hom altyd vir sy medemens opgeoffer het. “Hy het sy diep geloof daagliks uitgelewe.
“Die twee van ons het net verlede week ŉ heerlike middagete geniet waartydens ons ŉ breedvoerige gesprek gehad het. Taalkwessies, studente veiligheid en die algemene stand van Suid-Afrika was bespreek.
“Onregverdige kritiek uit verskeie oorde het hom duidelik diep seergemaak. Russel het dit egter verduur sonder om te kla.
“Namens my familie wil ek ook innige simpatie en medelye aan Beryl en die kinders oordra. Die Universiteit Stellenbosch en Suid Afrika het ’n persoon van groot waarde verloor. Ons gaan hom geweldig mis.”
Prof Botman sou komende week na die buiteland vertrek het, en hy het prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen, Bedryfshoof van die US as waarnemende rektor aangewys. Prof Botman sou in Julie vereer word met ’n eregraad van die Universiteit van Aberdeen in Skotland. Prof Van Huyssteen sal in hierdie hoedanigheid waarneem tot wanneer die Uitvoerende Komitee van die Raad in Julie vergader.
Prof Botman word oorleef deur sy vrou, Beryl en vier kinders: Hayman, Ilse, Roxanne en Lizelle. Die begrafnisreëlings is nog nie bekend nie.
Bio van Prof H Russel Botman
26 June 2014, written by fvzs
WSEN contributor excited about summit
Gina King, together with the Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development, was instrumental in drafting the bid that brought the World Student Environmental Network Global Summit (30 June to 4 July 2014) to Stellenbosch University.
At the time Gina was the SRC representative for the Sustainability Portfolio (2012). For her MA thesis in History she used a socio-environmental framework to piece together the history of waste in South Africa. She now interns with the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism for the Green Economy. And somehow she still found time to be one of the organising committee members for this year’s Global Summit.
Stephanie Nieuwoudt asked her a few questions.
You were one of the “initiators” of the 2014 summit. Why did you think it would be a good idea to bring it to Stellenbosch?
One of the five focus areas of Stellenbosch University’s HOPE Project is ‘Promoting a Sustainable Environment and a Competitive Industry’. As a Students’ Representative Council (SRC) member with the Sustainability Portfolio at the time, I thought it was important to ensure that an event such as this would be brought to our students. It often feels as though Stellenbosch is its own little world and it is important for our students to be exposed to multiculturalism and diversity. It is also an opportunity to show off our university to students across the world as an excellent institution of higher learning.
I believe SU has an important role to play in promoting the green economy and sustainable development in Africa, and the World Student Environmental Network (WSEN) – on which I also now serve – is a great platform to promote this. One thing I know for certain about my alma mater is that it has the ability to promote sustainable development in a unique way – through its community interaction, research, and teaching and learning. SU’s support of this summit is an important part of this – we are reaching out to over 100 international universities renowned for their commitment to sustainability and the environment.
What are your expectations of the 2014 summit?
I expect students to broaden their horizons. At last year’s summit in Germany we heard many questions based on misconceptions of Africa. This will be the first summit hosted in a developing country – and Africa of course. It is so important for a growing network such as the WSEN to experience ‘the other side’ of the sustainability debate. Last year we spoke about transition towns and de-growth at the summit, but this year we need to talk about development and its related issues, and building sustainable cities. Our generation has so many issues to tackle in the future – I often think some things were easier for other generations in that the battles we face are often far more fractured. However, then we have this all-encompassing world model offered to us – sustainable development which intertwines social, environmental and economic rights.
What important lessons were learnt from previous summits?
At previous summits the WSEN has learnt that when you put people together from across the planet around a common cause – they rally around this cause. We make friends across cultural, racial, sexual and gender barriers all because these are students committed to sustainability and our global environment.
At previous summits I realised that I was surrounded by people who had the potential to shape our future. To be able to give them the tiniest part of their education, to be able to expand their horizons at all – is an honour. One of my most important learnings is that the European models for sustainability often shape what we know about the subject- and this is often out of touch with the context of the developing world.
I am excited to get this diverse range of students to the summit, into a developing country, to be able to contribute to our understanding of sustainable development.
The WSEN Global Summit2014 is sponsored by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, the SU’s Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development, the SU’s Sustainability Initiative and the SU’s Postgraduate and International Office.
21 June 2014, written by fvzs
Leadership skills should be taught at university
Universities cannot teach students how to be leaders, but it can teach skills to equip young people to become leaders.
According to Adv Johan Kruger , Director of the Centre for Constitutional Rights, universities are crucial in creating an environment where certain thought processes which are conducive to a human rights culture can be fostered.
Kruger was one of the speakers at a breakfast discussion on Thursday (19 July) hosted by the School of Public Leadership (SPL) and the FVZS Institute for Student Leadership Development (FVZS Institute). The topic was The role of universities in cultivating leadership. The event is part of the Good Public Leadership: Breakfast Discussion Series of the SPL.
The other speakers were Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University and Wayde Groep, coordinator/facilitator of the FVZS Institute’s Facilitative Leadership short course and Students’ Representative Council Manager: Critical Engagement. The moderator was Dr Leslie van Rooi, Head: FVZS Institute.
“The importance of the university’s ability to create an environment where thought processes based on a common set of values are developed cannot be overestimated,” said Kruger.
But how exactly should this be done?
Wayde Groep said that although the FVZS Institute is doing great work in developing leaders by exposing them to the realities of South Africa outside the classroom, more should be done by SU to incorporate leadership training in the classroom.
“Because of the vigorous curriculum load students are not able to think about how what they study will impact on South Africa and the world.”
Groep said that there should be greater emphasis on using the classroom as a space for developing leadership.
Prof Erwin Schwella underscored this when he said that leadership development should be part of all the programmes offered by a university.
“Leadership training should be integrated in all teaching. But there should also be space for special leadership bodies like the FVZS Institute.”
South Africa’s history shows that university campuses are often the places where new and critical thought processes lead to action. Prof Botman clearly demonstrated this when he said that the Soweto riots of 1976 lead to students at the University of the Western Cape (where he was a student leader at the time) engaging in critical debates about leadership.
“”Out of that developed a commitment to people living in poverty, to standing up to innustice, to seeking transformation at our university. Out of an apartheid ‘bush college’ emerged a university with leading students and staff that would have a lasting impact in not only the Western Cape, but the rest of the world.”
Botman also spoke about the 19 SU students who in 1989 went to Lusaka to meet with ANC members living in exile. These students were heavily criticised by the then government and the university, as well as journalists and the community.
“They showed Maties the way towards the future. 1989 was a turning point for SU and it would never be the same again.”
Although the emphasis is on developing future leaders, South Africa also has to deal with current leaders who simply do not always step up to the mark.
Responding to a question about how current leaders should be held responsible, Kruger said he believes that parliament is failing regarding accountability. However, “leaders are only accountable if they are held accountable”.
“We all have an individual responsibility to participate in society in order to bring about changes,” said Kruger.
According to Groep it is problematic that those “of us who consider ourselves as leaders have gone silent”.
“This is a fundamental problem. Why do we keep quiet when we see others stealing, or not doing their job? It made me sad when South Africa went silent when Uganda passed the anti-gay Bill. We have to realise that we are accountable to the broader society. We need to be bold in holding our leaders accountable.”
18 June 2014, written by fvzs
Green grass and Youth Day
Wayde Groep sees a country alive with possibilities. And on Youth Day he reflected on his role as a young South African to make this country a better place.
Here is an article Wayde wrote that appeared in the Cape Argus on Youth Day 2014.