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Community interaction

The University of Stellenbosch and the Faculty of Engineering strive to address the needs of the community through service and development programmes within the Faculty. We use our own students,personnel and resources as well as the expertise of co-workers both within and outside the University.

The main research objective of the personnel of the Faculty is to provide a better life for South Africa's people. Thus the Faculty strives to do research in areas such as roads, dams, water purification, effluent treatment, renewable energy, etc.

The Faculty does provide the organizational framework, as well as infrastructure, for participation in community services and development on the campus as well as country wide.  The concept of the University of Stellenbosch's Engineering Faculty's community interaction focuses on the development of our young people (school children). 

Outreach Programmes

The Faculty of Engineering has several outreach programmes to stimulate the interest of learners and teachers in science, engineering and technology and to make them aware of career possibilities. The outreach programmes of the Faculty of Engineering are:
  • The annual Open Day, which is aimed at stimulating the interest of Grade 7 to Grade 12 learners. This is also a platform for which to provide guidance regarding a career in engineering.
    Date for 2010: Saturday, 17 April from 10:00 until 15:00
    Enquiries: Avril Ford, tel: 021 808 3614, E-mail
  • The Annual Winter Week for prospective engineering students (Grades 11 and 12) during which they can get a clear picture of the world of the engineer. This is achieved by talks by lectures and professional, practising engineers and visits to indutries. Learners stay in a university residence for the duration of the Winter Week. In the evenings the whole group participates in fun-filled social entertainment.
    Date for 2010: 27 June to 2 July
    Enquiries: Sandra Tribelhorn, tel: 021 808 4203, E-mail 
  • The Annual Women in Engineering Afternoon where Grade 11 girls who do Mathematics and Physical Sciences find out more about engineering as a career. They are addressed by postgraduate female students as well as female practising engineers.
    Date for 2009: Wednesday, 8 September from 15:00 until 16:30
    Enquiries: August Engelbrecht, tel: 021 808 4205, E-mail

  • An afternoon for teachers during which Mathematics, Physical Science and Guidance teachers are informed about the engineering profession, the dire need for engineers in our country, and the faculty's degree programmes.
    Enquiries: August Engelbrecht, tel: 021 808 4205, E-mail

  • A day in the life of an engineer where top achievers, mainly from historically disadvantaged schools, visit the faculty's laboratories as well as being taken to see different industries, in order to encourage them to consider a career in engineering.
    Enquiries: August Engelbrecht, tel: 021 808 4205, E-mail 

  • The TRAC programme that enables learners to master scientific principles such as Newton's Laws, by means of computerised systems in the TRAC laboratory.
    Enquiries: Ruby Frans, tel: 021 808 4065 or 4647, E-mail

  • SunZone where the university's Centre for Prospective Students presents Mathematics and Physical Science workshops to Grade 10 learners in the TRAC laboratory.
    Enquiries: Lorna Bartlett, tel: 021 808 2923, E-mail

  • The SUNSTEP programme which gives learners the opportunity to build their own working electronic circuits.
    Enquiries: Miranda Myburgh, tel: 021 808 4396, E-mail

  • The F1 in Schools project (in collaboration with Sangari SA),where learners between the ages of 11 and 18 work in teams to design and build miniature balsa wood racing cars, powered by carbon dioxide. These cars are then raced in organised competitions. In the process, the learners acquire skills such as designing and manufacturing, time management, marketing, teamwork, the writing of a business plan, and also learn how to do a presentation.
    Enquiries: Ulrich Smith, tel: 021 808 4605, E-mail


  • The Technology Olympiad of SAIMechE which annually challenges learners to tackle a problem or design and build a machine. The Department of Mechanical Engineering provides assistance and advice to schools and learners by means of workshops to enable them to produce quality projects.
    Enquiries: Liesl Crous, tel 021 808 4374, E-mail

  • The Expo for Young Scientists which is presented annually to schools in Stellenbosch, the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town, and the Boland region. The Faculties of Engineering and Science and IMSTUS present it jointly.
    Enquiries: Erika Hoffmann, tel: 021 808 3482, E-mail
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