The Open Day on Saturday 20 April 2024 marked a significant day on the events calendar of Stellenbosch University. The annual event is designed and implemented to host prospective applicants, parents and next of kin of prospective students on Stellenbosch University’s main campus in Stellenbosch as well as other campuses. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences pulled out all the stops to welcome the guests and prospective applicants by delivering an interactive Open Day event at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences building, the Adam Small Theatre and the Krotoa building. The Faculty’s main building hosted all languages including African Languages, Afrikaans and Dutch, Ancient Studies, English, Modern Foreign Languages and General Linguistics. Room 3001 of the Krotoa building hosted Philosophy, Political Science, History, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology and Social Anthropology. Room 1012 hosted Information Science, Geography and Environmental Studies, Human Resources and Journalism.

The annual Open Day recruitment programme kicked off on 6 April with the launch of the online Open Day website [Stellenbosch University Open Day | Forward Together (sun.ac.za)]. Prospective students can visit the site, read up on information and view videos from the various faculties as well as the services and support departments of the University. Application for prospective students opened officially on 1 April and will close on Wednesday 31 July 2024. The Stellenbosch campus was a buzz of activities and events with many prospective students (some in school uniforms) who were eager to find out about study opportunities in line with their chosen career interests. Even learners from grade 10 came along to find out more information, so that they could make informed decisions about their subject choices and their future studies. “My daughter is convinced now. She was impressed. Stellies is the place to be for her. She is in grade 11 but wants to come and study at Stellenbosch University when she finishes her grade 12,” said Delicia Rorich, a parent.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences delivered a special and memorable Open Day event. Those who visited the Faculty were treated to free popcorn upon arrival and had the opportunity to do a ‘walkabout’ among the 18 departmental stalls to get more information and materials as well as attend the various departmental presentations and information sessions at the main building, the Adam Small Theatre and the Krotoa building. They were also given a tour of the Visual Arts Department, the Drama Department as well as the Music Department’s conservatory. This offered the departments the opportunity to showcase some of their students’ practical work and the components of their teaching and learning spaces.

Members of the BA Student Committee (BASC), under the leadership of Sam Morrick, were proactively involved in the information sessions and the proceedings of the day. Some acted as programme directors of the information sessions and some as information officials and tour guides for the visitors on the day. “Thank you, it was great to be of assistance today,” said Qobo-Lwam Damane, Transformation and Culture portfolio manager for the BASC. On behalf of the Faculty, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the BASC members for their contribution. These include Sam Morrick, Nosiviwe Mpukane, Amber Nieuwenheyze, Sisiphiwo Jaca, Zybian Anders, Kauthar Jardine, Qobo-Lwam Damane and Sbusiso Zwane. We would also like to thank the class representatives who were involved.

Mrs Fiona van Kerwell (Project Coordinator for WOW) and Ms Jeneen Wallow (Student Recruitment) also brought along learners from Stellenbosch University’s WOW project to attend Open Day 2024 and exposed them to the various study opportunities that Stellenbosch University has to offer. The Faculty would like to express our sincere gratitude to those who were involved from each department and their students, who were ambassadors for the various programmes they are studying on the day. As the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, we are looking forward to receiving new qualifying applications for the 2025 academic year and to welcoming a new cohort of first-year students.