Short Description

Stellenbosch University is one of South Africa’s leading research universities. It is located in Stellenbosch, a historic town in the Western Cape, about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town.

The origins of Stellenbosch University date back to the 19th century, and it was officially established as a university in 1918. It is known for its strong research profile, international reputation, and high academic standards. Although the university was historically primarily Dutch/Afrikaans-speaking, many programmes are now offered in English, attracting a broad and diverse international community.

The university has several faculties, including Science, Engineering, Medicine and Health Sciences, AgriSciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Law, and Theology. Campus life unfolds in a beautiful setting characterised by oak-lined streets, Cape Dutch architecture, and the well-known wine region of the Cape Winelands.

Stellenbosch University is considered one of the top universities in Africa and is renowned for its innovative research, strong postgraduate programmes, and international collaborations. The Faculty of Education’s vision is to be acknowledged and respected unequivocally as a leading and engaged research-driven education faculty.

The Faculty of Education stands out because of its distinctive blend of multilingual instruction, inclusive educational practices and close-knit global partnerships. 

This approach to interdisciplinary teaching and research goes beyond conventional school settings, enabling students to develop new and inventive ways to connect curriculum, psychology and policy theories. 

Contact Person

Zelda Barends

Zelda Barends is a senior lecturer and teacher educator in the Department of Curriculum Studies in the Faculty of Education at Stellenbosch University. Her research interests are within the broader field of early childhood education (5 – 9 years), with a particular focus on literacy, literacy teacher education, reading, reading instruction in the foundation phase, teacher education and work-integrated learning. She has published in all these areas and publications include journal articles, book chapters and popular articles in professional journals and publications. She lectures on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and serves as a research supervisor to master’s and doctoral students. 

Zelda Barends is the Associate Editor of Reading & Writing, a peer reviewed, inter-disciplinary and inter-professional scholarly journal that explores how literacy is defined, enacted and promoted in a range of institutional, socio-cultural and disciplinary contexts’, particularly within Africa and other developing countries. 

Zelda is a member of the International Literacy Association (ILA), the Literacy Association for South Africa (LITSA) and the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and her published research papers have highlighted her work in how professional training and experience are combined to equip beginning teachers with the knowledge and skills needed for effective literacy teaching.