As Professor Willem Johan Simon “Wim” de Villiers prepares to step down as Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (SU) in just 23 days, his decade-long tenure has left an indelible mark on the institution.

Describing his leadership as a “restless decade,” De Villiers’ time at the helm has been characterised by transformative change, academic excellence, and a tireless commitment to fostering a more inclusive and dynamic university.

De Villiers, who began his tenure in 2015, views his “redeployment” not as a retirement, but as the end of a significant chapter in a lifelong commitment to education and service.

“This has been a team effort between my wife Catherine and I, especially when it came to fundraising, promoting the university, and hosting key meetings,” he remarked. “I could not have done it without her. Now, it’s time to focus solely on her and our family.”

Prior to his appointment at SU, De Villiers served as the Dean of Medical Sciences at the University of Cape Town (UCT). It was on April 1, 2015 that he embarked on the journey that would shape the future of SU.

Transformation

Under his leadership, SU underwent a dramatic transformation.

From the completion of over 90 000 qualifications to a stronger emphasis on postgraduate education, De Villiers pushed for inclusivity and equity, ensuring the university was accessible to students from diverse backgrounds.

“The stigma attached to Stellenbosch is broken,” he reflected. “We’re no longer just a historically exclusive institution. We’re a world-class, inclusive university, constantly striving for improvement, even if it means we must have those ‘difficult conversations.’”

De Villiers believes the current SU is a far cry from the institution he encountered in the 80s.

“We are more mature in terms of critically reflecting and attempting to make it better,” he said.

A key achievement of his tenure has been SU’s transformation into a global hub of research excellence. With the establishment of the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, as well as the School for Climate Studies, De Villiers positioned the university at the forefront of critical global academic fields.

Challenges

However, his tenure has not been without challenges.

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Prof Wim de Villiers reflects on his transformative decade at Stellenbosch University