| Stellenbosch University (SU) Library is proud to announce the availability of Professor Jonathan Jansen's and Associate Professor Jess Auerbach's latest scholarly contribution, "The Politics of Knowledge in the Biomedical Sciences: South/African Perspectives." This insightful work, now accessible in both printed and e-book formats, delves into critical examinations of colonial biomedical knowledge in South Africa and across the African continent.
As a Distinguished Professor in Education at SU and president of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), Prof Jansen has long been at the forefront of academic discourse. His recent donation of a print copy (now available for borrowing) of this seminal book to the SU Library underscores his commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering critical dialogue within the academic community. This gesture further highlights the collaborative efforts between academic leaders and library professionals in enriching scholarly resources.
Le-Anne Goliath, Junior Lecturer and Principal Research Assistant to Prof Jansen, presented the book to Ms. Ellen R. Tise, Senior Director of Library and Information Services at Stellenbosch University.
Description of the Book: "In the wake of the decolonization movement in South Africa and around the world, this edited work presents fresh evidence and advances new arguments on the politics and economics of colonial biomedical knowledge in South Africa and other parts of the African continent. Covering a richly diverse set of fields, including human genetics, obstetrics, occupational therapy, medical photography, and the vaccine sciences, the book demonstrates the troubled histories and the enduring effects of imperial knowledge decades since the end of colonial rule and apartheid. While this is a valuable text on the politics of the biomedical sciences written from the perspective of the African continent, at the same time it revisits knowledge/power relationships between the global north and south in a historical perspective and in their contemporary expression in the disciplines. The immediate benefit is a reference resource for medical science researchers, and a teaching text for senior undergraduate and postgraduate students. The book is further composed as an accessible, readable, and interesting text on politics and medicine in Africa for the discerning lay reader." Publisher's description.
The Library also purchased an electronic version of the book. The e-book version of the book is accessible via the link provided below (please note that only one user can access it at a time):
Link to e-book: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/sun/detail.action?docID=30870281 In addition to this latest publication, Prof Jansen has contributed significantly to academic discourse through numerous other works. Some of his recent publications. We encourage all members of the SU community and beyond to explore Prof Jansen's latest book and engage with its thought-provoking insights. By embracing critical inquiry and promoting interdisciplinary dialogue, we continue to uphold the spirit of academic excellence at Stellenbosch University.
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| This February we are starting with our annual #SmartResearcher series of workshops. This year, the workshops will be presented in hybrid format, so you can attend either in person or online. Also, if you attend three or more workshops, you qualify for a certificate of attendance.
These workshops are aimed at postgraduate students, emerging researchers and academic staff and the focus will be on the research process. The sessions vary in length depending on the subject matter, but cover a wide range of subjects related to the postgraduate research journey.
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Submitting your thesis /dissertation to SUNScholar Are you ready to submit your thesis, dissertation or article to the Library's digital research repository? This library training opportunity for postgraduate students or staff is designed to provide practical guidance to those ready to submit their thesis/dissertation/article into SUNScholar.
Date: 20 Feb. @ 12:00 - 13 Register Here | Tips on how to format your thesis (MS Word) This workshop will help you work around some of the common formatting glitches most postgraduate students experience, whilst getting their document ready for submission. Date: 21 Feb. @ 11:00 – 13:00 Register Here | Library induction for postgraduate students and academic staff In this introductory session, participants will be provided with an overview of the core services on offer by Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service. Topics include navigating the Library Website, how to find their way around the Stellenbosch University Library, how to find information through the Library's numerous databases, what advanced research support services are available and many others. Date: 22 Feb. @ 10:00 – 13:00 Register Here | How to conduct a literature review In this webinar, participants will learn what a literature review is and the different types of literature reviews. They will learn best practices for conducting a literature review by working with their topic, structuring the literature review and how to critically analyse literature. Date: 27 Feb. @ 11:00 – 13:00 Register Here | Migrating your Mendeley Library to EndNote In this session, we will show you how to migrate your existing Mendeley library to EndNote. Exporting the references is a simple enough process, but importing your PDF files is more complicated. For this session, you will need to first download Mendeley Desktop (the old version of Mendeley). Mac users, please read the section Installing Mendeley Desktop on Mac devices here for instructions on how to access the old software on your device. Date: 28 Feb. @ 12:00 – 13:00 Register Here | Migrating your Mendeley Library to EndNote (Medicine and Health Sciences) In this session, we will show you how to migrate your existing Mendeley library to EndNote. Exporting the references is a simple enough process, but importing your PDF files is more complicated. For this session, you will need to first download Mendeley Desktop (the old version of Mendeley). Mac users, please read the section Installing Mendeley Desktop on Mac devices here for instructions on how to access the old software on your device. Date: 28 Feb. @ 12:00 – 13:00 Register Here | EndNote for reference management EndNote 21 offers various services, including reference management, organising and annotation of PDF documents and collaboration. In this session, we will show you how to download and install EndNote and how to set up your account. Kindly note that a separate workshop is available for users who need assistance in migrating from Mendeley/Zotero to EndNote. Date: 29 Feb. @ 11:00 – 13:00 Register Here | EndNote for reference management (Medicine and Health Sciences) EndNote 21 offers various services, including reference management, organising and annotation of PDF documents and collaboration. In this session, we will show you how to download and install EndNote and how to set up your account. Kindly note that a separate workshop is available for users who need assistance in migrating from Mendeley/Zotero to EndNote. Date: 29 Feb. @ 11:00 – 13:00
Register Here |
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| Stellenbosch University proudly announces its acquisition of EndNote 21, a top of the line reference management tool that will empower researchers to streamline their scholarly pursuits. EndNote 21 promises to simplify the research landscape by offering scholars an intuitive platform to efficiently organize and share their work and, also, to untangle the challenges of ensuring accurate in-text citations and references. With EndNote 21's advanced features and seamless integration capabilities, it is certain to contribute to your research endeavours. To find out more, click here. |
| Take note that 5 March 2024 is the final date for the submission of theses/dissertations for the March/April 2024 graduation.
The electronic submission needs to be finalised by 5 March 2024. Any theses/dissertations not submitted before the cut-off date will have to be submitted for the December 2024 graduation. For more information on the submission procedure and for help, please see the Library homepage > HELP > Thesis/dissertation submission.
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| A vacancy exists in the Library and Information Service:
Faculty Librarian: Economic and Management Sciences To apply, please see: BIB/347/1223
Closing date: 16 January 2024 |
| Stellenbosch University (SU) is pleased to announce that its data repository has been certified as a Trustworthy Data Repository for the next two years by the CoreTrustSeal Standards and Certification Board. Officially referred to as SUNScholarData, our data repository becomes one of 107 data repositories worldwide to receive the CoreTrustSeal stamp of approval and one of three in South Africa and the whole of Africa. As far as we are concerned, we are the first university library to get the well sought after certification for a data repository in the whole of Africa! Dillo and Louw (2018) explain the criticality of being a certified repository as follows:Being a certified repository has several external and internal benefits. It for instance improves the quality and transparency of internal processes, increases awareness of and compliance with established standards, builds stakeholder confidence, enhances the reputation of the repository, and demonstrates that the repository is following good practices. It is also offering a benchmark for comparison and helps to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a repository. For the Library, applying for a CoreTrustSeal certification was the last action of the collaborative ilifu project which involved all four public universities of the Western Cape. Ilifu aimed to provide data infrastructure for researchers at the four universities. The application process for this kind of certification is an engaging, rigorous and nontrivial process that helped us to evaluate our own internal processes against expected standards and made us think deeper about the sustainability of our data repository. The process also helped us to be more aware of our weaknesses and strengths. Thanks to this certification, SU researchers can now be assured that their data is deposited in a certified trustworthy repository. Previously, many researchers expressed reservations about sharing their research data fearing for the safety of their datasets. In a world beset with horror stories of data manipulators and data thieves, the library always wondered if simply informing researchers that the data repository was sustainable and trustworthy was good enough. However, with this certification we can now proudly pronounce that we are certified by a neutral international agency as a trustworthy repository. Our certification is a demonstration of how the library conforms to the University's value of excellence. Author: Dr Siviwe Bangani
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| Earlier this year (11-15 September), Natasja Malherbe, Manager of Digital Library Systems, embarked on a transformative journey through the LU - SU PASS staff mobility program at Lund University, Sweden. Recently, Stellenbosch University returned the favour by playing host to Linnéa Stenson, a Scholarly Communication librarian from Lund. From 13 to 17 November, 2023, Linnéa Stenson was among the nine participants immersing themselves in the vibrant ambiance of Stellenbosch University. The SU Library and Information Service had the esteemed privilege of hosting Linnéa for three enriching days from 14 to 16 November 2023.
During this insightful visit, a meticulously curated program was tailored to Linnéa's expertise and interests . A comprehensive agenda unfolded, commencing with an engaging briefing with our Senior Management team.
This was followed by an extensive tour of the SU Library specially curated for Linnéa, spotlighting the abundant resources and cutting-edge facilities available.
The program covered a vast spectrum of pivotal topics vital to modern libraries and scholarly communications. These included digitization projects & special collections, electronic resource management, e-resource usage statistics, licensing of e-resources (including transformative agreements), troubleshooting e-access, and expert guidance for students and researchers in navigating our databases through formal and informal training sessions. Additionally, themes like the PowerBi dashboard, Open Science, Open Access, Research Support, and a comprehensive Leganto Course Reading List demo were also on the agenda.
The exchange program stands as a testament to the dedication of both institutions towards fostering global collaborations and knowledge sharing. It's an invaluable initiative that not only strengthens ties between universities but also enriches the wealth of knowledge within our library's repositories.
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The Stellenbosch University Library recently achieved remarkable success at the annual Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) Excellence Awards, securing a Silver Award among SU's total of 33 accolades. This was the first time that the Library entered the MACE awards with the entry title: Why does the library need a TikTok anyway? Notably, this event marked the culmination of a two-day conference focused on the future of higher education within the realm of artificial intelligence, held in Cape Town. Recognising the need for a more inclusive and inviting library environment, SU's Faculty Librarians initiated an innovative approach using TikTok as a platform. This move aimed to bridge gaps and ease 'library anxiety' experienced by students, addressing concerns related to navigating library spaces and underutilisation of resources.
Understanding the popularity and reach of TikTok among the youth, especially with over 11.5 million users aged 18 and above in South Africa, the library strategically chose this platform to engage its primary audience: students between the ages of 18-24 at Stellenbosch University. However, the initiative also targeted the broader university community.
The project's goals and objectives centered on increasing library visibility and fostering positive connections with the student community. Their objectives were clear: attain 1000 followers by the end of the first year, continuously create engaging content, and showcase library services regularly.
Implementing this strategy aligned with SU's overarching goal of providing responsive, transformative, and inclusive services. Although initially planned for a monthly posting schedule, the project quickly gained traction, surpassing expectations with a significant following and engagement. By September 21, 2023, the library's TikTok page boasted 2,195 followers and 83.1k likes, exceeding their initial targets.
The success metrics didn't stop there. With over 1.1 million views and a 99% approval rate for content, the library achieved its goal of creating an engaging space, fostering comfortable interactions between librarians and students. Additionally, their efforts to showcase library services directly impacted bookings for study spaces, underlining the initiative's tangible outcomes.
In conclusion, SU Library's TikTok initiative reshaped its image, fostered meaningful connections, and significantly enhanced the academic experience at the university. This success story stands as a testament to the power of innovative engagement strategies in transforming student experiences and underscores the library's commitment to excellence, innovation, and inclusivity in academic services. As the journey continues, the library remains dedicated to furthering its positive impact on the transformative student experience.
Explore their TikTok videos at https://www.tiktok.com/@facultylibrarianssu to witness this transformative journey.
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No, this isn't actually my picture. I just haven't gotten around to updating this section. It's good to know that someone is reading every last word though. Thanks! |
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