Stenden intake its biggest yet
MYPOND Hotel was filled to the brim with Stenden South Africa’s newly enrolled students and their parents, as well as friends and academic staff at the opening of the academic year on Monday evening.
The 75 first-year students enrolling at Stenden South Africa this year marks the largest intake of students since the institution opened its doors in 2002.
Marketing and education support office manager Ronel Bartlett opened proceedings and then handed over to student representative council (SRC) president Lonwabo Luthango, who emphasised how lucky Stenden students were.
He said that 97% of Stenden graduates were employed and, in a highly competitive environment, this was an indication of the quality education the institution offered.
Executive dean Wouter Hensens, who spoke next, said he was a product of Stenden in the Netherlands, having graduated there with a bachelor’s degree in 2002.
Hensens said he looked forward to a successful academic year ahead.
He also said that the restaurant at the Port Alfred campus was due for significant change.
He asked how Stenden could profess to be a top-quality school in the catering arena if its own campus did not serve healthy, wholesome food.
“We have hired a new chef and will focus on healthier food in the restaurant, providing the best nutrition using sustainable food sources,” Hensens said.
Juliet Chipumuo, academic dean of the school of hotel management, asked the new intake of students to imagine it was 50 years in the future.
“You might wish that you had done more, loved more, worked harder and done a lot of things you never got around to,” she said.
Then she said “imagine you are back now, and you had the chance to do all those things”.
Chipumuro went on to explain the traits of a hospitality manager, including the ability to work long hours and be on call virtually 24/7.
Finally, Rene Oosthizen, academic dean for the school of disaster management, took to the podium to instil a sense of responsibility in the new students.
Paraphrasing JK Rowling’s statement she told the students:
“There is an expiry date on how long you can blame your parents for the direction your life has taken.
“That expiry date is today.”
Following the ceremony, the students and parents were treated to a buffet supper as they got to know each other.