Once a Matie,
always a Matie

If you’ve studied at Stellenbosch University (SU) over the past 101 years of SU’s formal existence, then you’re regarded as an alumnus of SU. We are proud to have graduated over 200 000 Maties over the past century. That is an enormous contribution to society, one that is felt not only in South Africa but across the globe. Because, wherever our alumni go, they typically use the knowledge, skills and values obtained during their studies at Maties to make a positive difference in society.

Your connection to Stellenbosch University does not end the day you walk across the stage at graduation to accept your hard-earned and sought-after degree. With your degree in hand, your next phase of being a Matie is only beginning. You now belong to the Matie family, a caring community – no matter where life’s journey ends up taking you. Maties are increasingly global citizens, with greater international mobility and it has become a key focus area for the Alumni Relations Office to continue to reconnect and engage with all of our alumni internationally. We’ve had the great pleasure of meeting alumni across South Africa, Namibia, the rest of Africa, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Europe, the USA, Canada, as well as Asia. And we can say this for sure: Maties never disappoint – they’re always welcoming, warm, curious, open, and passionate about making a difference.

Fellow Maties – your alma mater’s Vision 2040 is a bold and inspiring view of what we want to become and achieve – Stellenbosch University as Africa’s leading research-intensive university and globally recognised excellent, inclusive, and innovative, where we advance knowledge in the service of society. This is the big picture of where we see ourselves going – relevant to the people of our country, of our continent, and of the rest of the world, making meaningful contributions of the highest quality that will take humanity forward.

Graduating from university is a big step in your life’s journey. Once you have obtained your degree, you form part of the alumni community and Stellenbosch University remains your intellectual home. The Alumni Relations Office strives to keep you connected to your alma mater long after the euphoria of obtaining your qualification/s has died down.

The success of a university depends greatly on the participation of its alumni. To facilitate these connections, our strategy rests on five pillars: engagement and cultivation, communication, volunteer management, early student engagement and alumni giving. Each pillar forms an integral part of the process of generating more opportunities for you to stay connected to the University, creating a stronger bond not only between the University and its alumni, but also among alumni.