Sanral provides R30m funding to Stellenbosch programme
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) on Monday endowed Stellenbosch University with R30-million for its Sanral Chair in Pavement Engineering research fund.
Established in 2001, the Sanral research chair is an academic programme committed to the development of human capital and capacity in the field of pavement engineering – the study of the performance of road surface materials and structural considerations for road paving.
The chair also contributes to research that tackles the needs of the country’s road industry and the training of the next generation of pavement engineers.
“We don’t just invest in building roads and bridges but also in our communities,” said Sanral western regional manager Kobus van der Walt at a ceremony held at the Geotechnical and Transportation division hosted within the university’s Civil Engineering Department.
He added that the mobility of people and the transportation of merchandise was crucial for generating economic growth and alleviating poverty in developing countries. “Cost-effective roads infrastructure is, therefore, vital to create employment, improve living standards and increase South Africa’s global competitiveness. Roads are the arteries of an economy, connecting farmers to local markets, providing commuter routes and communication networks, and linking countries with global markets,” he explained.
Stellenbosch University rector and VC Professor Wim de Villiers further highlighted that the chair supported socioeconomic expansion through developing human capital and innovation, as well as sustainable road building technologies for optimal infrastructure solutions.
The Sanral chair offers specialised postgraduate courses to students and practitioners in the roads industry to keep them abreast of new trends and developments in the global environment.
It is also responsible for teaching at undergraduate level, creating awareness about pavement engineering among students and for managing the asphalt and pavement research laboratories.
The research undertaken includes innovative material investigations and performance analysis; road rehabilitation, recycling technologies and sustainable road construction practices; numerical modelling and design systems for pavements; as well as appropriate seal and asphalt technology for developing areas and freeways.
Among the research chair’s defining features is its cooperation with international institutions of higher learning in Rwanda, Brazil, China, the Netherlands, Italy and the US, resulting in academic exchanges, collaborative research and knowledge transfer.
Locally, it works closely with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the South African Bitumen Association, and other South African institutions of higher learning. It also continues to contribute to the development of industry guidelines.
Meanwhile, in 2008, Sanral launched a programme that has offered scholarships to 192 school learners and bursaries to 108 students at eight of South Africa’s leading universities, to date, while providing internships to engineering students to facilitate the attainment of their degrees and to provide mentorship support to bursary holders with assistance on practical projects, if required, during their studies.
This has enabled Sanral to meet the broadening skills gap within the pavement engineering field.
Stellenbosch University’s Professor Kim Jenkins, incumbent of the Sanral chair, commented that the postgraduate programme had gone from strength to strength since its inception. “Every year, between 10 and 15 new postgraduate students are registered, bringing the total number of current students to between 35 and 45.
“Seven doctoral and 51 Master’s degrees have been awarded under the study leadership of the chair. Two-thirds of students come from historically disadvantaged communities, reflecting both Sanral and the institution’s commitment to diversity,” she noted.
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