This Women's Month, we're celebrating the academic staff at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) who are shaping minds and inspiring excellence through their teaching. These remarkable educators bring passion, innovation and dedication to the classroom, helping students thrive and succeed. Their stories reflect the impact of women at the heart of SU's academic community.
With a PhD focused in biochemistry, microbiology and biomimicry, Dr Ruenda Loots brings a unique perspective to her work in sustainability education at SU's School of Public Leadership. She creates experiential, immersive learning experiences that empower students to become changemakers. In 2022, Loots was recognised for her contribution to Entrepreneurship Learning and Teaching in South Africa's higher education sector with an Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Award and in 2024 she was a winner of an SU Teaching-Learning-Assessment (TLA) Award.
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
As a child, I dreamed of becoming a veterinarian or nature conservationist and as a teenager, I thought I would become a psychologist. I am grateful that my career took a less conventional path. Now, I'm a former radio jock with biochemistry degrees, and I teach sustainable design in an ecovillage.
Teaching wasn't something I planned on, but I have always loved learning. As a child, I spent most of my time reading or playing outdoors, which fuelled my imagination and curiosity – and was probably why I ended up studying natural sciences. I must admit, a few biochemistry exams had me in tears, but I became fascinated by proteins and that set the course for my postgraduate studies.
During my studies I worked at MFM 92.6, our campus radio station. This rekindled my passion for sustainability, which led me to the Sustainability Institute in the Lynedoch eco-village, where I worked as a project coordinator. There, I discovered new ways of teaching: learning outside, with nature as a partner. This has shaped the way I teach and lead in the Diploma in Sustainable Development.
Did you have any teachers or role models who left a lasting impression on you?
One of my biggest influences was my Afrikaans teacher in high school. He loved poetry and encouraged us to 'skryf net wat jy wil' ('just write what you want to'). Thanks to him, I churned out hundreds of poems and essays during my high school years, and I still share my writing with him.
These days, I'm part of a dedicated collective who are committed to creating nurturing spaces for young people:
· Mrs Rosslyn Abrahams, our fabulous programme administrator.
· A team of pracademics and academics who inspire learning with profound care.
· Kindred spirits in my community of practice focusing on transformation in higher education.
Shaun Dunn, who teaches with me in the Diploma in Sustainable Development, is a constant inspiration. His kindness, wisdom, and deep connection to nature have truly transformed how I teach!
Is there a particular aspect of your course or subject area that you especially enjoy teaching?
In many ways, the internship module for our final-year students is the harvest of our collective labour in the Diploma. I guide these students as they reflect on their skills, prepare their CVs and apply for internships, but it is ultimately their adventure to navigate. I am in the background, like a supportive cheerleader, as they take ownership of their internship experience – and ultimately their journey after graduation.
I don't tell them this, but I get just as nervous as they do during CV prep and mock interviews. It's all about gently nudging them out of the university nest, and there is nothing better than seeing them dust themselves off after a stumble, encourage each other through the tough moments, and grow into themselves. One student dubbed this module 'Adulting 101' and I love knowing I'm helping them build confidence for the road ahead.
What is the biggest reward of being a lecturer at SU?
The students are what keep me going. The best days are when the classroom is filled with laughter (even if it's just at my expense because of some TikTok trend). It's incredibly rewarding to watch a shy student blossom into a confident speaker or see a rough idea turn into a business pitch. And whenever a past student stops by to share memories, I'm reminded that this whole journey really is for them.
The students have shown me how to show up authentically as my whole self: the curious child, the biochemist, the poet, the activist and the (exhausted) mother. A line in the poem “Ulysses" reads: 'I am part of all I have met.' The joy of meaningful teaching is that our universes are richer for having spent time in one another's orbit.
What advice would you give to younger women entering the teaching profession today?
Teaching can be incredibly fulfilling, but at the end of the day, it's still a job. I love this quote from Henry Thoreau: 'The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.' You have to decide what you want from your career, and what you're willing to give in exchange – and that formula looks different for everyone. Most importantly, you don't have to be perfect, and you don't have to say yes to everything. I have enjoyed teaching much more since embracing imperfection and the word 'no'.
PHOTO: Stefan Els
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