A new immersive multimedia exhibition was launched this week at Stellenbosch University’s Tygerberg Campus in Parow, in celebration of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences 70th anniversary.

The exhibition in the Dean’s Garden showcases seven decades of health sciences education, research and community impact, the university says. The interactive experience combines exhibition boards, audio guides, archival material, personal stories, and QR-linked digital content. It also highlights eight themes, including clinical training, student community, alumni, facilities, visual redress, social impact and teaching and learning.

The exhibit was developed under the theme “Legacy through Impact” and honours those who shaped the faculty’s journey while also reflecting on its evolution into a world-class, inclusive and socially responsive institution, the university says.

Faculty is not just a building

“A faculty is not a building, it’s not a logo, it’s not a strategy document. A faculty is a group of people standing together with a shared purpose. For 70 years, that purpose has been clear: the health of people, the needs of patients, the well-being of the community and the belief that knowledge, science, compassion and service can improve human lives. This exhibition is a tribute to every person who has carried that purpose forward,” says Prof Elmi Muller, dean of the faculty.

The exhibit was officially launched on Wednesday 29 July.

“Seventy years of impact cannot be captured in a single moment, but this exhibition comes close. It brings together the stories of the people, the research and the communities that have shaped this faculty. It reminds us that every milestone we celebrate was earned through dedication to something larger than ourselves. We hope it inspires everyone who walks through it, whether they are students just beginning their journey or alumni who helped build what we have today,” says Dr Florence de Vries, head of marketing and communications at the faculty.

Year-long celebrations

The exhibition forms part of a broader programme of events, showcases and engagements taking place across the anniversary year. The faculty has been marking its 70th anniversary throughout this year, celebrating its founding on 1 May 1956 with a campaign that spans short films, oral histories, digital content, and community activations aimed at students, staff, alumni, and the wider Western Cape healthcare community.

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