{"id":199572,"date":"2025-09-08T14:10:38","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T14:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/?p=199572"},"modified":"2025-09-08T15:06:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T15:06:32","slug":"stadio-appoints-dr-stan-du-plessis-as-new-ceo-bringing-fresh-energy-to-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/builder\/stadio-appoints-dr-stan-du-plessis-as-new-ceo-bringing-fresh-energy-to-education\/","title":{"rendered":"STADIO appoints Dr Stan du Plessis as new CEO bringing fresh energy to education"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post<\/a> was originally published on this site<\/a><\/p>

<\/p>\n

STADIO <\/span>Higher Education has appointed Dr Stan du Plessis as its new principal and chief executive. With nearly three decades in academia, Du Plessis stepped into the role on 1 August 2025, bringing deep expertise and fresh energy to STADIO\u2019s mission of providing quality education at scale.<\/p>\n

He previously served as chief operating officer and Professor of Economics at Stellenbosch University, is a former President of the Economic Society of South Africa, and a former member of the advisory \u201cHarvard group\u201d of economists to the South African government.<\/p>\n

Du Plessis said he is excited about moving into private higher education from the public sector and believes STADIO has a critical role to play in addressing the challenges of South Africa\u2019s tertiary education sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe more I meet the brilliant people that we have, and I see the enthusiasm and the dynamism of our people, the more enthusiastic I am about our agenda, so it’s been a very happy experience so far, and I hope it’ll stay on that trajectory,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The vision: quality at scale<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Du Plessis, the new role offers an exciting challenge that has eluded higher education for centuries: scale. \u201cThe biggest unfilled need in the South African higher education system is the ability to deliver quality at scale to a much larger section of our population,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is what STADIO has chosen as its agenda \u2013 and it\u2019s what I have long believed is the most important challenge in our sector.\u201d<\/p>\n

Traditional universities worldwide tend to remain relatively small, he explains, with even iconic names like Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge enrolling no more than 25 000 students. \u201cIf we simply follow the traditional model, we won\u2019t succeed in our objective. We have to do things differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rethinking the academic model<\/strong><\/p>\n

That \u201cdifferent\u201d approach is already underway at STADIO. Du Plessis describes the institution\u2019s \u201cnew academic model\u201d as a carefully designed process that applies lessons from the Industrial Revolution: specialisation, collaboration and efficiency.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of asking one lecturer to do everything, from programme design to lecturing and assessment, we\u2019ve built specialist teams for each part of the process, with strong coordination across them. This allows us to deliver programmes more efficiently, while safeguarding quality,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

This focus on efficiency also underpins STADIO\u2019s pricing strategy. \u201cWe deliberately want to serve the broad market, not price for the elite. Keeping our programmes affordable is only possible if we deliver them efficiently \u2013 but that\u2019s the only way to open access to all South Africans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Success measured beyond studies<\/strong><\/p>\n

Central to Du Plessis\u2019s vision is the alignment of academic programmes with the job market. He believes STADIO\u2019s success should be measured not by the number of graduates, but by how many of those graduates find work. \u201cWe want our students to get access, to succeed in their studies, and then to get a good job. That changes the trajectory of whole families,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

To achieve this, STADIO is strengthening ties with industry and committing to measure graduate employability directly \u2013 something largely absent in South African higher education. \u201cWe won\u2019t just ask if students are employed; we\u2019ll ask if they\u2019re employed in the fields, we\u2019ve prepared them for. That feedback must shape our programmes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Growth and recognition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the next five years, Du Plessis expects STADIO to achieve a \u201cstep change\u201d in size and impact. The institution is targeting 80 000 students by the end of the decade, supported by a blend of distance and contact learning. Investments in campuses \u2013 including a new comprehensive campus in Durbanville \u2013 will improve student experience for both contact and distance learners.<\/p>\n

He also has his eye on STADIO\u2019s next big milestone: recognition as a fully-fledged university. \u201cThat is ultimately a regulatory decision, but our responsibility is to deliver the quality, efficiency and student success that will make that recognition possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Broadening and deepening access through life-long learning<\/strong><\/p>\n

Du Plessis believes the role of a modern university is not just to prepare students for their first career, but to support them throughout their working lives. \u201cWe need to think horizontally \u2013 reaching more South Africans \u2013 and vertically, expanding our role in the lives of each student,\u201d he says. \u201cThat means being there five, 10 or 15 years later, when people need reskilling or leadership preparation. Sometimes it won\u2019t be a degree, but a shorter programme or specialist skill. Our relationship with students must be lifelong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Enthusiasm for education<\/strong><\/p>\n

Known for his accessible leadership style, Du Plessis plans to be visible on campuses and in regular contact with staff and students. Above all, he hopes to be experienced as a true enthusiast for higher education.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs leaders in the academic environment, we must do more than just impart knowledge \u2013 we must inspire. We have the rare opportunity to change the lives of students and their families. That\u2019s something worth getting excited about,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

BUSINESS REPORT<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

STADIO\u00a0Higher Education has appointed Dr Stan du Plessis as its new principal and chief executive. With nearly three decades in academia, Du Plessis stepped into the role on 1 August 2025, bringing deep expertise and fresh energy to STADIO\u2019s mission of providing quality education at scale.He previously served as chief operating officer and Professor of Economics at Stellenbosch University, is a former President of the Economic Society of South Africa, and a former member of the advisory \u201cHarvard group\u201d of economists to the South African government.Du Plessis said he is excited about moving into private higher education from the public sector and believes STADIO has a critical role to play in addressing the challenges of South Africa\u2019s tertiary education sector.\u201cThe more I meet the brilliant people that we have, and I see the enthusiasm and the dynamism of our people, the more enthusiastic I am about our agenda, so it’s been a very happy experience so far, and I hope it’ll stay on that trajectory,\u201d he said.The vision: quality at scaleFor Du Plessis, the new role offers an exciting challenge that has eluded higher education for centuries: scale. \u201cThe biggest unfilled need in the South African higher education system is the ability to deliver quality at scale to a much larger section of our population,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is what STADIO has chosen as its agenda \u2013 and it\u2019s what I have long believed is the most important challenge in our sector.\u201dTraditional universities worldwide tend to remain relatively small, he explains, with even iconic names like Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge enrolling no more than 25 000 students. \u201cIf we simply follow the traditional model, we won\u2019t succeed in our objective. We have to do things differently.\u201dRethinking the academic modelThat \u201cdifferent\u201d approach is already underway at STADIO. Du Plessis describes the institution\u2019s \u201cnew academic model\u201d as a carefully designed process that applies lessons from the Industrial Revolution: specialisation, collaboration and efficiency.\u201cInstead of asking one lecturer to do everything, from programme design to lecturing and assessment, we\u2019ve built specialist teams for each part of the process, with strong coordination across them. This allows us to deliver programmes more efficiently, while safeguarding quality,\u201d he explains.This focus on efficiency also underpins STADIO\u2019s pricing strategy. \u201cWe deliberately want to serve the broad market, not price for the elite. Keeping our programmes affordable is only possible if we deliver them efficiently \u2013 but that\u2019s the only way to open access to all South Africans.\u201dSuccess measured beyond studiesCentral to Du Plessis\u2019s vision is the alignment of academic programmes with the job market. He believes STADIO\u2019s success should be measured not by the number of graduates, but by how many of those graduates find work. \u201cWe want our students to get access, to succeed in their studies, and then to get a good job. That changes the trajectory of whole families,\u201d he said.To achieve this, STADIO is strengthening ties with industry and committing to measure graduate employability directly \u2013 something largely absent in South African higher education. \u201cWe won\u2019t just ask if students are employed; we\u2019ll ask if they\u2019re employed in the fields, we\u2019ve prepared them for. That feedback must shape our programmes.\u201dGrowth and recognitionOver the next five years, Du Plessis expects STADIO to achieve a \u201cstep change\u201d in size and impact. The institution is targeting 80 000 students by the end of the decade, supported by a blend of distance and contact learning. Investments in campuses \u2013 including a new comprehensive campus in Durbanville \u2013 will improve student experience for both contact and distance learners.He also has his eye on STADIO\u2019s next big milestone: recognition as a fully-fledged university. \u201cThat is ultimately a regulatory decision, but our responsibility is to deliver the quality, efficiency and student success that will make that recognition possible.\u201dBroadening and deepening access through life-long learningDu Plessis believes the role of a modern university is not just to prepare students for their first career, but to support them throughout their working lives. \u201cWe need to think horizontally \u2013 reaching more South Africans \u2013 and vertically, expanding our role in the lives of each student,\u201d he says. \u201cThat means being there five, 10 or 15 years later, when people need reskilling or leadership preparation. Sometimes it won\u2019t be a degree, but a shorter programme or specialist skill. Our relationship with students must be lifelong.\u201dEnthusiasm for educationKnown for his accessible leadership style, Du Plessis plans to be visible on campuses and in regular contact with staff and students. Above all, he hopes to be experienced as a true enthusiast for higher education.\u201cAs leaders in the academic environment, we must do more than just impart knowledge \u2013 we must inspire. We have the rare opportunity to change the lives of students and their families. That\u2019s something worth getting excited about,\u201d he said.BUSINESS REPORT<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":199574,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-199572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-builder"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199572","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=199572"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199572\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":199573,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199572\/revisions\/199573"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/199574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=199572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=199572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.premium-partners.net\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=199572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}