Economics department's newly appointed HOD
Prof. Sophia du Plessis is a well-established academic in the Economics Department at Stellenbosch University. Over the past three decades she has worked for the Department in various roles. Her most recent role has been her appointment as Head of Department.
Please provide a brief summary of your career as an academic and economist
After completing my honours, I began working in an administrative role in the Economics Department, where I was responsible for managing the administration of undergraduate and postgraduate students. I pursued both my master’s and eventually my PhD part-time while working in the Department.
In 1998, I resigned from the administrative role to embark on a year-long adventure with my husband. We lived in San Francisco, California, which allowed me to become a visiting scholar in the Economics Department at Stanford University. There, I attended classes in their PhD programme and participated in some classes at Berkeley. This experience was career-changing. Not only did I “discover” the work of Douglass North, which inspired my PhD in Institutional Economics, but I also had the opportunity to experience academia at a top-ranked university. In 1999, my husband and I returned to Stellenbosch after I received a job offer as a lecturer in the Department of Economics, and he was offered a position at an engineering company in Stellenbosch. After our first son was born in 2001, I transitioned to 50% employment, becoming one of the first permanent part-time academics at the university.
For several years after completing my PhD, I focused on growth challenges in African countries. However, my struggles with data led me to develop an interest in Economic History, as it provided an avenue to explore natural experiments from the past. While delving into Economic History, I initiated an economic history research group. With funding from ERSA, we organised workshops and invited notable scholars such as James Robinson, Nathan Nunn, and Bob Allen. Those were incredibly busy and exciting years, particularly after winning the bid to host the 2012 World Economic History Congress (WEHC) in Stellenbosch. For example, in 2008, a team including Johan Fourie, Dieter von Fintel, Krige Siebrits, Stan du Plessis, Estian Calitz, and myself travelled to Utrecht to promote the 2012 congress. We organised sessions, presented papers, and hosted a wine tasting to advertise the 2012 WEHC. One of the consequences of these efforts was the establishment of the very successful Economic History group led by Johan, of which the Department remains very proud.
Why am I no longer in Economic History? I did what academics are often advised not to do: I changed fields. While academia allows you to follow the path of your curiosity, excelling often requires focus. I followed my curiosity, exploring topics such as the cost of civil war in Africa, slave prices, maternal mortality, and concentration camps – all admittedly dismal subjects. One particularly rewarding stint involved research on female chiefs in Africa, where I shared a grant with James Robinson, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2024.
In recent years I have been working on ways to reduce the cost of road traffic accidents and combat tax evasion. These topics introduced me to experimental economics through collaborations with Ada Jansen, as well as different qualitative techniques with Ada and Krige Siebrits, and multidisciplinary projects with Jason Bantjes from Psychology and Marion Sinclair from Civil Engineering. With these projects, my primary focus turned toward Behavioural Economics, but I now find myself pivoting once again - this time back to my “first love” of Institutional Economics and the economic development of African economies.
What motivated you to accept your nomination as HOD?
I love the Department. Over the past 30 years, I have served as an administrative officer, lecturer, senior lecturer, and associate professor within the Department. This experience has given me a deep understanding of where we have come from and an appreciation for the changes needed to adapt to an ever-changing world.
I love working with my colleagues - each one is unique and brings a distinct set of skills to the Department. I am passionate about creating an environment where they can thrive.
I also love working with students. My interactions with them are a source of energy and inspiration. I get the opportunity to witness some students excel beyond imagination while navigating life’s struggles.
Being the Head of Department brings all these elements together into one role. I feel truly blessed to have this opportunity.
What changes are you most looking forward to implementing in the department during your time as HOD?
The world around us is constantly changing and we must keep transforming in various ways. Over the past decade, the Department has grown significantly in terms of both students and colleagues. It is important for me to create an environment where all colleagues from different backgrounds can feel welcome, thrive, and be productive. I support an academic environment where we challenge ourselves and one another while celebrating each other’s achievements.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution presents unique challenges to the classroom. We must rethink how we teach, what we teach, and how we assess students. It’s crucial to identify the best ways to prepare our students for an ever-changing work environment.
To support growth and change, I will focus on implementing time-saving systems. As someone who has balanced being a mom, working part-time, and studying part-time, I have developed a high level of efficiency – something I consider my “special skill” and a valuable contribution to the Department.
What has been your greatest challenge and your greatest joy in the role so far?
My biggest challenge is working full-time for the first time in 23 years – it has made me incredibly thankful for online shopping. Another significant challenge has been learning the university’s administrative systems. Thankfully, after six months in the role, I now know who to ask and where to search for the information I need.
The interactions with colleagues and students have been incredibly rewarding. I have the opportunity to get to know people on a much deeper level than before, which I consider a gift from God. I have always cared about people, but now I have a much larger role to play in their lives, and I am grateful for that.
What message do you have for the first year and honour's economics class of 2025?
The transition from school to your first year, and from undergraduate to postgraduate studies, can be quite challenging. Don’t struggle alone. Make friends, join peer study groups, or consider becoming part of one of the many extracurricular societies.If you need help, reach out before it’s too late – whether to your lecturer, your class representative, me, or the helpful staff at the Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD). Life becomes much easier when you are part of a productive and supportive team.
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