Prof Hester C. Klopper
Vice-Chancellor and Principal 











Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State since 1 February 2025, is the first woman in this role in the 122-year history of the university. With more than 30 years of experience in higher education, she is recognised globally as an academic leader and accomplished researcher. Prof Klopper holds eight postgraduate qualifications, including a PhD from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and an MBA from the University of Bedfordshire (UK). In addition, an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University (UK) recognises her contribution to health and nursing sciences education. 
 
Prof Klopper is a fellow of the South African Academy of Science (2014), was the first South African to be inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (2015) and was a recipient of the Fellowship and Eundem of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (2020). In recognition of research excellence, she was inducted into the Sigma Hall of Fame (2016) and the Fundisa Hall of Fame (2011). 

Her career spans three decades, marked by more than 30 local and international leadership roles. She has received more than 40 awards, published 120+ peer-reviewed works, written and contributed to 28 books, and supervised 35 PhDs and 40+ master’s to completion.  From her first appointment to the Ministerial National Task Force for Nursing Education in 1994, she has consistently driven innovation in education, research, and service, making a lasting impact on higher education and health care both nationally and internationally. Prof Klopper was recently appointed by the Premier of the Free State as a member of the Free State Human Resource Development Council (FSHRC) and serves as Vice-Chairperson of the Transformation Strategy Group of Universities South Africa (USAf). She received the 2026 Forbes Woman Africa Academic Excellence Award in recognition of her excellence in higher education, her commitment to mentorship, and her work in strengthening the role of universities in society. Through these roles, she continues to contribute strategically to the advancement of higher education, transformation, and human capital development in South Africa. 

Since assuming the role of Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Klopper has continued to serve communities through her global expertise. She currently holds full membership on several boards, including the SIGMA Foundation Board, Universities South Africa, and the International Network for Health Workforce Education.  

In addition, driven by her commitment to advancing education and widening access, Prof Klopper – in collaboration with the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) of the University of the Free State – established the Imbewu Legacy Fund, a student support initiative designed to ensure that no deserving student is denied access to quality education due to financial constraints.

Imbewu, a Nguni word meaning seed, symbolises growth, investment in the future, and the nurturing of potential. The initiative represents a transformative effort to bridge the financial gap for academically deserving students and to cultivate the next generation of leaders.

Contact:
Office Manager: Mmakoena Mpshane-Nkosi
+27 51 401 7000
MpshaneNkosiM@ufs.ac.za