Unit for Language Facilitation and Empowerment
The ULFE (formerly the Unit for Language Management) was established in 1993 to develop innovative and economically sustainable solutions for the establishment of institutional multilingualism in South Africa. It functioned as a self-sustaining entity with the objective to provide a fully-fledged tertiary programme to train language practitioners. Considering South Africa’s multilingual society, this was seen as a necessity. Consequently, the ULFE landed various government and non-government contracts as well as internationally funded projects to assist with the training of language practitioners.
Gradually the ULFE branched into research. Its focus shifted from providing services and training to being a leading research unity within the field of language management. This entailed various projects within the sociolinguistic and applied linguistic sphere, from which research outputs were published in the form of books and articles. The aim was to increase the current knowledge base of language matters in South Africa. In 2018 the ULFE was incorporated with the Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies. The various projects managed by the UFLE accompanied the move. For more information, see our
Research page.
A history of the ULFE is available in Moll, J.C. (in press).
Die Eenheid vir Taalfasilitering en –bemagtiging aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat, 1992-2018. Johannesburg: UJ Press.
Krishnan Anand is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Pathology and a Y1 NRF-rated researcher, recognised in Stanford University’s global list of leading researchers in applied biochemistry. An internationally acclaimed researcher, he operates at the forefront of global health, aligning his research with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages’. This alignment helps him to produce relevant research and lifesaving 21st-century metabolic medicines.
Dr Anand’s passion lies in nanoscience with a focus on translational research. His interdisciplinary work integrates clinical chemistry, medical biochemistry, bioinformatics, and nanobiotechnology, producing results and literature of international quality and standard.
He leads the Precision Medicine and Integrative Nano Diagnostics (P-MIND) laboratories, currently engaged in studying the biological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cellular studies conducted under supraphysiological conditions, biomarker discovery through EVs derived from liquid biopsies, and the role of circulating biomarkers in disease development. The recent development of nanosensors for early and non-invasive disease diagnosis is a noteworthy contribution. The P-MIND research group actively contributes to the fields of nanopathology and nanodiagnosis in the Department of Chemical Pathology within the School of Pathology of the UFS Faculty of Health Sciences.
Prof Theodorus du Plessis served as the Director of the ULFE. Currently, he is Professor Emeritus in Language Management at the University of the Free State and research fellow in the Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies. He continues to make an invaluable contribution to our department. His unwavering dedication, intellectual leadership, and mentorship continue to enrich our research culture and academic life, inspiring both colleagues and students alike. Prof du Plessis lectured in language policy, planning, management, and politics, with research focused on multilingualism and language governance. Since 1988, he has been a visiting scholar at institutions in Belgium, Germany, Israel, and the USA. He has delivered over 130 conference papers nationally and internationally and co-edited 12 influential books on multilingualism, education, and language politics. His scholarly output includes two monographs, 77 book chapters, over 70 peer-reviewed articles, and numerous contributions to conference proceedings.
Prof du Plessis currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Language Policy Studies in South Africa (Van Schaik) and the South African Language Rights Monitor (SUNPReSS) and previously held the role of Associate Editor for Language Matters.
He also serves on the editorial boards of Multilingualism and Linguistic Diversity, Language Policy, and Onoma, and is an active member of several scholarly associations, including the International Academy of Linguistic Law and the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. We are honoured to count Prof du Plessis among our departmental fellows and thank him sincerely for his continued contribution to the advancement of language policy studies in South Africa.
Prof Theodorus du Plessis served as the Director of the ULFE. Currently, he is Professor Emeritus in Language Management at the University of the Free State and research fellow in the Department of South African Sign Language and Deaf Studies. He continues to make an invaluable contribution to our department. His unwavering dedication, intellectual leadership, and mentorship continue to enrich our research culture and academic life, inspiring both colleagues and students alike. Prof du Plessis lectured in language policy, planning, management, and politics, with research focused on multilingualism and language governance. Since 1988, he has been a visiting scholar at institutions in Belgium, Germany, Israel, and the USA. He has delivered over 130 conference papers nationally and internationally and co-edited 12 influential books on multilingualism, education, and language politics. His scholarly output includes two monographs, 77 book chapters, over 70 peer-reviewed articles, and numerous contributions to conference proceedings.
Prof. du Plessis currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Language Policy Studies in South Africa (Van Schaik) and the South African Language Rights Monitor (SUNPReSS) and previously held the role of Associate Editor for Language Matters.
He also serves on the editorial boards of Multilingualism and Linguistic Diversity, Language Policy, and Onoma, and is an active member of several scholarly associations, including the International Academy of Linguistic Law and the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. We are honoured to count Prof du Plessis among our departmental fellows and thank him sincerely for his continued contribution to the advancement of language policy studies in South Africa.