25 October 2022
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Story Edzani Nephalela
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Photo Jolandi Griesel
From the left; Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor; Mr. Bill Moses, Managing Director: Education at The Kresge Foundation; Dr Engela van Staden, Vice-Rector: Academic, and Prof Francois Strydom, Senior Director: CTL.
The
Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently rewarded academics for their excellence in innovative teaching and learning. Academic staff from the three UFS campuses gathered at the Reitz Hall on the Bloemfontein Campus to celebrate excellence in learning and teaching, and to celebrate the CTL’s 10 years of existence.
In her welcoming address,
Vice-Rector: Academic Dr Engela van Staden congratulated CTL on its accomplishments over the past 10 years. “You have achieved these honours, who we are, what we have accomplished, and where we are in this decade of the CTL, because you were involved in the processes,” she said. “CTL currently has a nationwide footprint and acknowledges digitalisation and innovation in teaching, while providing a platform for students to enhance themselves.”
The keynote address was delivered by Bill Moses, Managing Director: Education at
The Kresge Foundation, a philanthropic foundation headquartered in Troy, Michigan, United States. The Kresge Foundation works to increase higher education access and success while reducing inequitable student outcomes in the USA and South Africa. The foundation is a benefactor of the UFS and other South African universities. Through the Kresge Foundation, the higher education sector in South Africa can collaborate and share knowledge and data to promote student success.
Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, said these accolades would not have been achievable without the participation and involvement of different colleagues within the university. “For anything to be effective, there must be a connection,” he said. “Understanding the interrelationships and diversity so that we may continually improve on various systems in partnership forums is one of the many issues related to student achievement. I would like to thank every colleague who made it possible.”
Prof Francois Strydom, Senior Director of CTL, outlined the Centre’s teaching, learning, and research achievements and impact over the past decade while encouraging staff members to participate in initiatives such as the Siyaphumelela Network, the South African Surveys of Student Engagement (SASSE), as well as the Academic Language and Literacy Development (ALLD) team.
He also acknowledged the
Khothatsa project, an initiative which began in 2019 to give recognition to the important pedagogical relationship between staff and students. Khothatsa means “To inspire” in Sesotho. Students are invited to write about a lecturer and how they have inspired the student.
Here is the complete list of UFS Learning and Teaching Conference winners:
Vice-Chancellor’s Award: Learning and Teaching
Winner: Prof Corlia Janse van Vuuren, Head: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Bloemfontein Campus
Runner-up: Prof Hanneke Brits, Head: Clinical Unit Medicine, Bloemfontein Campus
Most Valued Professional Award
Winner: Hanlé Posthumus, Research Analyst: CTL, Bloemfontein Campus
Runner-up: Dr Jacques Matthee, Teaching and Learning Manager: Faculty of Law, Bloemfontein Campus
Innovating My Curriculum Through Assessment
Winner: Dr Michael Von Maltitz, Senior Lecturer: Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science, Bloemfontein Campus
Runner-up: Prof Olihile Sebolai, Associate Professor: Microbiology and Biochemistry, Bloemfontein Campus
Innovating My Curriculum Through Student Engagement and/or Motivation
Winners: Kobus Swanepoel (Senior Lecturer: Centre For Accounting, Bloemfontein Campus), Prof Cobus Rossouw (Associate Professor: Centre For Accounting, Bloemfontein Campus), Elmarie Goodchild (Senior Lecturer: Centre For Accounting, Bloemfontein Campus), and Prof Alta Koekemoer (Associate Professor: Centre For Accounting, Bloemfontein Campus)
Runner-up: Anneen Church, Lecturer/Researcher: CTL, Bloemfontein Campus
Innovating My Curriculum Using technology and/or Online Tools
Winners: Dr Lizemari Hugo-Van Dyk (Senior Lecturer, School Of Nursing) and Bennie Botha (Portfolio Head: ICST, School of Nursing), Bloemfontein Campus
Runner-up: Dr Sean van der Merwe, Senior Lecturer, Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science, Bloemfontein Campus
Innovating My Curriculum Through a Redesign or Renewal of My Module
Winner: Dion Van Niekerk, Lecturer, Drama and Theatre Arts, Bloemfontein Campus
Runner-up: Prof Aliza le Roux, Associate Professor, Zoology and Entomology, Qwaqwa Campus
Research in Learning and Teaching Award: Advanced
Winners: Dr Maria Tsakeni (Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology Education) and Prof Brownhilder Neneh (Professor, Business Management), Bloemfontein Campus
Departmental Learning and Teaching Award Qwaqwa Campus
Department of Curriculum Studies and Higher Education (Faculty of Education)
Departmental Learning and Teaching Award Bloemfontein Campus
Department of Physiotherapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Faculty of Health Sciences)
Best Research Papers Qwaqwa Campus
Prof Aliza le Roux (Associate Professor, Zoology and Entomology)
Best Research Papers Bloemfontein Campus
Dr Michael Von Maltitz, Senior Lecturer: Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science
Khothatsa Awards
• Dr Lerato Sekonyela (Faculty of The Humanities), South Campus
• Nteboiseng Hlakotsa (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences), Qwaqwa Campus
• Dr Edson Vengesai (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences), Bloemfontein Campus
• Dr Peet van Aardt (Centre for Teaching and Learning), Bloemfontein Campus
• Dr Ronelle Jansen (Faculty of Health Sciences), Bloemfontein Campus
• Dr Jo-Mari Visser (Faculty of Law), Bloemfontein Campus
• Prof Bradley Smith (Faculty of Law), Bloemfontein Campus
• Dr Maretha du Plessis (Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences), Bloemfontein Campus
• Dr Foch-Henri de Witt (Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences), Bloemfontein Campus