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12 December 2018 | Story Thabo Kessah | Photo Thabo Kessah
Prolific Researchers
Qwaqwa Campus prolific researchers, Drs Tom Ashafa, Maria Tsakeni, and Rodwell Makombe flanked by the Vice-Rector: Academic and Research, Prof Corli Witthuhn(far left), and Acting Campus Vice-Principal: Academic and Research, Dr Jared McDonald(far right).

The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) on the Qwaqwa Campus recently presented deserving academics with awards in recognition of their innovative teaching and learning practices.

“These annual awards are aimed at encouraging our academics to put extra effort in their different disciplines, as well as making valued contribution towards the advancement of the scholarship of teaching and learning at the University of the Free State,” said Fred Mudavanhu, Deputy Director: Centre for Teaching and Learning.

“To be considered for an award, academics had to apply. The adjudication panel was made up of three reviewers – one each from the Qwaqwa and Bloemfontein Campuses, as well as an external adjudicator,” added Mudavanhu. The three categories were Departmental Awards, Research in Teaching and Learning, and Innovation in Teaching and Learning.

The winners were as follows:

Departmental Award – Sociology

Winners: Nhlanhla Ndlovu and Cebelihle Sokhela

Research in Teaching and Learning

Winner: Dr Maria Tsakeni (School of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology)

Innovation in Teaching and Learning

Winner: Marthinus Delport (Industrial Psychology)

First runner-up: Marne van Niekerk (Accounting)

Second runner-up: Michaela Martin (Political Studies and Governance)

Third runner-up: Dr Cias Tsotetsi (School of Education Studies)

Meanwhile, the Academic and Research office also awarded outstanding researchers at the same ceremony. The winners were as follows:

Prolific Researchers

Faculty of Education – Dr Maria Tsakeni

Faculty of the Humanities – Dr Rodwell Makombe

Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences – Dr Tom Ashafa

Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences – None

Best Emerging Researchers

Faculty of Education – Dr Bekithemba Dube

Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences – Marthinus Delport and Marne van Niekerk

Faculty of the Humanities – Dr Tshepo Moloi and Bianca Naude

Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences – Dr Kamohelo Tshabalala

Lifetime Achievers

Prof Birhanu Dejene

Prof Rodney Moffett

News Archive

Childhood passion becomes a successful career
2016-12-19

Description: Dr Thapelo Makae Tags: Dr Thapelo Makae 

Dr Makae took up his studies at the South Campus
of the UFS, and now serves as a community vet in Tshwane.
Photo: Anja Aucamp


Dr Thapelo Makae’s youthful passion has been a driving force in his chosen career. He says: “Like any veterinarian, my love for animals started from childhood. Growing up, I always asked myself why animals didn’t have doctors like we kids did, when our pets fell ill or died.” While veterinary services were unknown where he was raised in the Phelindaba location in Mangaung, Bloemfontein, Dr Makae started doing his own research as early as Standard 1 (Grade 3). He affirms, “I’ve always wanted to help these creatures that, it seemed, no one could help.”

Having started his academic journey on the South Campus in the CPP (as the University Preparation Programme was then known), Dr Makae obtained an undergraduate degree in Agriculture, later completing an honours degree in Agriculture. “It was at this stage,” he says, “that I was recruited by Prof Johan Greyling and the late Dr Luis Schwalbach. With their support, I completed my MSc Agric, besides having the opportunity to be a junior lecturer in Animal Physiology. Dr Schwalbach was my supervisor, my mentor, and a veterinarian himself, and I worked very closely with him. He encouraged me to pursue my passion and the dream to go ahead and study Veterinary Medicine.”

Realising that dream, Dr Makae is now employed at the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as a community veterinarian. Among his many responsibilities, he is charged with serving the communities of the Tshwane Metro, where he visits farmers, assisting them with health and vaccination plans, and providing advice to help them develop their skills.

Dr Makae also seeks opportunities to pass on his dream. “What I am most passionate about is going to schools and giving talks to schoolchildren, especially those from previously disadvantaged communities, who might not know much about Veterinary Medicine,” he says.

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