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26 February 2018 Photo Eugene Seegers
Dutch scholar honours Faculty of Theology and Religion with special book dedication
Prof Bram van de Beek hands over his book, Mijn Vader, uw Vader, which contains his dedication to the UFS Faculty of Theology and Religion, to Prof Fanie Snyman, Dean of the faculty.

While surveying recent publications, staff members at the Faculty of Theology and Religion discovered, almost by coincidence, that a world-renowned systematic theologian and professor emeritus of the Free University Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) in the Netherlands, Prof Bram van de Beek, had dedicated his most recent volume on Systematic Theology to the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the UFS in Bloemfontein.

Even before Prof Fanie Snyman, Dean of this faculty, had any knowledge of this special honour, Prof Van de Beek was invited to conduct the Scripture reading and sermon on the programme of the University of the Free State (UFS) Faculty of Theology and Religion’s official opening and Theological Day. This event provided the perfect opportunity for Prof Van de Beek to officially hand a copy of his book over to the faculty.

Prof Van de Beek accepted the invitation and on 19 February 2018 conducted the sermon in the Odeion Theatre at the UFS based on the theme of the Theological Day, Reconciliation: Biblical imperative and the South African reality. He then formally presented his book, with the title Mijn Vader, uw Vader, which contains the dedication, to Prof Snyman, saying: “It is an honour for me to have the opportunity to present my book today. It was a pleasure for me to dedicate it to the Faculty of Theology and Religion in Bloemfontein. I did so because of my great appreciation for the work these colleagues are doing.”

'It was a pleasure for me
to dedicate this book to the
UFS Faculty of Theology and Religion.'
—Prof Bram van de Beek
Dutch Systematical Theologian
and Dogmatician

Prof Van de Beek continued: “They keep to academic standards in difficult circumstances. It is not only the pressure of ‘publish or perish’ which must be resisted, but also the pressure of society, and most of all, of church members who want an adapted theology according to their desires. True theology, like any academic discipline, is interested in the truth and is not based on interests. I notice the courage by colleagues of this faculty to keep to this standard in both the training of students and in their research. They even had the courage to reflect on the very rationale of the existence of theology at a public university. Nothing can be taken for granted, for at the very moment we do so in the university, we lose our critical attitude, which is the basis for academic work. So it is with great esteem that I dedicated my book to this faculty.”

In his acceptance, Prof Snyman expressed his utmost appreciation that a European theologian of worldwide renown would take note of a university and faculty so far removed from his sphere of activity.

News Archive

Interpreting implemented at UFS residences
2007-10-12

The University of the Free State (UFS) has begun to implement interpreting services at student residence meetings on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein, as part of the management of diversity and the racial integration of its residences.

As a pilot project, the interpreting services are being offered since the third term at Emily Hobhouse and Roosmaryn ladies residences, where a significant racial diversity already is present. From next year this service will be extended to all the student residences on the Main Campus.

The interpreting project is being managed by the Department of Afro-asiatic Studies, Sign Language and Language Practice at the UFS.

“Students in training at the Department of Afro-asiatic Studies, Sign Language and Language Practice and senior interpreters from the UFS are currently interpreting during residence meetings,” said Prof. Jackie Naudé, Departmental Chairperson of the UFS’s Department of Afro-asiatic Studies, Sign Language and Language Practice.

“Students in these residences are given the opportunity to be trained to interpret during their residence meetings. Four students from each hostel are being trained as interpreters,” said Prof. Naudé.

According to Prof. Naudé both residences have meetings that take place on a Monday evening at 22:00. Interpreting is also provided at the first-year students’ meetings at Emily Hobhouse on Tuesday evenings.

The interpreters experience the interpreting at the residences as positively and they experience that students often do utilise this service. At Roosmaryn 16-18 students are utilising the interpreting service, while at Emily Hobhouse approximately 18 students are utilising the service.

“The interpreting service definitely contributes to the enhancement of communication during residence meetings. Students can exactly follow what is happening during the meetings. In the past a residences like Emily Hobhouse tried to repeat everything in English, which extended the meetings,” Prof. Naudé said.

With the envisaged extension of interpreting services in hostel meetings to all the hostels on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein, there is a need for interpreters as these meetings will take place simultaneously. Through this initiative, exiting new opportunities are created for aspiring interpreters. The training takes place under leadership of Prof. Annelie Lotriet who holds the ATKV Chair in Interpreting in the department.

Aspiring candidates can contact Mr Cobus Snyman, Manager of the UFS’s interpreting projects at 051 401 9005 in connection with the selection criteria for interpreters.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
14 October 2007
 

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