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Misleading information was posted on a Twitter page today (17 May 2018) regarding a sexual harassment case which the former employee linked as the reason for her dismissal by the University of the Free State (UFS).
The UFS has zero tolerance towards sexual harassment, sexual assault, and the victimisation of individuals. In this particular case – which was reported on social media today – the university confirms that a sexual harassment case was indeed reported by the employee, and the university’s disciplinary process was followed. The complainant accepted the outcome of the disciplinary process without any reservations.
Sometime later, the university discovered that the complainant had falsified material information on her CV, which she used to apply for the position in which she was appointed. The termination of the complainant’s employment is based on fraudulent action and misrepresentation.
As part of its drive to eradicate fraud and corruption, the university initiated disciplinary action according to its policies and procedures.
It is unfortunate that the complainant used her sexual harassment case, which the UFS addressed to her satisfaction, to now justify her fraudulent actions.
Released by:Lacea Loader (Director: Corporate Communication and Marketing)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email:
news@ufs.ac.za |
loaderl@ufs.ac.zaFax: +27 51 444 6393
#Women'sMonth: PSP provides scholarly support system for Prof Wilson-Strydom
2017-08-17
Prof Merridy Wilson-Strydom loves asking questions and
therefore has a strong focus on research.
She also enjoys supervising PhD students.
Photo: Sonia Small
Publishing her first book and receiving a rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) are career highlights for Prof Merridy Wilson-Strydom. As an emerging scholar, the Prestige Scholars Programme (PSP) of the University of the Free State (UFS) played an important role in reaching these goals.
According to the Associate Professor in the Centre for Research on Higher Education and Development, the PSP provided an important scholarly support system, both through the coordinators and the other researchers who are part of the programme.
Writing retreats made book possible
“I found the support and advice provided during the process of applying for funding and rating really helpful,” she says about receiving a NRF C2 rating, based on her work over the past eight years.
She compliments the PSP writing retreats, which “provided a wonderful space for writing and it was during the writing retreats that I did a lot of the writing for my book that was published by Routledge in 2015.” Her book, University Access and Success: Capabilities, Diversity and Social Justice, moving back into academia from institutional research, working closely with undergraduate students as research participants, and postgraduate supervision, are all highlights of her work.
Her book makes a valuable contribution to higher education literature related to access and transition to universities. But, contrary to the mainstream approaches to access which rely on school performance and admissions tests, she poses the issue of social justice at the centre of the analysis.
Student project produces E-book
Another project headed by her and funded by the NRF Thuthuka Programme, was a study to understand the lives of 40 undergraduate students (on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus) who attended township high schools. The study had a particular focus on identifying institutional practices that either enable or constrain students’ capabilities for success in undergraduate study.
One of the outputs was the writing of an E-book called In our own words: Perspectives on being a student. It was written by 30 undergraduate students and the purpose was to provide a platform for students to tell their own stories about life as a student.