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Prof Stef Coetzee, former Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), passed away in the Mediclinic Cape Gate on Saturday 27 October 2018.
Prof Coetzee assumed duty as the 11th Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS on 1 April 1997. He will be remembered for his drive to promote transformation at the UFS. During his time as Rector and Vice-Chancellor, he initiated a revitalisation process (turnaround strategy) which was ultimately finalised by his successor, Prof Frederick Fourie.
Among others, he established a Broad Transformation Forum (BTF) and transformation office to draft a new political framework for the UFS. He strived to manage the university as a business enterprise and was focused on developing the academy in an entrepreneurial manner. His legacy includes the establishment of the BTF, the revitalisation process (turnaround strategy), academic revitalisation, growing student numbers, and increased research outputs. He stepped down as Rector at the end of 2002.
“The turnaround strategy initiated by Prof Coetzee during his term as Rector and Vice-Chancellor is still evident today in the management approach of the UFS. On behalf of the executive management and the university community, I wish his family, relatives, and former colleagues all the best during this difficult and sad time. I hope that they will find comfort in his significant contribution to various sectors in the country – especially at the UFS,” said Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.
Prof Stef Coetzee obtained his MA degree in Economics at Stellenbosch University in 1973, and a DPhil in Development Economics at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 1980. He is a former Executive Officer of the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut and was also associated with Unisa and the North-West University.
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UFS and Sasol sign overarching agreement
2009-06-17
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Pictured are, from the left: Prof. Roodt, Prof. M.J. Crous (Acting Vice-Rector: Academic Operations), Prof. Verschoor, Dr Godorr and Mr Nel.
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe |
Sasol senior management Dr Sven Godorr, Manager of Research & Development, Sasol Technology, and Mr Johann Nel, Manager of Technology Contracting at Sasol, visited the UFS on 8 June 2009 to sign the overarching agreement between SASOL and the UFS regarding contract work and students being trained with SASOL support. Currently, these SASOL supported projects at the UFS are primarily supervised by Prof. Ben Bezuidenhoudt, SASOL seconded professor in Organic Chemistry, Prof. Jannie Swarts, Head of Physical Chemistry Division and Prof. André Roodt, Head of Inorganic Division and Chairperson of the Chemistry Department. The signatories from the UFS were Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Acting Rector and Vice-Chancellor and Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. This agreement forms part of the SASOL-supported and UFS senior management's revitalisation of Chemistry to more than R100 million over the past four and half years.