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17 September 2018 Photo Lerato Moloi
New Principal for Qwaqwa Campus-Dr Matin Mandew
Dr Martin Mandew believes that the biggest challenge currently facing the higher-education sector is the lack of adequate and appropriate student housing

The University of the Free State (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus has a new Principal. He is Dr Martin Mandew, former Campus Director of the Durban University of Technology’s Midlands Campus in Pietermaritzburg. He has extensive experience in higher education, having cut his teeth in the academia as an Academic Development Tutor with the then University of Natal (now University of Kwazulu-Natal). He then went on to complete both his Master of Theology (cum laude) and Doctor of Philosophy at the same institution in 1993 and 1997, respectively.

“During my early days in the academia, we did some interesting educational experiments and pioneered exciting foundation programmes. I also taught Systematic Theology in the mainstream programme,” said Dr Mandew, a trained Catholic theologian holding a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (magna cum laude) from the Urbaniana Pontifical University in Rome, Italy.

His academic interest shifted after he was appointed as Assistant Vice-Chancellor: Student Services at the ML Sultan Technikon in 1998. “My time at ML Sultan helped me develop a keen interest in the theoretical foundations and practice in the field of student services and affairs. This interest abides to this day,” he said.

Coming from a multi-campus background, what challenges does he think the UFS would be better placed to avoid?

“Multi-campus universities have their own unique challenges. However, what often seems to be a frequently recurring issue, is the sense of disconnectedness often felt by the far-flung smaller campuses. This can be overcome through regular contact – real and virtual – between the campuses through senior leaders and managers, and through a structured exchange of academics and lecturers between the campuses,” said Dr Mandew, who was born and brought up in the multilingual and multicultural neighbourhood of Aliwal North in the Eastern Cape.

He believes the biggest challenge currently facing the higher-education sector, is the lack of adequate and appropriate student housing.

“This problem is worse at rural campuses such as Qwaqwa where there is a scarcity of private accommodation that meets the norms and standards as prescribed by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). We have to find ways of persuading private student-accommodation providers to invest in the provision of accommodation that meets the prescribed norms. This is not only their civic duty, as there is a return to be had on the investment.”

“A related challenge,” he added, “is how to better integrate commuting or day students, who constitute the majority of our students, in university life. We have to design co-curricular programmes that reach the wider student body and invest in the establishment of day houses to better respond to the needs of commuting students.”

What is his vision for the campus and what are his first impressions of the broader UFS?

“I have been very impressed by some of the important, though very difficult conversations currently taking place at the UFS. Like other universities, the UFS has to find effective ways to contend with the scourge of gender-based violence. I hope we can succeed in finding practical ways to put the Integrated Transformation Plan (ITP) at the centre of our endeavours in Qwaqwa, in order to realise this rather exciting and challenging vision. Needless to say, students have to be at the centre of these endeavours,” he emphasised.

News Archive

Almost 2000 degrees and diplomas conferred at Winter Graduation
2015-06-26

Live streaming will be available on: http://livestream.ufs.ac.za/

The 2015 Winter Graduations are almost underway. The highlight on the university calendar for every graduate will take place on the Bloemfontein Campus on 1-2 July 2015. On 1 July 2015, diplomas will be awarded by the Centre of Financial Planning Law (331 in total) and the School of Open Learning (376 in total). On 2 July 2015, a total of 1 220 master’s and doctoral degrees will be awarded to graduates from all seven faculties.

A highlight at this year’s Winter Graduation is the awarding of three honorary degrees by the university. Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi, Dr Mercy Oduyoye and Mr John Samuel will receive honorary degrees.

On 17 August 2012, Ambassador Brahimi was appointed by the United Nations as the new peace envoy to Syria, replacing Kofi Annan. He is also a member of the Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor, the first global initiative to focus specifically on the link between exclusion, poverty and the law. Prof Heidi Hudson, Head of the Centre for Africa Studies at the UFS, will receive the honorary degree on his behalf.

Dr Oduyoye is widely regarded as one of the most influential women theologians Africa has produced in recent history. Currently, she directs the Institute of African Women in Religion and Culture at the Trinity Theology Seminary in Legon, Ghana.

Mr John Samuel, who will receive an honorary award, is also scheduled to be a guest speaker at the two ceremonies on 1 July 2015.

Wednesday 1 July 2015:

John Samuel will be the speaker at both ceremonies. He is one of South Africa’s leading education experts with international and national experience, covering a period of more than forty years. He was involved in the founding of the South African Campaign: Public Participation in Education Network (PPEN), established the Centre for Education Policy Development, the Joint Working Group (for The National Party Government and the ANC), the National Education Conference, and the National Education and Training Forum. He also made leadership contributions to the First Education and Training White Paper, the Transformation Strategy for the National Education Department, and the first Green Paper on Higher Education.

John is also Senior Programme Director of the WK Kellogg Foundation in the USA. He has also been the Chief Executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and the CEO of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls.

Thursday 2 July 2015:

Nataniël will be the speaker at both ceremonies. Nataniël is a singer, songwriter, and South African entertainer, who has crossed from the alternative circuit to the stage. For the past 10 years, he has become well-known for his outspoken Kaalkop column in SARIE magazine. His solo career was launched in 1987 and, since then, he has released 16 albums, staged more than 70 original theatre productions, and published 15 books. Over the past two decades, Nataniël has gained the title of South Africa’s leading exponent of the solo stage act. He manages Kaalkop Studio, his lifestyle retail company, and records on his own independent label, Nataniël House Of Music. He is an ambassador for Child Welfare SA, and also heads his own charitable foundation, The Nataniël Progress Project.

 

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