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30 October 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Sonia Small
Springboks
Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, paid a special visit to the Springboks in 2018 before they faced England in Bloemfontein. From the left are Jacques Nienaber (Springbok assistant coach), Oupa Mohoje (Springbok), Prof Petersen, Rassie Erasmus (Springbok head coach), and Swys de Bruin (Springbok consultant coach at the time). De Bruin, Erasmus, Nienaber, and Mohoje are all Kovsie alumni.


Like the rest of the country, we are behind our Springboks all the way. This is what Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), told alumnus Rassie Erasmus in a letter this week.

Prof Petersen wrote the letter to Erasmus, the head coach of the Springboks, to wish him everything of the best in the team’s preparation and for the game on Saturday (2 November 2019) at which they face England in the Rugby World Cup final in Japan.

"On behalf of the staff and students of the University of the Free State, I would like to wish you and the Springbok team all the best with your preparations this week and for the final. I know that Saturday’s match will be played with vigour and determination,” Prof Petersen wrote.

Prof Petersen said the UFS community was extremely proud of the Springboks’ achievements during the 2019 Rugby World Cup – especially with Erasmus at the helm of the team. The Boks defeated Japan in the quarter-final and Wales in the semi-final to reach their first final since 2007.

“As a former Shimla player and Kovsie Alumnus of the Year 1998, we are truly proud of what you have achieved during your career in South African rugby, and especially during the World Cup tournament. We are also proud of our other alumni – Jacques Nienaber as defence coach, and referee Jaco Peyper.”

Peyper refereed one of the quarter-finals and will be an assistant referee in the bronze medal play-off between New Zealand and Wales on 1 November 2019.

Under Erasmus the Springboks won the Rugby Championship this year, the first time since 2010. Erasmus and Nienaber have a long relationship. They met in the army in 1991. Later Nienaber served as physiotherapist with the Shimlas and Erasmus captained the team. They worked together at the Cheetahs, Cats, Stormers, Munster and now the Springboks.

News Archive

Dean appointed as chairperson of a national education forum
2012-01-31

 
Prof. Dennis Francis, Dean of our Faculty of Education discusses his responsibilities as chairperson for the Education Deans Forum with ms. Jana van Wyk form HESA.
Photo: Renè-Jean van der Berg

Prof. Dennis Francis, our Dean of Education and a proud Kovsie, was recently appointed as the Chairperson for the Education Deans Forum (EDF) of South Africa.

The EDF is a national forum established under the auspices of Higher Education South Africa (HESA), to share experience, expertise and concerns related to the responsibilities of faculties of education.

The purpose of the forum is to promote the interests of education in South Africa by providing the opportunity for deans to discuss matters of concern to them and their faculties in the fulfilment of their responsibilities for teacher education and the disciplined study of education.

Faculties of Education at public higher education institutions in South Africa carry two distinct, but linked responsibilities.

One is to foster independent inquiry (research) in the broad field of education. The other is the education of professional teachers (primarily for the schooling and FET colleges system), but also for professional teachers in other sites. The education of teachers includes both initial and continuing professional education.

The forum meets four times a year.

Prof. Francis said: “Faculties of education carry a special responsibility for the future of education in South Africa. The EDF will continue to promote the interests of education in South Africa by providing the opportunity for Education Deans to discuss matters of concern to them and their Faculties in the fullfilment of their responsibilities for teacher education and the disciplined study of education.”

 

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