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Education dominates Qwaqwa Campus Teaching and Learning Awards

17 July 2020 | Story Thabo Kessah | Photo UFS photo archive

The Faculty of Education on the Qwaqwa Campus has recently dominated the Centre for Teaching and Learning’s (CTL) Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards, as well as the Research Awards for 2019/2020. The faculty’s Drs Bunmi Omodan and Maria Tsakeni were placed first and second respectively in the category Research in Teaching and Learning. This was on top of the faculty’s accolade in the category Faculty/Department that is the most involved in Teaching and Learning events and practices on the Qwaqwa Campus.

“The faculty is indeed proud to be associated with these fine scholars and the excellence they represent,” said Faculty of Education Dean,Prof Loyiso Jita, in a congratulatory message to the faculty members.

“To the winners, please continue to live our emerging vision of ‘Representing and using our diversity, excellence in scholarship on research and teaching, and an ethic of care and service’ to produce teachers with balanced knowledge and skills and a consciousness to serve all of society in its diversity,” he added.

Winners from the faculty for the Research Awards were Dr Bekithemba Dube as the Most Prolific Researcher in the Faculty of Education and Dr Sekitla Makhasane in the category Best Emerging Researcher in the Faculty of Education.

It is the first time in years that all four faculties received Learning and Teaching Awards. Institutional awards are scheduled for September 2020.

The full list of winners is as follows:

Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards:

Category: Research in Learning and Teaching:

Position 1: Dr Bunmi Omodan (Faculty of Education)

Position 2: Dr Maria Tsakeni (Faculty of Education)

Category: Innovation in Learning and Teaching:

Position 1: Dr Diana Breshears and Rentia Engelbrecht (The Humanities)

Position 2: Prof Aliza le Roux (Natural and Agricultural Sciences)

Position 3: Lebohang Masoabi (Economic and Management Sciences)

Position 4: Dr Maria Tsakeni (Faculty of Education)

Category: Faculty / Departmental Award

Faculty of Education (with special mention of Dr Cias Tsotetsi; Dr Maria Tsakeni; Thabiso Motsoeneng; and Dr Sekitla Makhasane).

Research Awards per faculty:

Education

Most Prolific Researcher: Dr Bekithemba Dube (School of Education Studies)

Best Emerging Researcher: Dr Sekitla Makhasane (School of Education Studies)

The Humanities

Most Prolific Researcher: Dr Oliver Nyambi (Department of English)

Best Emerging Researcher: Dr Tshepo Moloi (Department of History)

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Most Prolific Researcher: Prof Francis Dejene (Department of Physics)

Best Emerging Researcher: Dr Lehlohonolo Koao (Department of Physics)

Economic and Management Sciences

Most Prolific Researcher: Dr Calvin Mudzingiri (Department of Economics and Finance)

Best Emerging Researcher: Dr Charity Gomo (Department of Economics and Finance)

News Archive

UFS works closely with employees in the post-Reitz settlement process

2013-05-20

20 May 2013

In the light of an article in IOL News on 18 and 19 May 2013 and in Sunday Independent and Sunday Tribune on 19 May 2013 in which it is alleged that the University of the Free State (UFS) has failed to honour its commitment to the five Reitz employees we are pleased to report on the ongoing process and progress made with respect to their employment.

The university remained consistently true to the settlement agreement and High Court order of 2011 and cannot apologise for complying with the law. It was therefore impossible for us to talk to our colleagues directly until last week when we had a breakthrough meeting, which was cleared by the Human Rights Commission (HRC), and matters were resolved.

The UFS continues to work closely and now directly with the five employees to ensure that their rights as employees remain the highest priority in the post-settlement process.

All but one of the conditions of the Reitz settlement (own business) has already been met; however, we are in the process of providing training and support for the establishment of an independent business led by the employees.

After some delays, and frustration on all sides, we have found the right training provider for them and are satisfied that the process remains on track. The business office (furnished) has been allocated at the South Campus in Bloemfontein.

Already in late 2012 the Chair of the HRC expressed his satisfaction with the commitments made by the university to the process. By 30 June 2013 this outstanding commitment to establish an independent company with trained employees would also have been met in full.

Beyond the settlement agreement, the UFS has also committed to providing free education and training to the children of the employees so that their next generation of families emerge as strong, independent, well-trained and productive members of society. The child of one of the colleagues is in fact finishing Grade 12 this year and we are in discussion about possible studies at the UFS. This is our pledge and commitment as a university.

This final step in the post-Reitz settlement is being led by Dr Choice Makhetha, Vice-Rector of the University of the Free State.

Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director Strategic Communication
Tel: +27 (0) 51 401 2584 / +27 (0) 83 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 (0) 51 444 6393
Web: www.ufs.ac.za

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