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Takudzwa Nyamunda represents UFS in 2020 Commonwealth Future Student Leadership programme

26 June 2020 | Story Nitha Ramanth | Photo Valentino Ndaba

Takuduza_web read more — Takudzwa Nyamunda.

Takudzwa Nyamunda is the proud new representative of the University of the Free State (UFS) for the 2020 Commonwealth Future Student Leadership programme. Nominated at a recent workshop themed ‘Reimagining Peace’, organised by the Association of Commonwealth Universities in collaboration with the British Council and the Durban University of Technology, Takudzwa demonstrated exceptional leadership, coupled with his experience of issues related to the UFS student committee, which provided the perfect foundation for his selection.

“From a personal point of view, this was one of the most enriching experiences I have ever had, both in terms of the relationships established and the world knowledge gained. I am personally grateful for the opportunity to attend and would support any further initiative of this nature. I think the essence of this workshop was to encourage the young leaders present – all of whom were active citizens in their communities in one way or another – to continue fighting the good fight. The core message from the panellists was that it is all worth it in the end, and that even in the face of adversity and discouragement, we should keep fighting for the work we believe in,” says Takudzwa.

Participants from 13 nations, including activists and thought leaders on non-violence affiliated with the International Centre of Nonviolence, the Gandhi Development Trust, and the Commonwealth Countering Violent Extremism Unit, contributed to the workshop. Over the course of three days, participants were divided into five groups and worked together on projects linked to three main themes – gender-based violence, global warming, and inequality.

The selection committee was convened by the Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation, Prof Corli Witthuhn, and facilitated by the Office for International Affairs. Currently in the final year of his Master of Industrial Psychology degree, Takudzwa’s wealth or experience includes being the founder and first president of the International Students Association (2016), and holder of the International Student portfolio as Student Representative Council (SRC) member (2017), coupled with being co-founder and first vice-chairperson of the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP): UFS Chapter and Vice-president of the SABPP National Youth Council (2019).

“I will continue to do what I have been doing for the past five years at the UFS, which is to make a difference in my sphere of influence”, says Takudzwa.

News Archive

Council approves two senior appointments

2012-03-13

Dr Choice Makhetha and Prof. Hendri Kroukamp
13 March 2012

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Choice Makhetha as Vice-Rector: External Relations, and Prof. Hendri Kroukamp as Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

Both appointments were approved on Friday 9 March 2012 by the UFS Council during its quarterly meeting at the Bloemfontein Campus.

“Dr Makhetha is an experienced administrator in higher education and has spent time shadowing the Presidents of Harvard and Spelman Universities in the USA, where she gained invaluable experience in positioning universities for world-class impact,” said Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS.

Her portfolio will entail external linkages, partnerships and strategic alliances of the university with national and international stakeholders.

Previously, Dr Makhetha was the Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor. Before that she was acting Dean: Student Affairs, also at the UFS. She has served as acting Vice-Rector: External Relations since February 2011.

Dr Makhetha obtained a Master’s degree in Political Science from the UFS in 2000 and a Ph.D., also in Political Science, in 2003. She was named the UFS’s Dux student for 1998/99. Dr Makhetha has received many awards for her work and she serves on various boards and committees in South Africa and abroad.

In 2010 and 2011 she was a fellow at Harvard University and Spelman College as part of Higher Education South Africa (HESA)’s Higher Education Leadership and Management programme.

“Prof. Kroukamp is a distinguished academic in the field of Public Administration and a highly experienced manager and leader of academic departments. He has been serving as acting Dean of his faculty since September 2010,” said Prof. Jansen.

Prof. Kroukamp holds a B.A. (Hons.) degree in Public Administration from Stellenbosch University and an M.A. degree from the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE). In 1993 he obtained a qualification in Project Management from the World Bank. He completed a D.Phil. in Public Administration at UPE in 1996, where he was a lecturer. Prof. Kroukamp joined the UFS in 1999 as a professor and Chairperson of the Department of Public Management.

He is the referee of various national and international publications, serves on various publication boards and is a member of various national and international boards and committees.

Prof. Kroukamp, who is a National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated researcher, has received many NRF awards. Amongst these are NRF Overseas International Conference Awards in Turkey, Korea, Poland and France. He has also received a UFS Top Research Award in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

Both appointments apply retrospectively on 1 March 2012.

Media Release
13 March 2012
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: +27(0)51 401 2584
Cell: +27(0)83 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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