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UFS partners with national government to train public officials

22 June 2020 | Story Amanda Tongha

The University of the Free State (UFS) will play an instrumental role in equipping senior government officials with skills to fulfil their roles in the delivery of public services. The UFS is one of five higher education institutions that the national government has partnered with to provide management training for public servants across South Africa.

The Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mr Senzo Mchunu, announced on Friday 19 June 2020 that the National School of Government (NSG) will work with the UFS, North-West University, University of Fort Hare, University of the Western Cape, and the Tshwane University of Technology to deliver its Integrated Management Development Programme (IMDP) across the country. The Minister described the IMDP as “a comprehensive professional development framework for public sector supervisors, managers, and leaders, which promotes the application of sound management and leadership principles in a context of people-oriented development and service”.

Working with the NSG – a state training institution tasked to build public sector capacity – the UFS will provide training in various areas of public management.

Dr Lyndon du Plessis, Head of the Department of Public Administration and Management, says the UFS will provide management training at executive level through its Executive Development Programme (EDP), and on supervisory and middle-management level through the Emerging Management Development and Advanced Management Development programmes. This will be presented by the UFS Business School and the Department of Public Administration and Management. The latter will accredit the course content and ensure that experts are available to teach the course.

“It is a feather in the cap of the UFS and the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences that it has been selected together with only four other higher education institutions to provide these programmes. It is the continuation of a long-standing constructive relationship with government in an attempt to improve the quality of public sector management in South Africa, and the faculty is proud to be a role player in this key area.”

• The EDP has catered for about 130 students annually over the past three years.

News Archive

Prof. André Keet appointed to Ministerial Oversight Committee on Higher Education

2013-01-15

Prof. André Keet
Photo: Anja Aucamp
24 January 2013

Prof. André Keet, Director of the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice at the university, has been appointed as member of the Oversight Committee on the Transformation of South African Universities. He is one of seven committee members that were appointed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Training to monitor progress on transformation in public universities.

The committee will advise Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education and Training, on policy to combat racism, sexism and other forms of unfair discrimination in public higher education. The committee will also advise on the role of universities in promoting the development of a free, fair and non-discriminatory society beyond the world of the academia.

The senior leadership of the university has welcomed the appointment of Prof. Keet and said with his extensive experience as a former Commissioner on the Commission for Gender Equality and as the Director of the university's Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (which was formed as one of several initiatives taken by the senior leadership in the aftermath of the Reitz incident), Prof. Keet will be a valuable member of the committee.

"Prof. Keet has the experience and expertise to guard the autonomy and academic freedom of universities, thus avoiding this committee from becoming a political intervention in the affairs of the higher education sector," said Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the university.

Honoured to be elected on the committee, Prof. Keet said he is ready to serve the national interest in the transformation of South African universities. "The appointment is also a compliment to the university and to its exceptional experience in the process of transformation."

Prof. Keet will serve on the committee for a period of three years. The other members of the committee are Prof. Malegapuru Makgoba, who will serve as chairperson, Dr Mvuyo Tom, Ms Nazeema Mohamed, Ms Zingiswa Losi, Mr Joe Mpisi and Prof. Shirley Walters.

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