Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
23 October 2020 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Supplied
Prof Johan H Meyer and Prof Hussen Solomon.

Two scholars from the University of the Free State (UFS) are among 31 of the country’s leading scholars and scientists who were inaugurated as new members of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). 

Prof Johan H Meyer from the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics and Prof Hussein Solomon from the Department of Political Studies and Governance were inaugurated as members of the ASSAf during the annual award ceremony that was held virtually on 14 October 2020.

Looking forward to make a contribution

Prof Solomon says he is humbled to be included into the ASSAf family.

“Earlier this year, Prof Neil Roos asked if he could nominate me for ASSAf. This was done in March, after which I heard nothing until last week. What it means to me is an acknowledgment of my cumulative academic career spanning 31 years. I look forward to making a contribution via ASSAf towards the next generation of scholars and scholarship in SA,” says Prof Solomon.

Humbled and honoured

Prof Meyer says he was asked by the top management of the UFS to apply for membership, but his inclusion came out the blue.

“I feel humbled by this inclusion – to be welcomed in a community that is regarded scientifically significant. I never expected to be selected, but I am nevertheless satisfied with the contributions I could make, in particular to the mathematical community. I feel honoured, and trust that I will be able to live up to it for several years to come,” says Prof Meyer.

Serve as role models for younger academics

Prof Corli Witthuhn, Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation, said this honour was bestowed upon the two researchers whose work has been judged by their peers to have significant international impact. 

 “We are very proud of the two outstanding researchers who were selected as members of the Academy of Science of South Africa during 2020. They continue to serve as role models for our younger academics in natural science and in the humanities and social sciences who are striving to produce the highest quality research that is relevant to a local and international audience.”

As the official Academy of South Africa, ASSAf honours the country’s most outstanding scholars by electing them to membership of the Academy. ASSAf members are drawn from the full spectrum of disciplines. New members are elected each year by the full membership of the Academy is in recognition of scholarly achievement. Members are the core asset of the Academy and give of their time and expertise voluntarily in the service of society. The 31 new ASSAf members bring the total membership of ASSAf to 597.

News Archive

Unique partnership flows out of our Schools Projects
2011-06-29

 
 At the meeting between our university and principals and teachers of three of the 23 schools in our university’s Schools Partnership Project were, from the left: Mr Motlolometsi Tshidiso,  Tsotseletso Secondary School; Dr Choice Makhetha, Vice-Rector: External Relations (acting); Mr Vuyo Mlinde, Bloem-Oos Intermediary School; back: Dr Peet Venter, Head of our South Campus, and Mr Tlhabedi Mafoyane from Kagisho Secondary School.

Our university established a unique partnership flowing from two of its community initiatives; the UFS Schools Partnership Project and the Extreme Make-over for Schools Project. Bloem-Oos Intermediary School which will benefit from the Extreme Make-over for Schools Project formed a partnership with Kagisho and Tsotseletso Secondary schools becoming a feeder school for the two schools. Both Kagisho and Tsotseletso Secondary schools are now beneficiaries of the UFS Schools Partnership Project.

With the Schools Partnership Project, the university is working closely with the 23 schools for a three- to five-year-period to help schools to become top achievers of which the teachers, learners and parents could be proud. The schools were identified last year and the groundwork for this project was finalised in 2010 as well. The university’s involvement in the Extreme Make-over for Schools Project includes amongst others a partnership with the Department of Basic Education and the Bloemfontein business community to work together to launch the first of a number of a newly upgraded schools to learners, teachers and the community. Bloem-Oos Intermediary School became the first school in Bloemfontein to undergo an extreme makeover.
 
Management structures from the University, including Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Dr Choice Makhetha, Vice-Rector: External Relations (acting), and Dr Peet Venter, Campus Head of the our South Campus, recently met with the principals and some of the teachers of three schools that form part of these two community initiatives of the university. The meeting between the university and principles Mr Tlhabedi Mafoyane (from Kagisho Secondary School), Mr Motlolometsi Tshidiso (Tsotseletso Secondary School) and Mr Vuyo Mlinde (Bloem-Oos Intermediary School) took place to enhance the relationships between the parties involved.
 
Dr Makhetha said, “When you support a school you groom learners to fit into the culture of the university. We were excited to learn that Bloem-Oos Intermediary School is a feeder school for Kagisho and Tsotseletso Secondary Schools. This partnership allows us to not only prepare learners already from an early age for university but also throughout their high school career. Let us make this project a model for South Africa.”
 
Continuous efforts and projects from the university as well as partners in the community, to invest in the learners of Bloem-Oos Intermediary School, include:
-       The Project for Peace: A calculator project where learners will be taught on how to use a scientific calculator properly. A group of the learners will also be supplied with a free calculator.
-       The Music Project: The Odeion School of Music at the UFS will also bring a music programme to the school.
-       The Desk Project: This project includes fixing of all broken desks by Group 4 Correctional Facility. (This initiative includes all the broken desks of all the 23 schools in involve in the UFS Schools Partnership Project.)
 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept