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13 April 2021 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Sonia Small (Kaleidoscope Studio)
Nicole Morris
Nicole Morris
Student Affairs divisions occupies an important role within higher education, and there is a constant need for development and reform in the services and programmes they offer to support students. This was the input from the Acting Dean of Student Affairs at the UFS, Nicole Morris, at a virtual President-to-President dialogue hosted by the Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute (CMMI), commemorating Human Rights Month and #TheRightToEducation on 30 March 2021.

Morris participated with a handful of prestigious panel members, including ANC Headquarters General Manager, Febe Potgieter-Gqubule; Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Buti Manamela; CMMI Brand Ambassador, Musawenkosi Saurombe; author and entrepreneur, Busisiwe Seabe; the leaderships of various student representative councils; and Chairperson of the Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute, Yonela Njisane.

Delegates delved into subjects concerning access to free education, the criteria and measures involved, as well as the proposed methods of implementation needed to operationalise free and equal education.

Morris contributed to the discussion that reflected on the revolutionary spirit and political contributions of renowned political activist, Charlotte Maxeke, identifying her as a “stalwart for the fight of equal opportunities and progress”.

The Acting Dean said Maxeke’s quest for education and the need to use it to support changes in humanity, encouraged the liberation of women in mainstream politics and other leadership roles – developing her fight into one that sought equal opportunities and progress for all.

Morris went on to highlight the importance of student counselling and development, career services, and other student affairs services to support students at university and higher education spaces.

She encouraged student leaders to emulate Maxeke’s methods by continuously employing innovative ways of thinking to ease the challenges faced by students in higher education, ensuring that each of them has an equal opportunity to succeed in today’s society.

News Archive

Prof Steyn to receive Jan H Marais Prize in Stellenbosch
2017-05-09

Description: Prof Jaap Steyn Tags: Prof Jaap Steyn

Prof Jaap Steyn, who started his career as
journalist at Volksblad, later entered the academy,
and was a professor at the University of the
Free State for many years.
Photo: Marthie Kemp

Although Prof Jaap Steyn will be honoured officially for his contribution to Afrikaans as an academic language at the end of this month, he only became aware of his nomination after he had won the award.

According to this research fellow in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French at the University of the Free State (UFS), he is grateful for the recognition. He has recently been awarded the Jan H Marais Prize for his outstanding contribution to Afrikaans.

Former Kovsie honoured together with Prof Jan van der Watt
According to a statement by the South African Academy for Science and Arts, the award was jointly made to Prof Steyn, who is probably the best-known South African language historian, and Prof Jan van der Watt van Nijmegen from the Netherlands. The prize money of R500 000, which they will share, will be presented in Stellenbosch on 30 May 2017.

Prof Steyn is a former Kovsie, who was a research professor at the UFS from 1985 to 1997, and at the age of 78 is still a research fellow. “After the announcement of the prize, I learnt that I was nominated by two of my colleagues,” he says.

His most difficult work was probably also his best
Over the past 50 years several of his publications, biographies, and books have seen the light. He believes that nothing one does is perfect. His most difficult work was the biography of NP van Wyk Louw. “It was probably also my best work,” he says. “The book I enjoyed working on most, was the biography of the author MER, or ME Rothmann.”

Prof Steyn has also received awards such as the Stals Prize, the Louis Hiemstra Prize, the NP van Wyk Louw medal, and honorary membership from the South African Academy for Science and Arts.

He says the staff in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French are very friendly and helpful to still render him assistance as a research fellow.


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