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Prof Hendri Kroukamp receives esteemed Donald C Stone Award

03 August 2021 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath | Photo Sonia Small (Kaleidoscope Studios)

Prof Hendri Kroukamp, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been selected as the 2021 recipient of the Donald C Stone Award from the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA). The award pays tribute to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to IASIA through excellence in leadership and enhancing the image of the profession, as well as other distinguished service to the success of the organisation. The award followed a call for nominations and a recommendation process managed by the Stone Award Selection Committee, after which the Management Board endorsed the award to Prof Kroukamp for his contributions to the organisation and to the advancement of public administration in the world.

“I am humbled by the gesture; it is a real honour to receive the award. For me, this is a validation of the work that members of the organisation do to find solutions to the problems faced across all levels in the public sector,” says Prof Kroukamp.

A dedicated public servant, Donald C Stone was the founder of the American Public Works Association. He is popularly recognised for his contribution to the implementation of the Marshall Plan, organising the executive office of the President of the United States, and the formation of action-oriented professional associations that serve global society. In 1961, Prof Stone was the founding member of the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration, an association of organisations and individuals whose activities and interests focus on education and the training of public administrators and managers. IASIA is an entity of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS).

More about Prof Kroukamp

Prof Kroukamp is currently Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the UFS (in 2018, he acted as Vice-Rector: Academic at the UFS, responsible for, inter alia, providing strategic leadership to the university and for the overall operational management of the academic portfolio of the university). He is a National Research Foundation (NRF)-rated researcher in the field of public administration and management, and a member of various national and international associations, editorial boards, and management boards. Prof Kroukamp is married to Tertia, a clinical psychologist, and they have two children, Dinki (29 years) and Hendri (27 years).

News Archive

Renowned forensic scientist speaks at the UFS

2014-04-02

Forensic science is about the truth. At the presentation delivered by Dr David Klatzow, were, from the left: Tinus Viljoen, lecturer in Forensic Genetics, Dr Klatzow and Laura Heathfield, also a lecturer in Forensic Genetics.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

It is necessary for more research to be done in the field of forensic science in South Africa. This is according to Dr David Klatzow, well-known forensic scientist, during a lecture delivered at the University of the Free State (UFS) last week.

The university is offering, for the first time this year, a BSc degree in Forensic Science in the Department of Genetics. This three-year degree is, among others, directed at people working for the South African Police Service on crime scenes and on criminal cases in forensic laboratories. Students can also study up to PhD level, specialising in various forensic fields.

There is no accredited forensic laboratory in South Africa. “It is time to look differently at forensic science, and to deliver research papers on the subject. In light of the manner in which science is applied, we have to look differently at everything,” Dr Klatzow said.

Dr Klatzow praised the university for its chemistry-based course. “Chemistry is a strong basis for forensic science,” he said.

A paradigm shift in terms of forensic science is needed. Micro scratches on bullets, fingerprints, DNA, bite marks – all of these are forensic evidence that in the past led to people being wrongfully hanged. This evidence is not necessarily the alpha and omega of forensic science today. DNA, which seems to be the golden rule, can produce problems in itself. Because a person leaves DNA in his fingerprint, it is possible that DNA is transferred from one crime scene to another by forensic experts dusting for fingerprints. According to Dr Klatzow, this is only one of the problems that could be experienced with DNA evidence.

“No single set of forensic evidence is 100% effective or without problems. Rather approach the crime scene through a combination of evidence, by collecting fingerprints, DNA, etc. It is also very important to look at the context in which the events happened.

“A person sees what he expects to see. This causes huge problems in terms of forensic science. For example, if a criminal fits the profile of the perpetrator, it doesn’t follow that this specific criminal is the culprit. It isn’t what we don’t know that gives us trouble, it’s what we know that isn’t so,” Dr Klatzow said.

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