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12 August 2022 | Story Samkelo Fetile | Photo Supplied
Prof Liezel Lues
Prof Liezel Lues.

Prof Liezel Lues, Professor of Public Administration and Management in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been elected as a board member of the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) – an association of organisations and individuals whose activities and interests focus on the education and training of public administrators and managers. Prof Lues will serve alongside Dr Nayak Zarrouk from Morocco, who is the first female president of IASIA since its inception. 

“I am honoured to be elected as a board member of IASIA; this special recognition grants me the privilege of representing South Africa among global leaders in the public administration and management field. It is an immense opportunity to interact with board members from different countries, cultures, and beliefs, as well as sharing my knowledge of public administration and management in the South African context,” expressed Prof Lues.

Prof Lues has represented the UFS at the IASIA since 2006, where she made a significant contribution and had a broad influence over the years; in 2015, she was elected as the co-chairperson of the working group on Public Leadership, Management, and Governance. Today, Prof Lues is recognised as an international authority on public administration and management at IASIA. With this achievement, she has created an opportunity to engage with an international and interdisciplinary research community, while exchanging information on developments of common interest. “The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences congratulates Prof Lues on her election to the Board of Management of IASIA. The faculty is expanding its international footprint, and Prof Lues’ election strengthens that footprint significantly,” says Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

Insights from IASIA meeting 

The instructional deliberations at the IASIA conference, held in Rabat (Morocco, July 2022), alluded to the fact that the world ought to be knowledgeable about the challenges presented, and should be made aware of the associated vulnerability and interdependence. Conclusions targeted current improvement of world interest, which includes large transitions underway in technology, green economies, and topics of equality and effectiveness within the workforce. “I have an increased realisation that each country has unique challenges; the difference between development versus deterioration resides in the ability of the leaders to negotiate volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments,” added Prof Lues.

Institutional recognition for the UFS

This IASIA Board of Management membership that the UFS may now claim, provides a noteworthy platform for institutional recognition on national and international level. “The election creates an opportunity to engage with an international and interdisciplinary research community and to exchange information, ideas, and experiences on issues and developments of common interest. This position will allow sharing international best practices with students and colleagues in the Department of Public Administration and Management,” added Prof Lues.

The UFS will continue to be a pioneer in advancing excellence in public administration education and training, while building on the representation of former members of the Department of Public Management and Administration and the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

News Archive

Student one of ten Google Young Minds
2012-04-23

 

Sibusiso Tshabalala is making strides as an international young leader.
23 April 2012

Third-year B.Com Law student, Sibusiso Tshabalala from our university, is one of ten of Google’s Young Minds for 2012. He made it to the top thirty from a pool of 1 700 applicants at the beginning of April 2012.

“The standard of other competitors and the panel of judges were extremely high. I was excited to receive the news that I had made it,” he says.

Annually, Google searches for ten students internationally who demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is given to students who also have an entrepreneurial drive and a commitment to social activism. Sibusiso was selected for his involvement in renovating libraries and training budding public speakers. His projects also involve encouraging literacy and critical thinking in poor areas in the Free State by establishing reading clubs.

Sibusiso will be attending the Google Zeitgeist in London from 20 to 22 May 2012.

At the conference, he will have the opportunity to meet some of the world’s greatest minds. Over 400 influential business leaders and visionaries from around the world will be hosted. Speakers include Prof. Stephen Hawking, former Lucasian Professor of Mathematics: University of Cambridge; Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group; Eric Schmidt, Chairman: Google; Larry Page, CEO: Google; Angela Ahrendts, CEO: Burberry, and international musician will.i.am.

The ten winners will also take part in a series of ‘master classes’ with the aim of mentoring them to help further their future projects.

His achievements include the 2010 winner of the National SAGE Competition (Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship). He represented South Africa in Brazil that same year and was also National Winner of the Best Speaker Award at the 2011 South African National Universities Debating Championships. He was ranked as one of the top ten debaters in Africa at the Pan African Universities Debating Championships held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in 2011. Sibusiso recently chaired the committee that organised the first university based CANSA Relay for Life Event in South Africa. This took place at the UFS in February 2012.

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