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Nico Janse van Rensburg named recipient of UFS Council medal

16 February 2022 | Story Lacea Loader | Photo Sonia Small

At a meeting held on 26 November 2021, the Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) approved the awarding of the UFS Council Medal for outstanding service to Nico Janse van Rensburg, Senior Director: University Estates.

Building our campuses

Janse van Rensburg completed a BSc Quantity Surveying degree at the UFS in 1989 before joining the institution’s then Department of Physical Planning in 2004, after an impressive career as quantity surveyor. In 2012, he was appointed Senior Director: University Estates, continuously adding value to the infrastructure of our three campuses – totalling more than 500 000 m² – as well as experimental farms and off-campus entities of more than 1 000 ha.

He has a persistent green approach that not only reduces the UFS’ carbon footprint, but also saves the institution millions of rands in energy savings and maintenance. Indigenous and waterwise gardens greet staff, students, and visitors to all our campuses, while being housed in well-maintained buildings. All newly built facilities on our campuses are based on green building principles, while an overall optimal building management system ensures efficient energy management.

Mentorship and skills transfer

University Estates, through its procurement management and the leadership of Janse van Rensburg, is also one of the main drivers behind the UFS’ BBBEE scorecard. He initiated a mentoring and skills transfer strategy by means of joint project appointments, enabling previously disadvantaged firms to eventually be appointed independently for similar projects.

To ensure, among others, aesthetically pleasing buildings that offer value for money, Janse van Rensburg and his team have developed a series of technical manuals that outline material specifications and expectations. Since 2012, he has been instrumental in more than 1 000 projects at the UFS.

The university recognises and commends Janse van Rensburg’s indispensable contribution to creating inclusive and quality spaces on our campuses, where staff, students, and visitors can experience our culture of care. His motto is clearly visible in all the projects he completes: Get things done – within time, budget, quality standards, expectations, and user satisfaction.

“It is an immense privilege to be leading the University Estates team, and I am humbled to be the recipient of this prestigious medal. University Estates is all about teamwork, and an award such as this can only be possible through the commitment, dedication, and support of a very capable team, as well as colleagues throughout the UFS. I would also like to thank our very capable leaders, such as Prof Prakash Naidoo, Vice-Rector: Operations, for his support and guidance. I have learnt a lot on this journey and a lot remains to be learnt. All of this could only be achieved with help that goes beyond one’s own strengths and abilities,” said Janse van Rensburg.”

Get things done – within time, budget, quality standards, expectations, and user satisfaction.

The Council Medal will be presented to Janse van Rensburg during a graduation ceremony in 2022.

News Archive

Postgraduates’ new Kovsies home

2013-05-10

Some of the guests attending the launch, included from left: Prof Driekie Hay, Vice-Rector: Academic, Dr Henriette van den Berg, Director: Postgraduate School and Prof Corli Witthuhn, Vice-Rector: Research.
10 May 2013
Photo: Johan Roux

Postgraduate students and their academic 'parents' at the University of the Free State (UFS) now have a dedicated physical, emotional and electronic space to provide for their specialised needs in order to further promote research excellence at the UFS.

The university's Postgraduate School was launched in May 2011, but ventured further in the quest to fulfil and expand its mandate with new initiatives. These different aspects of the school were launched on Wednesday 8 May 2013 in the CR Swart Auditorium on the Bloemfontein Campus. The postgraduate strategy, postgraduate prospectus, the website and the headquarters of the Postgraduate School in the Johannes Brill Building were all unveiled and launched.

Prof Driekie Hay, Vice-Rector: Academic, who was a major driving force behind the formation of the Postgraduate School, during her address at the opening emphasised the multifaceted and unique relationships which often exist between students and supervisors.

Prof Hay, who has a distinguished academic background in postgraduate teaching, made plain her expectations for the Postgraduate School. She said it aims to "create an intellectual space for postgraduate students and supervisors" in order to produce world-class intellectuals at this university.

She said the school will empower both students who often don't know what to expect from supervision, as well as supervisors who often lack supervision skills. Through this it will be possible to create healthy, productive relationships between the distinct pairs in often misunderstood, unbalanced and intricate interactions.

Dr Henriette van den Berg, Director of the Postgraduate School, introduced the strategic plan of the school and emphasised the great strides that have already been made and what still needs to be done at the UFS in terms of postgraduate teaching. According to her, the Postgraduate School aims towards "holistic development of postgraduate students with transferable skills," through a multi-level and institution-wide approach at the university.

"Our aim is to develop a one-step service for postgraduate students, involving all the different stakeholders," she said.

The new Postgraduate School website was also showcased during the event. Reachable through a number of avenues on the main website, the site offers a digital version of the Johannes Brill Building. Brimming with features catering specifically for local, international, current and prospective students, the website provides crucial information.

The Johannes Brill Building's refurbished interior, with staff offices, seminar rooms and social spaces, were also showcased to UFS' staff and students. The initial phase of the Supervisors' Wall of Fame was also unveiled. According to Dr van den Berg , the wall will after completion bestow much-deserved praise on a hand-picked group of 60 supervisors who have respectively been responsible for more than 300 and more than 500 successful PhD and master's candidates over the past decade.

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