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UFS staff members
All smiles – pictured are inspired University of the Free State staff ready to live, serve with excellence, and care for the growth of the institution.

The Division of Organisational Development and Employee Well-being within the Department of Human Resources’ iRecognise initiative is another University of the Free State (UFS) initiative to appreciate and recognise staff dedication and excellence. 

Through the peer-to-peer iRecognise platform, UFS staff members have the opportunity to recognise colleagues from different units, divisions, faculties, and campuses. 

Natasha Nel, UFS Organisational Development specialist, said: “iRecognize is an open acknowledgment and expressed appreciation for employees’ contributions. A strong recognition culture can help individuals and organisations perform better. Employees, teams, and the university all benefit from frequent and meaningful feedback and appreciation.”

“It is a promotion of positive behaviour that supports individuals, teams, divisions, and departments in achieving the university’s vision and goals. The UFS wants to create a culture of mutual respect, reward, and recognition for employees at all levels in a non-monetary award based on significance,” she said.

The criteria for staff to recognise colleagues include timeliness, authenticity, and specificity, and the badges that staff members can use is also aligned with the university’s competency framework. The platform also includes an option to send recognition privately. 

“Employees who feel recognised and appreciated are more engaged, productive, and innovative, despite what may appear to be common sense. Employee appreciation is a potent motivator and reinforcer of positive behaviour,” Nel said.

Nel said: “Recognition reinforces acts and behaviour that improve everyone's working environment. Although recognition is free, it improves employee productivity, engagement, and quality of work.”

The recognition platform has other capabilities that the Division of Organisational Development and Employee Well-being would like to incorporate in the future, and staff can continue to nominate their colleagues for their excellence. 

News Archive

UFS's international advisory board holds first meeting
2009-11-28

Members of the International Advisory Board of the UFS in discussion with Prof. Dennis Francis (right), who is appointed as Dean of the Faculty of Education from the beginning of 2010. With him are Prof. Alice Pell from Cornell University in the USA and Dr Uri Ofir from Evalnet in Switzerland.
Photo:  Leatitia Pienaar


The International Advisory Board of the University of the Free State (UFS) had its first meeting on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein this week. It coincided with the launch of the six research clusters of the UFS.

Prof. Aldo Stroebel, Director: Internationalisation at the UFS, says internationalisation is a strategic priority to reach the University’s strategic goals. Internationalisation will bring a global awareness at all levels and will serve as a co-shaping factor and an instrument to produce well-rounded, internationally competent staff and students. It will also be an instrument to promote diversity, advance the UFS’s international standing and initiate and promote international collaborative research.

The advisory board will advise and guide the UFS leadership in the internationalisation process. He said the board would provide strategic guidance to the internationalisation efforts of the UFS and bring cutting-edge expertise to bear on the internationalisation policies, strategies and action plans of the institution.

Its members will help ensure that the University leadership is aware of relevant international trends and opportunities, and the board will use their experience to advise on appropriate actions. They will also act as advocates for the University in their own spheres of influence.

The board consists of Dr Jane Knight of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Canada; Prof. Alice Pell of the Cornell University, USA; Prof. Masafumi Nagao of the International Christian University, Japan; Dr Khotso Mokhele of Impala Platinum Holdings, South Africa; Prof. Joseph Stetar of the Seton Hall University, USA; and Dr Uri Ofir of Evalnet, Switzerland. Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, is the Chairperson of the board.

Prof. Stroebel says the UFS is honoured to have people of international standing and who are highly regarded in various fields on the board to guide the institution in its internationalisation endeavours.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Deputy Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za  
27 November 2009
 

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