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01 March 2022 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Charl Devenish
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

Discussion on reconciliation and social cohesion
2013-03-15

15 March 2013

South Africa has been pursuing the journey of reconciliation between races since 1994. One of the key variables in this is the de-racialising of the economic legacy of apartheid.

The results of Census 2011 show that racial income inequality, that was introduced and maintained by apartheid, still persists. What are the implications of this for the reconciliation project?

The UFS and the National Research Foundation (NRF) is hosting a dialogue on reconciliation and social cohesion in the context of racial inequality at the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

This dialogue is part if the Science for Society Lecture Series by the NRF, which seeks to bridge the divide between science and community issues. The objective is to help society relate to how science, research and technology positively impact our day-to-day lives and on future generations.

Speakers: Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Senior Research Professor on Trauma, Forgiveness and Reconciliation at UFS and Prof Andre Keet, Director of the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice at UFS.

Come and join the discussion.

  • Date: Tuesday 19 March 2013
  • Time: 18:30
  • Place: Albert Wessels Auditorium

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