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Celebrating excellence at the UFS Learning & Teaching awards

25 October 2022 | Story Edzani Nephalela | Photo Jolandi Griesel

CTL awards_read more — From the left; Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor; Mr. Bill Moses, Managing Director: Education at The Kresge Foundation; Dr Engela van Staden, Vice-Rector: Academic, and Prof Francois Strydom, Senior Director: CTL.

The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently rewarded academics for their excellence in innovative teaching and learning. Academic staff from the three UFS campuses gathered at the Reitz Hall on the Bloemfontein Campus to celebrate excellence in learning and teaching, and to celebrate the CTL’s 10 years of existence.

In her welcoming address, Vice-Rector: Academic Dr Engela van Staden congratulated CTL on its accomplishments over the past 10 years. “You have achieved these honours, who we are, what we have accomplished, and where we are in this decade of the CTL, because you were involved in the processes,” she said. “CTL currently has a nationwide footprint and acknowledges digitalisation and innovation in teaching, while providing a platform for students to enhance themselves.”

The keynote address was delivered by Bill Moses, Managing Director: Education at The Kresge Foundation, a philanthropic foundation headquartered in Troy, Michigan, United States. The Kresge Foundation works to increase higher education access and success while reducing inequitable student outcomes in the USA and South Africa. The foundation is a benefactor of the UFS and other South African universities. Through the Kresge Foundation, the higher education sector in South Africa can collaborate and share knowledge and data to promote student success.

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, said these accolades would not have been achievable without the participation and involvement of different colleagues within the university. “For anything to be effective, there must be a connection,” he said. “Understanding the interrelationships and diversity so that we may continually improve on various systems in partnership forums is one of the many issues related to student achievement. I would like to thank every colleague who made it possible.”

Prof Francois Strydom, Senior Director of CTL, outlined the Centre’s teaching, learning, and research achievements and impact over the past decade while encouraging staff members to participate in initiatives such as the Siyaphumelela Network, the South African Surveys of Student Engagement (SASSE), as well as the Academic Language and Literacy Development (ALLD) team.

He also acknowledged the Khothatsa project, an initiative which began in 2019 to give recognition to the important pedagogical relationship between staff and students. Khothatsa means “To inspire” in Sesotho. Students are invited to write about a lecturer and how they have inspired the student.

Here is the complete list of UFS Learning and Teaching Conference winners:

Vice-Chancellor’s Award: Learning and Teaching

Winner: Prof Corlia Janse van Vuuren, Head: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Bloemfontein Campus

Runner-up: Prof Hanneke Brits, Head: Clinical Unit Medicine, Bloemfontein Campus

Most Valued Professional Award

Winner: Hanlé Posthumus, Research Analyst: CTL, Bloemfontein Campus

Runner-up: Dr Jacques Matthee, Teaching and Learning Manager: Faculty of Law, Bloemfontein Campus

Innovating My Curriculum Through Assessment

Winner: Dr Michael Von Maltitz, Senior Lecturer: Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science, Bloemfontein Campus

Runner-up: Prof Olihile Sebolai, Associate Professor: Microbiology and Biochemistry, Bloemfontein Campus

Innovating My Curriculum Through Student Engagement and/or Motivation

Winners: Kobus Swanepoel (Senior Lecturer: Centre For Accounting, Bloemfontein Campus), Prof Cobus Rossouw (Associate Professor: Centre For Accounting, Bloemfontein Campus), Elmarie Goodchild (Senior Lecturer: Centre For Accounting, Bloemfontein Campus), and Prof Alta Koekemoer (Associate Professor: Centre For Accounting, Bloemfontein Campus)

Runner-up: Anneen Church, Lecturer/Researcher: CTL, Bloemfontein Campus

Innovating My Curriculum Using technology and/or Online Tools

Winners: Dr Lizemari Hugo-Van Dyk (Senior Lecturer, School Of Nursing) and Bennie Botha (Portfolio Head: ICST, School of Nursing), Bloemfontein Campus

Runner-up: Dr Sean van der Merwe, Senior Lecturer, Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science, Bloemfontein Campus

Innovating My Curriculum Through a Redesign or Renewal of My Module

Winner: Dion Van Niekerk, Lecturer, Drama and Theatre Arts, Bloemfontein Campus

Runner-up: Prof Aliza le Roux, Associate Professor, Zoology and Entomology, Qwaqwa Campus

Research in Learning and Teaching Award: Advanced

Winners: Dr Maria Tsakeni (Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology Education) and Prof Brownhilder Neneh (Professor, Business Management), Bloemfontein Campus

Departmental Learning and Teaching Award Qwaqwa Campus

Department of Curriculum Studies and Higher Education (Faculty of Education)

Departmental Learning and Teaching Award Bloemfontein Campus

Department of Physiotherapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Faculty of Health Sciences)

Best Research Papers Qwaqwa Campus

Prof Aliza le Roux (Associate Professor, Zoology and Entomology)

Best Research Papers Bloemfontein Campus

Dr Michael Von Maltitz, Senior Lecturer: Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science

Khothatsa Awards

• Dr Lerato Sekonyela (Faculty of The Humanities), South Campus

• Nteboiseng Hlakotsa (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences), Qwaqwa Campus

• Dr Edson Vengesai (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences), Bloemfontein Campus

• Dr Peet van Aardt (Centre for Teaching and Learning), Bloemfontein Campus

• Dr Ronelle Jansen (Faculty of Health Sciences), Bloemfontein Campus

• Dr Jo-Mari Visser (Faculty of Law), Bloemfontein Campus

• Prof Bradley Smith (Faculty of Law), Bloemfontein Campus

• Dr Maretha du Plessis (Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences), Bloemfontein Campus

• Dr Foch-Henri de Witt (Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences), Bloemfontein Campus

News Archive

Agriculture must adapt to change

2008-11-28

At the launch of "50 years of agriculture" at the UFS were, from the left: Mr Corwyn Botha: Chairman: Agri Business Chamber and Managing Director: Cape Agri Group, Mr Motsepe Matlala, President of NAFU, Mr Hans van der Merwe, Executive Head: Agri SA, Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk: Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS, and Mr Sugar Ramakarane, Head: Department of Agriculture, Free State Province.
Photo: Lacea Loader

“The biggest factor driving agriculture today is change. Our major challenge is to adapt to this changing environment.” This was stated by Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) during the recent celebration of the faculty’s “50 years in agriculture”.

Prof. Van Schalkwyk stated that the most important changes include power relationships in supply chains, consumer demand, new products and technology in agriculture, government action and developments in neighbouring states. “At the moment there is very little cooperation between small-scale farmers, small-scale farmers and commercial farmers and farmers and processors. There are also low levels of processing, low levels of value adding and a lack of creative thinking in agriculture," he said.

“This must change – we need comprehensive agricultural support and new business ideas in agriculture. We need better infrastructure, value chain financing and improved institutional support,” he said.

Speaking about agriculture and institutional co-operation in the Free State, Mr Sugar Ramakarane, Chief Director of the Free State Department of Agriculture, said that the UFS plays a vital role in bringing together organised agriculture in the province. “The responsibility of transforming our economy cannot be done by government alone. We need partners like the UFS to assist us with bringing together the two most important stakeholders of the agricultural sector, namely the National Farmers’ Union (NAFU) and Free State Agriculture. You can assist us with harnessing co-operation and providing practical solutions," he said

Mr Ramakarane said that his department is aware of the university’s good work with emerging farmers. “But, I want to encourage the university to help us with skills transfer and the development of the emerging farmers. You can play a vital role in developing a mentorship programme. Yours remains a central and critical role of being torch bearers in guiding the transformation agenda of our country," he said.

In his contribution on the challenges of small scale farmers in South Africa and the role of the university, Mr Motsepe Matlala, President of NAFU, said that unity in organised agriculture and working together with other stakeholders has become even more crucial with regard to the global challenges now faced by the country. “The university should take the lead in guiding all farmers on how to respond to, among others, the global financial turmoil and politics, developments in trade negotiations, food prices, input costs and the availability of energy," he said.

“If the UFS, and more specifically the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, is to continue to play a leading role in academia as well as in the production of research that matters to the growth and development of this country, it must adopt an approach that seeks to harness the capacity of everyone in an inclusive manner. The strides already made in this regard must be applauded,” Mr Matlala said.

Speaking on the future challenges in agriculture and the role of universities, Mr Hans van der Merwe, Executive Head of Agri SA said that South Africa has not spent money on agricultural development in a long time. “We must increase our product capacity in the agricultural sector. Universities must focus on cultivating enough expertise and the skills necessary to manage the resources and capacity needed," he said. In his view, South Africa must also focus on technological advancement in agriculture as this has also been neglected in the past. He urged universities to provide best-practice education and to look at international trends in agricultural training. “That is why we should not only focus our attention on South Africa, but on southern Africa,” Mr van der Merwe said.

In conclusion to the day’s programme, Mr Corwyn Botha, Chairperson of the Agricultural Business Chamber, Managing Director of the Cape Agri Group and former Kovsie stated that: “If you want to be an example of leadership, people around you must do better because you are there. A university should evaluate itself in this context. You cannot create solutions to problems with the same attitude in which the problems were created."

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
28 November 2008

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