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25 October 2022 | Story Edzani Nephalela | Photo Jolandi Griesel
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

UFS committed to transformation
2005-02-23

UFS committed to transformation

The management of the University of the Free State (UFS) takes note that plans are being made to stage a student protest at the UFS main campus on Monday 28 February 2005 .

This is in line with a concerted national campaign to highlight the issue of transformation at higher education institutions.

At this stage the UFS management has not received any application from student formations to stage such a protest at the main campus in Bloemfontein .

The UFS upholds the right of all staff and students to hold legal, non-violent protests and in this spirit encourages the student formations to apply for permission to hold their protest. However, the UFS management has been - and always will be willing to discuss the important issue of transformation of the UFS with staff unions and student formations.

Again the UFS management appeals to student formations to make use of this open door policy and not to adopt a confrontational position. In fact the management and the Senate of the UFS have come out in support of a new phase of transformation at the UFS.

In his speech at the official opening of the UFS earlier this month (on 4 February 2005 ), the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, announced that a comprehensive transformation plan for would be drafted for the UFS.

This Transformation Plan would address issues such as:

  • a new institutional culture for the UFS
  • the need for representivity in the staffing of the UFS
  • ensuring relevance of curricula for the South African and African context
  • enhancing excellence in the overall academic life of the UFS
  • ensuring greater interaction among black and white students and staff
  • addressing outstanding issues in the incorporation of the Qwaqwa and Vista campuses, among others

Concerning some of the issues that are being put forward to motivate for a protest march, the UFS would like to highlight the following facts:

  1. The situation at the Qwaqwa campus
  • It is not true that the UFS has decided to close down the Qwaqwa campus. This is a complete falsehood. The campus was incorporated into the UFS in January 2003 and since then every effort is being made to ensure the viability of the Qwaqwa campus.
  • In fact the UFS has just upgraded residences at the Qwaqwa campus – to the tune of R6,8-million.
  • In addition, another R1,4-million has been set aside for the upgrading of other facilities on the Qwaqwa campus.
  • More staff has been appointed and the library is acquiring more books etc.
  • The management of the UFS wants to assure staff at the Qwaqwa campus once again that there has been no decision to close the campus.
  • We realise that the incorporation of the campus into the UFS has given rise to certain fears and concerns, but these are being addressed, including the question of reporting lines of staff and the further delegation of powers to the head of the Qwaqwa campus, Prof Peter Mbati.
  1. The situation at the Vista campus
  • A number of processes are currently under way to address outstanding issues following the formal incorporation of the Vista campus into the UFS in January 2004.
  • This includes the integration of former Vista staff into the UFS as well as the alignment of the conditions of service of the former Vista staff with the UFS conditions of service.
  • Indeed, over the last few weeks, a climate of trust has been developing and a number of meetings have taken place in contrast to the situation that obtained at the end of 2004.
  • Just last week, the Rector reassured the Vista Task Team representing the former Vista staff that these staff members are indeed part of the UFS staff complement.
  • When the Vista campus was incorporated into the UFS, it was agreed that no new first years would be registered there, so as to avoid duplication with the main campus which is only a few kilometers away.
  • Instead, those students who were registered as Vista students at the time of incorporation (January 2004) would be allowed to complete their studies.
  • In terms of this agreement another process of consultation with key stakeholders on and off campus would be initiated to determine how the physical facilities of Vista could be used to contribute to educational and skills provision in the region and the province.
  • This process is still in its early stages and no final decision has been made regarding the long term strategic reconfiguration of the Vista campus.
  • In any case, as stated by the Rector, former Vista staff do not have to fear about their work security as this is not dependent on the future use of Vista campus – the two issues are not related.
  1. Financial aid for students at the Qwaqwa campus
  • Concerning financial aid to students at Qwaqwa, the UFS has to date (that is up to 22 February 2005 ) made available R25 000 each to 705 students.
  • That amounts to R17,6 million.
  1. Financial aid for students at the Vista campus
  • Concerning financial aid to students at Vista , the UFS has to date (that is up to 22 February 2005 ) made available R14 500 each to 104 students.
  • That amounts to R1,5 million.
  1. Registration
  • The registration processes at both these campuses are not yet completed. So final figures are not yet available.
  • What we can say so far, is that 1339 students have registered at the Qwaqwa campus and that more are expected to register. At Vista , 545 students have registered so far, and more are expected to do so.
  • In an effort to assist students during the registration process, management has put in place a structure which is called the Monitoring Committee.
  • This Monitoring Committee provides counseling on courses of study but also sorts out problems relating to academic fees, etc.
  • This is how the UFS management in a concrete way gives expression to its commitment to broadening access for academically deserving students.
  1. Alleged racism
  • There have recently been unsubstantiated allegations of racism leveled at the UFS.
  • We would like to state unequivocally, that the UFS does not and will not tolerate racism in any way.
  • There are policies and procedures in place to deal with such allegations and those who feel aggrieved should bring this to the attention of the Director of Diversity, Mr Billyboy Ramahlele.
  • The UFS also has sensitisation programmes for staff and students to assist in bringing about a truly non-racial, non-sexist, inclusive, multicultural and multilingual campus.

.

  1. Conclusion
  • The UFS management remains committed to the further transformation of the institution so that it can play its role in supporting the goal of a non-racial, democratic South Africa united in its diversity.
  • We are committed to the successful incorporation of the Vista and Qwaqwa campuses and to the speedy resolution of all outstanding issues facing staff and students on these campuses.
  • We appeal once again to staff and students on these campuses, who are indeed members of the broader UFS community, to play a constructive role in the debate about the strategic direction of the UFS and all its campuses.

 

Issued by: Mr Anton Fisher

Director: Strategic Communication

Cell: 072-207-8334

Tel: 051-401-2749

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