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10 August 2023 | Story LACEA LOADER | Photo Supplied
Prof Nicolene
Prof Nicolene Barkhuizen, newly appointed Director of the UFS Business School.
The University of the Free State (UFS) has appointed Prof Nicolene Barkhuizen as Director of its Business School as from 1 November 2023.

Strong network

Prof Barkhuizen holds a PhD in Industrial Psychology from the North-West University and began her academic career as a research assistant at the same institution before gaining lecturing experience at the University of Johannesburg and the University of Pretoria, among others. Currently, she is full professor in the Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). She is also the Director of the Centre for Work Performance and Deputy Head of the Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management at UJ. 

“Prof Barkhuizen brings a wealth of experience and expertise. She is a globally recognised expert on talent management and one of the country’s leading industrial psychologists. Her management experience in higher education, her extensive publication record, and her drive for excellence makes her the ideal person to lead the UFS Business School to new heights,” says Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. 

Prof Barkhuizen is regarded as the leading author on talent management on the African continent; she is globally recognised for her work in this area and has occupied various executive and senior management positions thus far. She has been part of several national and international teaching and research associations, bodies, and committees and is a member of numerous national and international bodies. 

Research outputs and prestigious acknowledgements 

Prof Barkhuizen’s research outputs to date has resulted in more than 150 accredited research publications, 180 peer-reviewed conference presentations, two books, and eight book chapters. She has also received various prestigious acknowledgements for her research outputs, such as the National Women in Science award for best junior researcher in the field of Social Sciences from the Minister of Science and Technology. She is also well versed in supervising postgraduate research, lecturing, and consulting. 

“I am delighted and excited to be afforded the opportunity to join the vibrant and dynamic UFS team. The UFS Business School's motto to "provide individuals with an exceptional opportunity to Be Worth More” resonated with me immediately, as I am passionate about developing and empowering individuals from all walks of life.  As a result, I am convinced that the UFS Business School is ideally positioned to invest in the talents of today and tomorrow by equipping individuals with the entrepreneurial compass to navigate a VUCA-BANI world to launch sustainable business ventures. We live in a time when there are numerous opportunities to provide innovative and creative solutions for the development of individuals on multiple societal levels. Together with my team, I look forward to expanding and establishing the UFS Business School as the preferred incubator for education that will transform, empower, and sustain the lives of future-fit leaders and societies through business education excellence.

My motto is: “If you want to make a success in life, you need to take at least ten people with you.” Now, more than ever, is the opportunity to invest in education and build a nation on the footprints of knowledge,” she says.

News Archive

Lottery grant will boost public art at UFS
2009-05-25

 
 Public art at the UFS will get a major boost with money made available by the National Lottery Board. Here are Dr Ivan van Rooyen, Director: UFS Marketing, Ms Nontombi Ntakakaze (Artists in School Project) and Mr Ben Botma (Head of Department: Fine Arts) at one of the existing works of art by Edoardo Villa on the Bloemfontein Campus. 
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar.
Emerging and established artists will showcase their work in a comprehensive public sculpture project on the campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS). The aim is to create a greater understanding of cultural differences and promote the UFS vision of a truly multilingual, non-sexist, non-racial campus, says Dr Ivan van Rooyen, Director: UFS Marketing.

The National Lottery Board has approved a grant of R4,125 million in total for three major projects, one of which is the public sculpture project. The others are a Khoe-San Early Learning Centre pilot project in Heidedal, and a boost for the Artists in Schools project, which is already underway.

Dr Van Rooyen says one way of promoting the UFS vision is to create an alternative environment and provide visible, tangible symbols of change and transformation. This will enrich the educational and cultural experience of students and visitors to the campus by stimulating intercultural dialogue and providing a setting for historical dialogue between past and future.

The dream of the UFS is to inspire a sense of ownership of the campus of an open university, worthy of a democratic South Africa. “Therefore, a large-scale project of national significance has been conceptualised, where the development of infrastructure will involve the creation and acquisition of major South African art works for the long-term benefit of all South Africans,” Dr Van Rooyen says.

The public sculpture project will be implemented over the next few years. Artists will be commissioned as funds become available. The UFS will also consult extensively with local and national art museums with experience in the public art field. A wide spectrum of artists, especially artists from the black community, will be used.

Dr Van Rooyen says that many black artists have not had an opportunity to exhibit public sculptures because of prohibitive costs and the project will empower them to develop their skills. The project makes provision for both established and emerging artists to showcase their work.

The aim of the Khoe-San Early Learning Centre pilot project is to compile a curriculum that is sensitive to multiculturalism and multilingualism. The centre will be the first in the country and will respond to the need to promote and revitalise Khoe-San languages. Using arts and crafts and storytelling, as well as literacy, numeracy and life skills, children will learn to adapt to their environment and contribute to our diverse society. This centre will be a collaborative venture between the Heidedal community and the UFS.

Finally, the Artists in Schools project, which has been running successfully since 2004, will also receive a boost from the Lottery funding. Through a series of workshops that the Department of Fine Arts presents at schools, participants develop functional art products with a distinctive Free State character. These products are marketed and sold to benefit the artists, designers and craftspeople.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za
25 May 2009
 

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