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15 March 2023 | Story Prof Corli Witthuhn | Photo Sonia Small
Prof Corli Witthuhn
Prof Corli Witthuhn the outgoing Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation

‘A Decade of Impactful Research and Internationalisation’ - an apt description of Prof Corli Witthuhn’s tenure as Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation.

As my second term in the position of Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation comes to an end, I thought it fitting to summarise a few of the highlights of the past decade. Highlights were indeed many, and it is important to note that these are just brief extracts from some notable areas.

The past ten years have been a period of exceptional development and maturation in the portfolio of research and internationalisation at the UFS. It has also been a time of immense personal and professional growth for me, and truly represents the pinnacle of my academic career. I am humbled by the many highlights that have characterised the UFS research journey over this period, and am deeply indebted to a team of innovative, dedicated, and multi-talented academic and support staff members, as well as national and international stakeholders, without whom these achievements would not have been possible.

Developing excellent researchers

Nurturing young research talent and providing appropriate research mentorship has always been a passion and aspiration in my career. I am particularly proud of the strides made over the past ten years in attracting and developing research talent at the UFS, as reflected by

• the increased diversity of UFS researchers;
• support for emerging scholars;
• the expansion of our research capacity through the appointment of talented research fellows; and
• the increased number and quality of postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are drawn to the UFS.

During my term, I strongly advocated the principle that a doctoral degree should be a prerequisite for the appointment of academic staff. This has contributed to a shift in the number of academic staff holding doctoral degrees as their highest qualification – from 39,5% in 2012 to 58% in 2022. In turn, their appointment improves our capacity to supervise doctoral students.

In addition, support staff were encouraged to obtain postgraduate degrees, which facilitated access to career paths previously closed to them. Many staff members in the Directorate Research Development (DRD), the Centre for Graduate Support (CGS), the Library and Information Services (LIS), and the Office for International Affairs (OIA) have obtained master’s and even doctoral degrees.

The following development initiatives, established during my tenure, deserve special mention:

Prestige Scholars and Future Professoriate Mentoring Programmes

These two recent mentoring programmes follow a holistic development approach that includes personal, academic, and professional development strategies and interventions. The Prestige Scholars Programme has contributed to the development of NRF-rated researchers in the Y- and P-rating categories, and many of the participants have been promoted to professorial rank. This programme has been commended by external reviewers as a ‘best practice’ model for early career development in South Africa. It has directly led to fundable intellectual projects, extended international collaboration, and increased research output (e.g., the number of subsidised units rose from 566 in 2012 to 1 400 in 2021). The Prestige Scholars Programme has been invaluable in promoting the regional demographic profile of UFS staff.

The first cohort of the Future Professoriate Mentoring Programme completed the programme at the end of 2022. The individualised attention and group mentoring had a significant impact on the performance of these young academics. Twelve of the 28 participants have received NRF-ratings during the past two years. This cohort was also noteworthy for the publication of eight books with prestigious international publishers. Fifteen of the participants have been promoted to Associate Professor level and one to Full Professor at the time of writing. Five received teaching excellence awards in 2022. Two participated in the University of Michigan Presidential Scholarship Programme (UMAPS) in 2022, and four completed productive sabbaticals at international universities in America and Europe.

Staff productivity
Staff productivity has shown an encouraging upward trajectory over the past ten years, with the total number of publication units increasing from 566 in 2012 to 1 400 in 2021. The publication output units (books, conference proceedings, and journal articles) as measured by and reported to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) indicates consistent growth, especially over the past five years. The UFS excelled in the publication of books. Over an eight-year period, the institution produced the most subsidy-qualifying book outputs in the South African higher education sector.

NRF Ratings

NRF rating remains an important yardstick against which to measure the standard of our research activities. Over the past ten years, we have shown consistent, and in some categories (for example in the Y-rating, which refers to researchers 40 years and younger with the potential to establish themselves within a five-year period of evaluation), exceptional growth in the number of NRF-rated researchers:

2012 2022 increase

NRF RESEARCHERS 118 214 81%
Y-RATED RESEARCHERS 9 59 555%

A central platform of our research enterprise that has been important to me, is the need to identify, develop, and assist black and female researchers to excel and establish themselves in the competitive academic environment that characterises research-led universities. The number of rated black researchers increased from 7% in 2017 to 19% in 2022, and the number of rated female researchers rose from 29% in 2017 to 35% in 2022.

Research chairs

The UFS has doubled the number of SARChI Research Chairs over the past 10 years. The UFS currently hosts six SARChI Research Chairs funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). Five of these have Tier 1 status and four are held by women researchers.

The UFS SARChI Research Chairs (and their holders) are:

• Solid State Luminescent and Advanced Materials (Prof Hendrik Swart)
• Higher Education and Human Development (Prof Melanie Walker)
• Disease Resistance and Quality in Crops (Prof Maryke Labuschagne)
• Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Pathogens (Prof Felicity Burt)
• Pathogenic Yeasts (Prof Carlien Pohl-Albertyn)
• Strengthening Urban Economies: People, Place, Production and Policy (Prof Ivan Turok)

The UFS also currently houses one SANRAL (Prof Loyiso Jita) and one ETDP SETA (Prof Pat Mafora) Research Chair in Mathematics and Science Education within the Faculty of Education.

The UFS Library and Information Services (LIS) has expanded its services during my tenure and is an invaluable resource that underpins our scholarship. Over the past ten years, we have embraced rapid technological advances and global trends in Information Science. The newly established Centre for Digital Scholarship provides a one-stop facility for academics, support staff, and students to access the many resources available at the university. It supports and develops the research and teaching needs of staff and students in the digital environment.

Postgraduate students

The growth in postgraduate student numbers during my tenure is particularly gratifying. The number of doctoral students has approximately doubled (from 531 in 2012 to 1 042 in 2022), and the number of postdoctoral fellows has more than tripled (from 64 in 2012 to 214 in 2021). Postgraduate students contribute significantly to the UFS’ research efforts, and our output and growth in postgraduate student numbers reflect the institute’s increasing visibility as a centre of innovation and competitive research.

The UFS Centre for Graduate Support (formerly Postgraduate School) has expanded and evolved over the past decade. It has taken on additional administrative and support functions that provide streamlined and comprehensive support to postgraduate students – from application to graduation. Its Research Capacity Development Programme assists master’s and doctoral students through academic writing interventions, funding, and the monitoring of student progress using the innovative Graduate Research Management (GRM) system. Five provincial outreach and seven international research capacity development workshops were held in the period under review, and 289 academic writing consultations took place.

International Affairs

During the past decade, we have developed a vision for comprehensive internationalisation at the UFS, with a specific focus on research and innovation. Internationalisation of the curriculum, virtual exchanges, and co-curricular internationalisation at home activities have become entrenched at the university. We focused on developing new partnerships and collaborations in Africa, while continuing to strengthen our ties with the Global North. International student services and administrative processes have been renewed and aligned under the leadership of the Office for International Affairs (OIA). The OIA was reimagined as a strategic enabling centre for the institutional internationalisation process.

Investment in equipment for flagship focus areas

The past decade has witnessed considerable investments in upgrading the infrastructure and equipment of UFS research facilities. These interventions have contributed to placing us at the forefront of several research disciplines. Recent developments and acquisitions (among others) include

• high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer for the South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCoL) worth R10 million;
• X-ray system for the Department of Physics, representing the first of such equipment on the African continent;
• advanced electron microscopy instruments that make the UFS an undisputed leader in this field, worth R65 million;
• biosafety Level (BSL) 3 laboratory in the Department of Medical Virology for the study of zoonotic diseases;
• upgrading the laboratories and infrastructure of the National Health Laboratory Service and the Animal Research Centre; and
• development of an Innovation Hub on the Paradys Experimental Farm.

Increasing NRF and third-stream income

During my tenure, the university managed to more than double its income from NRF research activities, from R25 919 231 in 2012 to R65 811 564 in 2022. 

Various innovative ways of generating valuable, sustainable third-stream income were also launched and expanded during this period, resulting in our generated income being recorded in 2022 at an impressive R107 537 743. 

In conclusion, it has been a privilege to lead the Research and Internationalisation portfolio of the UFS over the past decade. I have enjoyed the support of a strong team central to our research development efforts. Their hard work has been pivotal in advancing the institutional vision of a student-centred and regionally engaged university that contributes to development and social justice through the production of globally competitive graduates and knowledge.

Prof Corli Witthuhn
Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation 
April 2013-March 2023

News Archive

Official opening ceremony of the UFS Qwaqwa Campus
2006-02-15

Official opening ceremony of the UFS Qwaqwa Campus
11th February 2006 – Multipurpose Hall

Opening Speech:
Prof. Peter A. Mbati
Campus Principal

Successfully rising to the challenges of incorporations and mergers – developing a vibrant and academically stimulating satellite campus of the University of the Free State.

Thank you Mr. Program Director and good morning ladies and gentlemen.

I wish to once again welcome all of you to the official opening ceremony of the University of the Free State QQ campus.  Thank you for taking time to share with us an important date in our campus academic calendar.  I bring you greetings from our Rector and Vice Chancellor Prof. Frederick Fourie.

During such occasions we try and reflect on important matters that have affected us as an institution in the preceding year, commit ourselves to specific objectives for the current year, while planning for the proceeding year.

Today I shall be talking on Successfully rising to the challenges of incorporations and mergers – developing a vibrant and academically stimulating satellite campus of the University of the Free State’.

SRC inauguration
I would like to congratulate the SRC President and the entire SRC leadership for being elected into important positions of student leadership and authority. 

As a university we are proud of the quality of our student leadership on the Qwaqwa campus.  I am confident that you young leaders will rise to the challenges of your office and discharge your duties with diligence and without fear or favour.  That you will rise above your party affiliations and provide effective leadership to the entire student body on campus.
                              
Leadership is complex and requires you to be objective, just and fair in your approach to the many challenges that you will encounter.  You will be judged not by the populist decision that you take when confronted with difficult choices, but rather, on the wisdom that you exercise in reaching consensus in decision making processes.

The era when management and student leadership viewed each other with suspicion and as adversaries is long gone.  Management, academic and administrative staff, parents and students must have common agendas in as far the  quality growth and development of our university is concerned and to strive towards academic excellence.  I leave the challenge to you students, and more so to the inaugurated student leaders to define your agenda in achieving this noble objective.  I trust that you will make the right choices.

Brief history of incorporation
On the recommendations of the National Working Group of Higher Education, the Qwaqwa Campus of the then University of the North was incorporated into the University of the Free State on 1st January 2003.  We suddenly had to move from a campus that was originally semi-autonomous and with its own culture developed over almost 20 years, into a campus that had to operate as a fully integrated campus of the UFS, a 100 year old institution with its distinct culture.

Following incorporation, we not only had to continue with our core business of teaching, learning, research and community service, but we also had to engage in other important aspects such as exploring the most appropriate models of governance for the campus, encouraging dialogue and interactions at all levels between personnel at the different campuses with a view to developing trust between colleagues. And with the added dimensions such as participation in the transformation task team we in effect are at the fore front of developing a new institutional culture at the UFS and a truly South African University.

UFS Strategic objectives
The strategic and transformation priorities of the University of the Free State for 2006 – 2008 as approved by the Executive Management at its retreat in January 2006 are:

  • Quality and Excellence
  • Equity, diversity and redress
  • Financial sustainability
  • Regional co-operation and engagement

Central to this priority is the integration of the Qwaqwa campus as a valuable constituent part of the UFS, and the strategic reconfiguration of the campus in order that the UFS can play a meaningful role in regional engagement and development.

  • National leadership

The five strategic objectives cannot be viewed in isolation and run simultaneously and in concert with each other. 

The Question must therefore be what we on the QQ campus, staff and students, parents and our broader community are willing to do to achieve these strategic objectives. The reconfiguration and strategic planning of this campus, and therefore its success, must be a collaborative effort between colleagues at QQ and on the main campus.  We must all be ready to work together, to plan together, to shoulder responsibilities together and sometimes, to share the pain and disappointments together. 

The second question must therefore be: are we prepared to go that extra mile for our campus to ensure that we claim our rightful stake within the ranks of well respected academic institutions of higher learning in this country?  At this point in its history this campus requires committed men and women from across the cultural spectrum who appreciate the challenges ahead of us and who are ready to give of their best and to constructively engage at all levels to make this dream a reality.  Because this dream is possible and this dream will be realized!

Quality and Excellence (1st strategic objective)

As mentioned by the Rector in his speech at the official opening ceremony of the university on the main campus on Friday 3rd February, the university will in 2006 pay extra attention to Quality and Excellence.  This is informed by the Higher Education Quality Committee’s (HEQC) institutional audit which is scheduled to take place this year.  Our university as well as several other HEI’s will be subjected to this audit.  This will call for a lot of hard work on your part in preparation for a successful audit and in this regard therefore I request for your cooperation.

As a further step in confirming our commitment to quality and excellence, we have simultaneously introduced on the QQ campus and the main campus workshops on performance management systems to a cohort group.  This will be expanded in 2006 to a wider group of managers on the QQ campus to include among others all Program Heads and Subject Heads. PMS is an invaluable tool for fair, effective and efficient management of a very important resource on campus – the human resource.  Benefits of PMS include among others:

  • Instilling and enriching a culture of performance management (quality assurance) as an integral part of the day to day functioning of staff at the campus
  • Improving staff performance through mentoring, development and training

Tri campus project
One of the more important projects that we as a university undertook in 2005 was the Tri Campus Project which was coordinated by the Free State Higher Education Consortium (FSHEC) through Niel Butcher and Associates consultants.

The Tri-Campus project focused on the strategic planning for higher education campuses in the Free State that have been incorporated with UFS and CUT during the reshaping of the South African higher education landscape. The Bloemfontein Vista campus and the Qwaqwa campus of the University of the North were incorporated with the UFS, and the Welkom Vista campus with the CUT.

The planning process involved a range of research and consultation activities during the course of 2005. This included:

  • Conducting situational analyses of the Qwaqwa campus during which staff and students were widely consulted;
  • Consulting with the campus and with a range of stakeholders in the sub-region
  • Review of the Free State Provincial Growth and Development Strategy and Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) of the regions and other research of relevance to the sub-regions, province and country.

An operational framework for the reconfiguration of the campus with a range of possible Program Qualification Mixes has been produced.  In December 2005, the Rector, the Vice Rector Academic Planning Prof. Magda Fourie and I discussed this document with senior members of the DoE in Pretoria, and we will soon be meeting with the National Minister of Education Me Naledi Pandor for her guidance and to seek support in the further refinement of the document and subsequent implementation.

Recapitalization
This year a further R 6 M has been budgeted for recapitalization.  In about two weeks time the third of phase of renovations on campus will commence and attention will be given to the administration building, the humanities and the outstanding work in the lecture hall complex.  There- after the library, sciences and education buildings will follow.  As you will recall a substantial portion of the R 8.4 million in 2005 was used to upgrade the student residences and the lecture hall complex.

I am certain that the renovations and upgrading of our infrastructure and physical facilities including landscaping will create an enabling environment for you to enjoy your work and studies on this campus.

Renovations come with some measure of inconveniences and I therefore wish to request for your patience and support during this period.

Closing remarks
There is a heightened spirit of optimism on what the future holds for this campus.  This is evident when I talk to a large cross section of staff and students of this campus – and I therefore invite all of you to come and be partners with us on this journey of optimism and hope of what the future holds for the UFS – QQ campus.

Thank you and God bless!

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