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29 March 2023
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Story Samkelo Fetile
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Photo Simba Matema
From left to right: Prof Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki, Director General at the CIRMF; Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS; and Prof Jean-Fabrice Yala, Scientific and Technical Director at the CIRMF.
The University of the Free State (UFS) recently welcomed senior members from the International Centre for Medical Research in Franceville (CIRMF), Gabon to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities.
CIRMF is a non-profit medical research centre that was established in 1974. Its primary focus is on diagnosing infectious diseases that pose immediate problems in Gabon and the Central African sub-region. The centre is dedicated to improving public health through various initiatives, including the training of Gabonese health executives in doctoral and post-doctoral education.
“The signing of the MoU with CIRMF is a step in the right direction as the UFS continues to strengthen its footprint on the African Continent. This is seminal in driving the university’s internationalisation processes and opening an avenue to expanding research networks, especially in the African continent,” said Bonolo Makhalemele, Coordinator of strategic projects at the Office for International Affairs, UFS.
In the interest of developing broader research collaborations, the CIRMF delegation met with some UFS academics in a series of engagements, particularly in the Health Sciences Faculty and the Natural and Agricultural Sciences Faculty. “The integration of knowledge and practices that emanate from the continent provides opportunities for the co-creation of knowledge that can be shared with the rest of the world,” said Kagiso Ngake, Coordinator for Partnerships, Collaborative Degrees, and Outgoing Mobility at the Office for International Affairs, UFS.
A concrete roadmap was established to formalise the collaborations that resulted from these engagements and will commence as soon as April 2023. “We have laid a solid foundation and are on the way to a strong and rich partnership!” exclaimed Prof Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki, Director General at the CIRMF.
Prof Francis Petersen, Rector, and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, further highlighted how the newly established partnership with the CIRMF aligns with the mandate of the UFS Vision 130 of expanding the UFS Africa research network.
Chairperson of UFS Council appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal
2016-06-17
Judge Ian van der Merwe
Judge Ian van der Merwe, Chairperson of the UFS Council, has been appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal as from 1 July 2016. His appointment, together with that of Judge Connie Mocumie, was announced by the office of President Jacob Zuma last week.
Both judges will act in the Supreme Court of Appeal this month until their appointments come into effect next month.
“The university is excited and proud that its Chairperson of Council has achieved such great heights in the legal profession. Judge Van der Merwe brings enormous calm, deliberation and wisdom to the governance of the institution, and the UFS regards itself as privileged to have a man of his stature in the leadership of Council,” said the Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof Jonathan Jansen.
Judge Van der Merwe is an alumnus of the UFS and was elected as Chairperson of the Council on 20 November 2009, and re-elected on 16 November 2012. He was re-elected to serve for a third term on 11 September 2015.
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Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
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