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16 November 2023 | Story LACEA LOADER | Photo KALEIDOSCOPE
VC Prof Petersen
Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS and newly elected Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Universities South Africa (USAf).

Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State (UFS), has been elected as the new Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Universities South Africa (USAf) for the next two years, commencing on 1 January 2024. He was elected Chairperson after a two-year term as Vice-Chairperson of USAf, and will be deputised by Prof Rushiella Songca, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Walter Sisulu University, whose term will run concurrently with that of Prof Petersen. 

“On behalf of the UFS Council and the university community, I wish to congratulate Prof Petersen on his election as Chairperson of USAf’s Board of Directors. His election comes at a crucial time in higher education, and his leadership will undoubtably contribute to the success and advancement of USAf. We wish him all the best in this critical leadership role,” says David Noko, Chairperson of the UFS Council. 

“I am honoured by my election as Chairperson and will, together with the Board, continue working towards the advancement of universities and the betterment of higher education in South Africa,” says Prof Petersen. 

Prof Petersen is a professional engineer with an extensive career in executive and senior academic positions, including as a deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Cape Town. Being registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa, he has served as a member of an international panel on sustainability for AngloGold Ashanti, acted as adviser to the Anglo-American Platinum Beneficiation Fund, and is a fellow of both the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the South African Academy of Engineers. He has also served in senior positions in industry, among others as a non-executive director on the Board of Royal Bafokeng Platinum. He is a former chairperson of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Board, as well as a former member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI), among many other positions. 

In 2023, he was recognised as one of the individuals making an impact on Africa’s development when he received the RUFORUM (Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture) Recognition Award for his outstanding leadership, foresight, and contribution to the promotion of excellence in higher education on the continent. Through his visibility internationally and his promotion of the impact of the UFS and South Africa abroad – but specifically in the United Kingdom (UK) – he was also appointed to the Board of the South African Chamber of Commerce UK

News Archive

Volksblad (Editorial) Transformation recipe (Afrikaans)
2007-02-13

(Editorial - Afrikaans)

Dinsdag 13 Februarie 2007
Hoofartikelblad

Transformasie-resep

DIE transformasieproses in Suid-Afrika kan vooruitgang pootjie as dit nie reg aangepak en deurgevoer word nie.
 
 

Anders gestel: 'n Onbekookte, ondeurdagte proses kan soveel skade aanrig dat dit die land jare gaan neem net om weer op die been te kom.

 
 
Dit is hierdie slaggate waarteen prof. Adam Habib, direkteur van demokrasie en regering by die RGN, waarsku. Transformasie in die hoër onderwys is hier ter sprake, maar belangrike lesse is ook vir die res van die staatshuishouding te leer.
 

Habib het op 'n gespreksgeleentheid op die Wits-kampus gesê universiteite kan binne 10 tot 15 jaar sterf as niks gedoen word om nuwe, jong akademici van gehalte te werf nie. In hul poging om te transformeer en "swart boude op sitplekke te kry" het universiteite so agtergeraak met hul doelwitte dat hulle nou selfs van swakker gehalte is as vroeër. "Speletjies" word met transformasie gespeel en 'n "malheid" rondom syfers is aan die gang.
 

Instellings fokus so daarop om hul kwota-mikpunte te bereik, sê die professor, dat dienslewering en kundigheid die kreeftegang gaan. "So kry 'n mens 'n situasie waar die adjunk-president dan aankondig sy moet Indië toe gaan om vaardige mense te kry."
 

'n Mens kan net hoop dat hierdie waarskuwings op die regte ore val.
 

Transformasie is nodig, maar beslis nie tot elke prys nie.
 

Dit kan die hoëronderwys-sektor loon om te kom kyk waarheen die Universiteit van die Vrystaat met sy Institusionele Manifes op pad is.
 

Die manifes, tans nog 'n besprekingsdokument, gaan die transformasieproses van die UV rig met as einddoel 'n instelling waar alle Suid-Afrikaners plek sal hê en tuis sal voel, maar waarin kernwaardes soos akademiese gehalte en die volgehoue versterking van kernbevoegdhede en -vermoëns ononderhandelbaar is.
 

Dit is sekerlik die enigste pad na transformasie-welslae wat Suid-Afrika kan en moet loop.

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