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Dr Reabetswe Parkies: A journey to achievement

20 April 2024 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Charl Devenish

Rea Parkies — Dr Reabetswe Parkies, Senior Officer in Marketing within the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), graduates with a PhD in Business Management at the April 2024 graduations.

The April 2024 graduations at the University of the Free State (UFS) mark a significant moment for graduates in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS), including Dr Reabetswe Parkies, whose journey in attaining a PhD in Business Management has been one of dedication and perseverance.

Reflecting on the upcoming ceremony, Dr Parkies expressed mixed emotions, encapsulating the essence of her journey: ‘’As I prepare to walk across that stage, I'm filled with a mixture of emotions—excitement, pride, nostalgia, and perhaps a hint of apprehension about what lies ahead.’’ This moment represents the culmination of years of hard work and commitment to her academic pursuits.

Dr Parkies’s doctoral thesis, titled “Student self-employment in South Africa: A triple helix model, entrepreneurial competence and social support perspective,” delves into the complex dynamics of student entrepreneurship within the South African context. Her study aims to develop a comprehensive model for understanding self-employment, incorporating factors such as entrepreneurial competence, social support, and the role of the university, industry and government initiatives.

A culmination of years of hard work

The path to achieving her PhD was not without its challenges. Balancing her responsibilities as a Senior Officer in Marketing at the UFS with the demands of academic research required meticulous time management and personal sacrifice. ‘’As time went on, I found my rhythm and developed strategies to become more efficient and effective,’’ Dr Parkies explained. She credits her successful completion of the PhD to the unwavering support of her supervisors and her determination.

As she prepares to celebrate this milestone, Dr Parkies looks ahead to future contributions to her field. ’’By delving deeper into my area of expertise, I aim to uncover new insights and share these findings with the academic community through scholarly articles,’’ she remarked, emphasising her commitment to ongoing research and knowledge dissemination.

Dr Reabetswe Parkies's achievement serves as an inspiration to aspiring scholars and underscores the importance of perseverance and dedication in pursuing academic excellence. Her journey exemplifies the ethos of the University of the Free State in fostering academic growth and scholarly inquiry.

News Archive

Dean of Health Sciences receives prestigious international fellowship

2015-11-11

Dean of the Faculty of Health Science,
Prof Gert van Zyl

The Dean of our Faculty of Health Science, Prof Gert van Zyl, was admitted as an Inaugural Fellow of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) at the annual conference in Glasgow.

This fellowship recognises members of AMEE who have demonstrated a consistent commitment to excellence in health professional education through scholarly contributions to the field over at least five years. Prof Van Zyl was honored with a Fellowship for his senior role related to education at the UFS, including his scholarly contributions. “This was an enormous privilege for me to be awarded the AMEE full Fellowship as one of only two South Africans to receive this honour from a prestigious organisation such as the AMEE. It also gives credit to the excellent work done by the team in the South African Association of Health Educationalists (SAAHE), and the Health Science Education team in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the UFS. All the leadership, hard work, and excellence over many years are acknowledged with this Fellowship. My appreciation to colleagues that motivated and inspired me during my academic journey to achieve this fellowship,” says Prof Van Zyl.

In seeking Fellowship of AMEE, applicants make a commitment to continue their leadership and the promotion of scholarship in health professional education into the future, as well as to the ongoing mentorship and development of more junior members who aspire to recognition at Associate Fellow or Fellow level. Fellows are expected to contribute actively to AMEE activities.

Prof Van Zyl was also recently appointed by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, as Council Member representing Higher Education on the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

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