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29 August 2024
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Story Anthony Mthembu
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Photo Harmse Photography
Ross van Reenen, CEO of the Toyota Free State Cheetahs.
The Business School at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently hosted the CEO of the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, Ross van Reenen, for a guest lecture. Van Reenen presented the guest lecture in the Business School Auditorium on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus on 21 August 2024.
Reflecting on Van Reenen’s address
In a lecture addressed to an auditorium filled with UFS staff and students, Van Reenen’s talk was divided into several sections. Firstly, he spoke about the concept of the ‘black swan’ in reference to the book written by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, titled The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable. Referring to Taleb’s book, Van Reenen defined a ‘black swan’ as a rare event that has a severe impact, and the occurrence of which people try to explain. He used some examples to explore this concept as well as its implications, including COVID-19 and its impact on the world, and the tragic death of the people in the Titanic disaster. However, he delved deeper into 9/11 and the extent of its impact, saying that “9/11 was a major wake-up call in the world economy”. Van Reenen highlighted how some companies such as Barclays, for which he previously consulted, had to work to be up and running after the collapse of the Twin Towers in 9/11.
In addition, Van Reenen’s lecture also touched on the importance of the first ninety days of a job after an individual has been employed. “Those first ninety days are crucial, as you have to establish yourself in a company where you are paid less than you are worth,” Van Reenen said. As such, he gave the audience insight into what they could focus on in that time frame. This includes focusing on the small wins, as well as ensuring that you are working at keeping the team together, as the team is an integral part of an organisation.
Van Reenen concluded his address by speaking about his time as the CEO of the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, including some of the decisions he took to ensure the success of the organisation.
UFS tightens links with Netherlands’ Dronten University
2007-08-10
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The University of the Free State (UFS) and CAH Dronten Professional Agricultural University, the Netherlands are expanding and strengthening the relationship between the two institutions. The focus of the cooperation will initially be within the Departments of Agricultural Economics and Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences.
Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, visited Dronten recently to investigate the possibility and feasibility of a more formal linkage between the two institutions. That was followed by a visit from Dr Will Beckering to the UFS where a letter of undertaking was signed, paving the way for the establishment of a memorandum of understanding and implementation agreements.
Both the institutions share an interest in the training of emerging farmers; the carrying out of an agricultural skills development project; short-term visits of staff for consultations and lecturing; formulating and implementing projects on capacity development to broaden access to professional education; exchange of students for study programmes, placement projects; curricular development, more especially the possibilities of developing a joint master’s degree programme; and identifying the possibilities of the use of e-learning in joint educational programmes.
Signing a letter of understanding, were, from the left, front: Dr Will Beckering from Dronten and Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, back: Dr Aldo Stroebel (Head: Internationalisation) and Prof. Izak Groenewald (Director: Centre for Sustainable Agriculture).
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