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16 February 2024
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Story ANTHONY MTHEMBU
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Photo ROSINA MOTHIBA
Prof Matseliso Mokhele-Makgalwa: Vice Dean; Research, Engagement and Internationalisation in the Faculty of Education at the University of the Free State (UFS).
The Faculty of Education at the University of the Free State (UFS) proudly announces the appointment of Prof Matseliso Mokhele-Makgalwa as Vice Dean of Research, Engagement and Internationalisation, effective 1 January 2024. With a wealth of experience and a fervent dedication to academic advancement, Prof Mokhele-Makgalwa’s appointment marks a significant stride towards enhancing the faculty’s global presence and academic prowess.
Transitioning into a new role
Transitioning seamlessly from her previous role as Acting Vice Dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies, Prof Mokhele-Makgalwa perceives this new appointment as a natural progression, elevating her responsibilities to spearhead research endeavours, foster engagement, and cultivate international partnerships within the faculty. Embracing this pivotal role with enthusiasm, she underscores the importance of collaborative efforts among faculty members, securing research funding, and ensuring the quality and impact of scholarly outputs.
“I appreciate the opportunity to contribute significantly to the faculty’s research, engagement and internalisation efforts,” says Prof Mokhele-Makgalwa. “I look forward to collaborating with the faculty staff members to advance our academic initiatives on a broader scale.”
A vision of progression for the faculty
At the heart of her vision lies a commitment to realise the UFS’s Vision130, wherein Prof Mokhele-Makgalwa aims to elevate the international profile of the faculty, foster impactful research, promote engaged scholarship, and facilitate knowledge exchange on a global scale. Her strategic objectives also include positioning the faculty among the top three education schools nationally, reflecting her dedication to academic excellence and institutional advancement.
New Division of Virology to deliver crucial services for HIV diagnosis and resistance testing
2015-12-14
The establishment of a Division of Virology within the Department of Medical Microbiology, under the joint auspices of the UFS and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), reflects the continued growth within Virology. Dr Dominique Goedhals, Head of the Division, says the division will also provide training of undergraduate medical students, medical technologists and technicians, and registrars. |
The newly established Division of Virology at the University of the Free State will be one of only five laboratories in the country to be involved in crucial diagnostic and testing services for HIV viral load monitoring, early infant diagnosis, and HIV resistance testing.
The Virology Diagnostic Laboratory serves as the reference laboratory for all HIV National Priority Programme samples for the Free State and Northern Cape provinces.
Medical staff at the laboratory will provide a 24-hour consultative service, as well as outreach programmes to district laboratories in the Free State and Northern Cape where pathologists are not available.
Dr Dominique Goedhals, Head of the Division of Virology, says this division, under the joint auspices of the UFS and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), reflects the continued growth within Virology.
The division will not only deliver this critical diagnostic service, but will also focus on training and teaching, as well as research.
Teaching and training activities include teaching of undergraduate medical students, medical technologists and technicians, and registrars. The postgraduate science programme has a high output of honours, master’s and doctoral students in Virology. The intern medical scientist programme is also active, with five interns having successfully submitted their portfolios since the programme was implemented in 2010.
Research activities under the Head of Research, Prof Felicity Burt, have also expanded and continue to show increases in publication output and acquisition of grant funding. Established research groups within the Division of Virology focus on vector-borne and zoonotic viruses, human papilloma viruses (HPV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as work with a number of international collaborators.