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Innovation in infrastructure development

16 January 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs

The university is transforming its campus with state-of-the-art infrastructure development. We are creating spaces that foster learning, empower groundbreaking research, and offer an enriching university experience.

UFS Sasol Library

The UFS has been hard at work to move away from traditional library spaces towards creating tech-enhanced, flexible environments that are dynamic for teaching and learning. According to Jeannet Molopyane, Director of Library and Information Services, they strive to align their spaces with global best practices with the infrastructure changes.

Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry

The Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry – completed in February 2023 – integrates seamlessly with its surrounding environment, while also providing a new collaborative workspace for the centre’s personnel. This state-of-the-art facility boasts various laboratories which were mainly funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). The CMBG includes, among other initiatives, the Mineral Node of the Biogeochemistry Research Infrastructure Platform (BIOGRIP), an initiative of the DSI. This space is situated next to the existing Microbiology Building on the Bloemfontein Campus.

University Estates Building

For this repair and renovation project, with a construction theme, internal and external materials were selected for their low-maintenance qualities. The first office, located opposite the entrance door, features cladding with exposed galvanised corrugated iron. A new steel mezzanine level was installed and painted in ‘CAT’ yellow and black. All pipes, including plumbing and electrical, are exposed on wall surfaces. The use of internal exposed brickwork, concrete floors, and oriented strand board in ceilings and cupboards further accents this quality in the completed project.

Animal Research Centre

The Animal Research Centre on the Qwaqwa Campus, replaced the temporary structure that previously served as animal housing. The new structure complies with the requirements and standards for a research facility and caters to the needs of researchers and animals, including small and large rodents. The exterior materials used complement those of the surrounding buildings, providing a low-maintenance profile. The building, accessible to persons with disabilities, contains two research laboratories, an ecotoxicology laboratory, a veterinarian’s office, and a procedure room.

South Campus 24/7 Study Space

The shift to extended programmes and dramatic increase in student enrolment on the South Campus created the need for additional study areas. Considering the steep site outcrop and the existing pedestrian routes from the lower campus, the design explored building blocks that progressively staggered up the hill to accommodate a small amphitheatre study area, maximising seating capacity. This allows the building to accommodate the site’s steepness rather than ignore it. The final design provides study spaces on three levels, all accessible via a ramp, with the main functions situated on the primary level. This design also ensures accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities.

KovsieGear

Incline Architects has designed a new innovative space on the Thakaneng Bridge on the Bloemfontein Campus to accommodate the expansion of the KovsieGear outlet. This new design incorporates extra retail space along with additional room for administration work. The KovsieGear shop now features a new aesthetic, created with natural materials to complement the UFS colours.

News Archive

Council votes on appointment of senior staff

2004-11-18

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) today voted on the filling of three senior vacancies, including one post at Dean level and two at the level of Vice-Dean.

The Council voted as follows:


Dr Natie Luyt will be offered the post of Dean: Student Affairs	Prof Engela Pretorius will be offered the post of Vice-Dean: Faculty of Humanities	Dr Choice Makhetha will be offered the post of Vice-Dean: Student Affairs

“There are special challenges for the UFS in the short and medium term regarding transformation of our residences, and a certain combination of management qualities and skills is desirable. As a result of the diversity of the UFS’s student community it is therefore important to us to follow a team approach to deal with the challenges. With the combination of Drs Luyt and Makhetha, I believe we will be able to manage student affairs effectively and skillfully,” says Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

“It is wonderful that we are able to celebrate the outcome of this process that has brought forward such excellent candidates who reflect our country’s diversity. It shows that we can achieve the goals of quality and diversity at the same time,” says Prof Fourie.

Prof Pretorius obtained all her qualifications (BA, BA (Hons) (cum laude), MA (cum laude) and D Phil) from the UFS, except for the Certificate in Gender Policy Management (cum laude) which she obtained in 2000 from WITS. She joined the Department of Sociology at UFS in 1980 and has headed the Department since 2001. She acted as Vice-Dean: Faculty of Humanities since July 2004. She has some thirty publications to her credit, published both nationally and internationally and has delivered 20 national and international papers. She is a member of the South African Sociological Association and is a member of the Council of the association and of the Editorial Board of Society in Transition, the society’s journal. She is also a member of the South African Academy for Science and Art and the Federation of African Women Educationalists in South Africa (FAWESA). Project involvement includes the Australian Women’s Executive Development Programme and the project Executive Development of Senior Women in South African Higher Education Institutions. She is also an NRF panelist.

Dr Luyt obtained his qualifications (BA, BA (Hons) (cum laude), MA (cum laude) and D Phil) at the UFS and started his career at the same institution in 1980 as lecturer in Political Science. He was promoted to senior lecturer in 1983 and appointed as Director: Student Affairs in 1997. He has been acting as Dean: Student Affairs since 2003. Dr Luyt completed several work-related training courses, among others a course in ethnic and multiculturality at the Swiss Institute for Federalism and a course in conflict management at the South Tyrolean Economic and Social Institute.

Dr Makheta also obtained all her qualifications (BA, BA (Hons), MA in Political Science and Ph D in Political Science) at the UFS and started working as a student assistant in Political Science at the same institution in 1999. She was promoted to junior assistant in 2000, coordinator and facilitator of Political Science in 2001, assistant/acting Director: Student Affairs in 2001 and acting Director: Student Affairs in 2003. Dr Makhetha is currently a Senior Political Analyst at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The UFS Council also approved the promotion of nine professors to the rank of senior professor. They are Proff Louise Cilliers (Department English and Classical Languages), Dap Louw (Department of Psychology), Philip Nel (Department Afro-Asiatic Studies, Sign Language and Language Practice), Dirk van den Berg (Department of History of Art and Visual Culture Studies) Dingie van Rensburg (Director: Centre for Health Systems Research and Develoment), Andries Raath (Department of Constitutional Law and Philosophy of Law), James du Preez (Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology), Johan Grobbelaar (Department of Plant Sciences) and Louis Scott (Department of Plant Sciences).

This is the first group ever of senior professors at the UFS. The post level was created to provide better career and earnings opportunities for high quality academics and to increase the attractiveness of an academic career to young people.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

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