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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

UFS welcomes Prof Francis Petersen as new Vice-Chancellor and Rector

2017-04-02

Prof Francis Petersen takes up office as the 14th Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State today.

“On behalf of the UFS Council and the university community, I would like to welcome Prof Petersen to the university. He brings to the UFS a distinguished academic record, confident leadership, innovative thinking, and an understanding of the extent of the challenges being experienced by universities in the broader South African context,” says Mr Willem Louw, Chairperson of the UFS Council.

“I am excited to join the UFS and look forward to meeting the university community, to get to know the three campuses, and to engage with staff and students. In a way, it was a natural progression for me to be appointed in this position, having been Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Cape Town (UCT), and then Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Institutional Innovation at the same university. On the other hand, I believe that universities in South Africa need strong and innovative leadership. I would like to make a contribution to the higher-education system in this regard. Moreover, I regard the UFS as a very good university, and see my challenge in taking the UFS to the next level,” says Prof Petersen.

“Challenges and making a difference motivate me – whether complex or simplistic, the opportunity to be able to provide solutions and taking people with me while developing these solutions, is what ultimately motivates me.”

“It is important that different viewpoints are respected. The UFS must be a place where everyone feels welcome. There must be a strong sense of belonging; staff and students must feel they are making a contribution to the university,” he says.

According to Prof Petersen, the major challenge for the university is its institutional climate. “My focus would be to strive towards creating an institutional climate of inclusivity, respect for one another, valuing diversity in all its forms, and to make the university a welcoming place. The UFS is in the process of developing an Integrated Transformation Plan (ITP) that will serve as the road map to address the institutional climate challenge, but will also assist (if implemented effectively) in excelling the UFS in areas of teaching and learning, research and innovation, and community engagement through scholarship,” says Prof Petersen.

“I am a good listener, I am outcome-based, and my vision for the university includes diversity, inclusivity, and academic excellence,” he says.

Prof Petersen was born in Oudtshoorn and grew up in Malmesbury in the Western Cape, where he also matriculated. He graduated from Stellenbosch University with a BEng (Chem Eng), MEng (Metal Eng), and PhD (Eng) degrees and completed a short course on Financial Skills for Executive Management. He is a recipient of the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Award for research excellence, and was visiting professor at the Cape Technikon and extraordinary professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Stellenbosch University. He is a regular reviewer of journals, and member of a range of editorial boards for international journals. He is also a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa and a Fellow of both the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and the South African Academy of Engineers.

He brings to the position of Vice-Chancellor and Rector his extensive experience of management in both the industry and academic sectors. He has been the executive head of strategy at Anglo American Platinum and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Cape Technikon (now Cape Peninsula University of Technology). Among others, he previously served as member on the Board of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the National Advisory Council on Innovation, and the Council of the Academy of Science of South Africa.

Prof Petersen is married and has two sons. He was appointed by the UFS Council at the end of 2016 after Prof Jonathan Jansen stepped down as Vice-Chancellor and Rector on 31 August 2016, serving in this position since July 2009. Prof Nicky Morgan, Vice-Rector: Operations at the UFS, has been acting Vice-Chancellor and Rector since 1 September 2016.

Released by:
Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email: news@ufs.ac.za | loaderl@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 51 444 6393

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