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19 January 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Prof Gert van Zyl
The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof Gert van Zyl, was recently appointed as the Chairperson of the South African Committee of Medical Deans (SACOMD).

The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), Prof Gert van Zyl, was appointed as the Chairperson of the South African Committee of Medical Deans (SACOMD).

Prof Van Zyl, who has been a member of the SA Committee of Medical Deans since 2001, says it is a privilege and a highlight to again serve the health sciences academic community in this very dynamic and special time for medical schools.

He is especially looking forward to working with a brilliant team of deans and leaders in SACOMD, to build on the achievements of the past, and to excel in those areas that they have collectively decided to pursue for the future.

Taking on the role of Chairperson of SACOMD once more, leading with an outstanding team and a shared vision, signifies a special moment in his career, particularly as he approaches the conclusion of a fulfilling journey as dean. During his tenure, Prof Van Zyl was dedicated to actively contributing to stakeholders in the health sciences arena, including the academic community, SACOMD, as well as staff and students at the university.

He is of the opinion that this position brings exceptional value to both the faculty and the university. “It aligns with their collective vision of academic excellence across undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and learning as well as research,” he states.

SACOMD’s strategy for 2024

The Committee’s goal is to facilitate the optimisation and transformation of academic activities in Health Sciences faculties in order to meet the healthcare, research, and social imperatives of the country.

During a strategic session held in 2023, SACOMD determined the following objectives that align with their goal. According to Prof Van Zyl, they will strive to embrace collaboration, establish trust-based relationships among its members, seek proactive and consensus-driven decision-making, share information (drawing knowledge and insights from each other) to collectively advance thought leadership, and leverage their position as an influencer for improved health sciences training and strengthened health systems.

He says there are some exciting trends in a number of areas that will play an important role in advancing medical and health sciences. This includes the role of artificial intelligence, simulation, and robotic surgery in the academic health sciences arena.

As a committee, they will also look at the establishment of work-based assessment as a requirement in the postgraduate training environment of medical specialists in South Africa, the role of higher education academia in a National Health Insurance (NHI) system, as well as improving undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and learning. “All these activities are already guided by a set of detailed actions, responsibility areas, and academic outcomes,” he says.

Furthermore, they will provide support for new medical schools in order to serve the country in producing excellent health professionals. In doing so, they plan to create a more sustainable funding environment, improve the world-class status of training in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and influence important clinical training platforms to support the academic health sciences agenda.

Patients is our first priority

Although operating on a strategic level in serving the health sciences community, Prof Van Zyl also shares his thoughts with students who aspire to pursue a career in this field. “Choose a career for the right reasons. Do not forget that your patients are your first priority in everything you do. Make the most of the opportunity if you are in the privileged position to be selected to study and build a career in health sciences,” he says.

He adds that resilience is an important characteristic when deciding to pursue a career in the medical field. According to him, it is also key to be a team player, have sound mental and spiritual health, and to have compassion in everything you do as a health sciences professional.

“Play this role as a team member, with the oath you have taken and with the Declaration of Geneva’s emphasis on the welfare of patients as your compass. Live this out in your daily professional activities. You are part of a group of professionals known for healing and caring for communities. Play the role required.”

“Mother Theresa said, ‘I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.’” “Create your own ripples!” Prof Van Zyl urges aspiring medical professionals.

News Archive

South Campus delivers out-of-the-box solutions
2017-11-07

 Description: ' AIO all in one device Tags: AIO all in one device

The AIO device as deployed in an IBP school.
Photo: Elrieka van Dalen

The IDEAS Lab on our South Campus supports learners in 83 schools by means of academic videos transmitted via the Internet Broadcast Project (IBP) and its own custom-built All-in-One (AIO) device. The project is a collaboration between UFS and the Department of Education in the Free State. It includes support for Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Science, Economics, Accounting, and Geography.

The AIO was purpose-built by the team at IDEAS Lab to facilitate the delivery of video lectures from highly-qualified teachers to identified schools. It comprises a projector, speakers, and a computer, which are housed in a custom-made, hard-wearing frame. The AIO is then set up at each school to which lessons are broadcast.

On-the-job training for educators

Educators have not been overlooked, either. UFS was the very first university to provide an Advanced Certificate in Teaching in a fully digital format, the ACT Online programme. It is designed for practicing teachers to upskill themselves in order to better address the needs in the classroom, not only advancing their career, but strengthening their knowledge, competencies, and subject specialisation as well. Ultimately, this leads to an improved quality of education, which has a profound impact on multitudes of students around South Africa.

CSIR joint initiative

Coupled with these projects is a new joint initiative termed ICT For Education. This project sees the CSIR collaborating with the national Department of Education, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, and the UFS. For this project, 24 primary and secondary schools in South Africa were identified to promote technological advancement in the education sector. Tablet computers have been allocated and already deployed at these schools, to learners as well as nearly 400 teachers.

South Campus is involved in the training of the teachers and learners in the use of the tablets in the classroom and other educational opportunities. In addition, training for 48 unemployed young people who will be providing first-line support began in March at a school in Thaba Nchu. The course on IT support is structured in such a way that anyone in the community can take it, starting out with topics such as My role in the community.

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