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01 February 2024 | Story Lacea Loader | Photo SUPPLIED
Prof Prince Ngobeni
Prof Prince Ngobeni, newly appointed Campus Principal of the UFS Qwaqwa Campus.

The University of the Free State (UFS) has appointed Prof Prince Ngobeni as Principal of the Qwaqwa Campus as from 1 February 2024.

Prof Ngobeni completed his first qualification in Analytical Chemistry at the then Technikon North-West before furthering his studies at the then Technikon Pretoria. He completed a DTech in Chemistry at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in 2003. In 2016, he enrolled for a Doctor of Business Administration in Higher Education at the University of Bath in England. 

His lecturing career began at TUT in 1995 where he progressed from Head of Department: Chemistry in 2003 to Associate Dean: Faculty of Science in 2010, before being appointed as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at TUT in 2015 – a position he held until 2023. He also served as Interim Campus Rector of TUT’s Pretoria Campus from 2018 to 2020.

“With extensive years of academic leadership experience, Prof Ngobeni has the experience required to guide the Qwaqwa Campus towards the university’s Vision 130. The campus is already recognised as a leader in some of its unique research fields, and Prof Ngobeni’s strong research background will be valuable in this regard,” says Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS. 

Prof Ngobeni is a member of several professional bodies in his field of expertise, including MatTEK at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the South African Chemical Institute (SACI), the Society for Atomic Spectroscopy, and the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP). During his career, he has also secured research funding for individual projects and international partnerships. Prof Ngobeni also initiated chemistry practical sessions for local schools and participated in the Technology Station in Chemicals project, which offers a wide range of services designed to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the chemical sector.

His substantial list of publications in journals and books covers a range of chemistry-related and managerial topics. He is also a well-versed presenter at local and international conferences. 

“The Qwaqwa Campus has experienced major developments in recent years; I look forward to further contributing to the growth of the campus and to support the university in achieving its Vision 130,” says Prof Ngobeni. 

News Archive

UFS honours its sport stars
2008-10-24

 

The UFS's sport stars are, from the left: Robert Ebersohn, junior mens sport star, Boy Soke, Sportsman of the Year, and Mari-Lise Linde, junior women sport star. Adéle Niemand, Sportswoman of the Year, was absent.

 The University of the Free State (UFS) this week honoured its sport stars during the annual Kovsie Sports Dinner, held in Bloemfontein.

Boy Soke, long distance runner who has obtained national colours in all three disciplines of athletics was named Sportsman of the Year. Protea netball player Adéle Niemand was named Sportswoman of the Year for the second consecutive year.

The Cheetah and Springbok sevens rugby player, Robert Ebersohn and netball player Mari-Lise Linde were named junior sport stars.

“The inclusion of five of our students in the South African team that took part in the Beijing Olympic Games is an indication of the standard of sport at the university. We are proud of all our sportsmen and women and salute them for the effort they put in to achieving their goals,” said Mr James Letuka, Director of KovsieSport.

The UFS this year had several other achievements, namely: The inclusion of eight Free State cricket players in the amateur team, the hockey team winning the University Sport South Africa (USSA) B section, the inclusion of three soccer players in the USSA team, rugby winning the USSA competition for the second time, netball winning gold on the USSA tournament for the fourth consecutive year, and the ladies tennis winning the USSA tournament.

The following awards were also made in the university’s different sporting codes during the Kovsie Sports Dinner:

Roné Reyneke: Athletics
Boy Soke: Athletics
Murray Capon: Hockey
Cherie Smith: Hockey
Doretha Joubert: Netball
Riaan Jordaan: Cricket
Wayne Stevens: Rugby
Karin Coetzee: Tennis
Willem Steenkamp: Tennis
Gabisele Hlumbane: Soccer
Lehlohonolo Mofokeng: Soccer
Prof. Martin Dednam: Devoted service to badminton
Sarah Shannon: Special merit award for participating in the Paralympics Games in Beijing

The guest speaker was Dr Derik Coetzee who was the head of Springbok Rugby Team’s conditioning during last year’s Rugby World Cup.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za  
23 October 2008
 

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