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01 February 2024
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Story Lacea Loader
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Photo SUPPLIED
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.
Teachers from America attend SAFEFE conference
2009-08-07
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At the conference were, from the left: Ms Zandile Gxwati, Director: General Education and Training, Free State Department of Education, Prof. Klopper Oosthuizen, Director of SAFEFE and associated with the Department of Agricultural Economics at the UFS, Prof. John Brock, Director: Centre for Economic Education, University of Colorado, USA and Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, UFS.
Photo: Lacea Loader |
A delegation of 12 teachers from 12 different states in the United States of America (USA) visited Bloemfontein this week to attend a conference at Bain’s Game Lodge presented by the University of the Free State’s (UFS) South African Foundation for Economic and Financial Education (SAFEFE). Amongst others, the conference aimed to inform the teachers about education in the province and the importance of the ongoing involvement of universities in the R-12 school system. The conference was also attended by representatives from the Free State Department of Education.
The group of teachers form part of a larger delegation of 28 teachers from the USA who are currently visiting South Africa. The delegation is part of the Council for Economic Education (CEE) in the USA’s Economics International Programme that is presented at the UFS in cooperation with SAFEFE. The teachers are visiting several schools in the country to gain experience about the South African school system.