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IABC Awards 2024
The UFS HR Division celebrates its win at the 2024 IABC Gold Quill Awards for its 2023 UFS Women’s Breakfast.

The University of the Free State's (UFS’s) Human Resources Division has been awarded gold in the Special and Experiential Events Category at the 2024 International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Gold Quill Awards held in Chicago, Illinois. This accolade recognises the division’s exceptional work on the 2023 UFS Women’s Breakfast, an event that exemplified innovative communication and organisational development.

"Winning the gold at the 2024 IABC Gold Quill Awards is a significant honour for both the Human Resources Division and the UFS," said Susan van Jaarsveld, Senior Director of the HR Division. "This recognition highlights our commitment to excellence and innovation in communication and organisational development. It validates the hard work and dedication of our team in fostering a positive workplace culture and enhancing employee engagement and well-being."

The 2023 UFS Women’s Breakfast was meticulously planned, and executed with a unique ‘journey’ theme. "Since we have just launched our onboarding programme based on a journey theme, we extended this theme to our Women’s Breakfast," van Jaarsveld explained. "A carefully curated communication strategy and plan guided our actions, and we invited guests to ‘board a flight’ with us, integrating the journey theme with our content. Our approach is neatly tied into the UFS’s Vision 130, which is a journey to a better destination."

The primary objectives of the event were to promote the UFS's Vision 130, and to increase participation in university initiatives. "Data collected after the event indicated that we did hit the mark," van Jaarsveld noted. "Guests felt more familiar with the UFS’s Vision 130, and also experienced a sense of inclusion. Participation in our initiatives increased significantly – in some cases by 200%. Our biggest problem this year is finding venues that can accommodate our growing numbers."

The success of the UFS Women’s Breakfast was attributed to several innovative elements, including a video invitation simulating an airport boarding call, and staff dressed as flight attendants. "Some attendees thought our team was hired from a professional airline – what a compliment to the UFS Organisational Development team!" van Jaarsveld remarked.

Van Jaarsveld emphasised the importance of such events for fostering community and engagement within the university. "Studies have shown that positive social events in the workplace improve employee engagement and satisfaction," she said. "It is important for employees to see and feel that they are valued, and that their well-being is a priority."

Looking ahead, the HR Division plans to continue creating impactful and award-winning events. "Teamwork makes dream-work! Our goal is to 'be better' – not just about achieving external recognition or awards, but about making a meaningful and lasting impact on the university community we serve," van Jaarsveld concluded.

The UFS Human Resources Division’s dedication, perseverance, and award-winning efforts demonstrate its innovative and engaging initiatives, setting a high standard for future events and reinforcing the university's commitment to excellence.

News Archive

UFS discontinues one Masters programme
2006-07-26

As from next year, the University of the Free State (UFS) will no longer offer one of its specialist master’s degrees in education – the M Ed in Education Management.

 The other six M Ed programmes that are currently being offered at the UFS will continue as normal.

 The decision to discontinue one of the M Ed programmes follows a national review of M Ed programmes in Educational Management and Leadership by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council on Higher Education (CHE).

 Of the 23 tertiary institutions whose M Ed programmes in Educational Management and Leadership were reviewed by the HEQC, only 7 received full accreditation.   

 “The findings of the HEQC affect only one of our M Ed degree programmes, namely the M Ed in Educational Management,” said Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the UFS

 “We will be paying full attention to the findings of the HEQC with a view to correcting some of the shortcomings that have been identified by the HEQC and will consider submitting a reviewed proposal for such a qualification in two years time,” she said.

 According to Prof Fourie, the programme currently has 30 students enrolled.  “These students – spread across their first and second years of the degree programme – will be allowed to complete their studies with the full support of the UFS and the School of Education,” said Prof Fourie.

 “The qualification that has been awarded to students who have already completed their studies for this specific M Ed in Education Management degree programme remains a valid qualification and is not affected by the HEQC review,” said Prof Fourie.

 She said the UFS welcomed the efforts of the HEQC to ensure that all academic programmes offered by higher education institutions meet certain standards.

“One of the primary problem areas in the M Ed in Educational Management offered by the UFS identified by the HEQC, was that the programme is too practice orientated and must be more theoretical to comply with the academic requirements of a master’s degree.  This was a result of the fact that the programme was initially compiled in consultation with principals and the provincial Department of Education to address their needs,” said Prof Fourie.

“The UFS will in the mean time offer an advanced certificate in Educational Management and Leadership from next year.  This is a new course that will stretch over a period of two years and will ensure that we can still address the needs of teachers and principals,” said Prof Fourie.

 “The UFS remains committed to providing top quality degree programmes in all its six faculties and will continue to work with the HEQC in ensuring that this actually happens,” said Prof Fourie.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za 
25 July 2006

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