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25 March 2024
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Story Anthony Mthembu
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Photo Lutendo Mabata
Prof Nompumelelo Zondi, the newly appointed Vice-Dean: Research and Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of The Humanities at the University of the Free State (UFS).
Prof Nompumelelo Zondi has been appointed as Vice-Dean: Research and Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of The Humanities at the University of the Free State (UFS). Prof Zondi assumed this new role on 1 March 2024 after serving as the Head of Department for African Languages at the University of Pretoria for seven years. “I consider this appointment as an opportunity of growth and learning more about higher education and the Faculty of The Humanities at large,” she said.
Prof Zondi indicates that part of her role is to spearhead the UFS Vision130 within the Faculty of The Humanities, and to ensure that the faculty assists the institution in becoming research-led, student-centred, and globally impactful.
Motivation for assuming this role
One of the primary reasons that led her to consider this role is sharing the knowledge she acquired as part of the Fulbright South African Research Scholar Programme. As a result of that experience and exposure, which went beyond the Ohio State University, she felt it befitting to implement some of the insights she acquired on a bigger scale. Therefore, even though she was impactful in her previous role, Prof Zondi believes that this is an exceptional and more desirable platform to do so. “I feel that I will have easier access to departments within the faculty, while also encouraging and supporting interdepartmental and faculty collaborations,” she explained.
A significant component of Vision 130
He believes that the elements that make up Vision 130 are interrelated. While she considers research central to Vision 130 – as she begins her journey at the UFS, she feels students deserve to be nurtured to further contribute to the university’s impactful research. Thus, student-centredness is the way to go. “I believe that students must be major role players in this Vision130; we must include them in the interactions and discussions that are part of the university’s strategic plan as well as in decision-making processes,” she said. As such, according to Prof Zondi, the more the faculty and the institution care for the students and involve them in Vision130 and in collaborations, the more research outputs the university will achieve.
Nguni project flourishes
2008-08-28
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The Board of Trustees of the Northern Cape IDC Nguni Cattle Development Project recently held a meeting on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein. The UFS, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Department of Agriculture and Land Reform in the Northern Cape are involved with this project, which aims to develop first-time farmers into Nguni stud farmers. The project started in June 2006 and to date 11 groups of farmers have been provided with cattle and seven groups will soon be receiving their cattle. These new farmers are spread across the vast expanse of the Northern Cape - from the Botswana border in the north to Noupoort in the south. Because of its success, funding for the project has also increased dramatically. This money is used for a health programme for the cattle, to buy registered pregnant Nguni heifers and bulls and to provide some limited infrastructure on the farms. The Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences at the UFS is involved with the training of the farmers. At the meeting of the Board of Trustees were, from the left: Ms Jacqui Maisela, Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and Chief Director: Agricultural Development Services of the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture and Land Reform, Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS, and Mr Tommy Mohajane, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.
Foto: Lacea Loader
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