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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.
Married couple from the UFS launch their latest book on psychology
2008-10-28
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A book by Prof. Dap Louw (right), head of the Centre for Psychology and the Law in the Department of Psychology at the University of the Free State (UFS), and his wife, Prof. Anet Louw (left), associate professor in the same department, was recently launched. The 400-page book with the title “Child and Adolescent Development” (also available in Afrikaans as “Die Ontwikkeling van die Kind en die Adolessent”), is full of South African data, examples, case-studies and illustration material such as photos and sketches. Various universities have already prescribed the book. Profs Louw are currently busy with a book that links up with the book mentioned, namely “Adult Development/Die Ontwikkeling van die Volwassene”. This book should be published before the end of 2008. Afterwards a total revision and renewal of their existing first-year book, with "Abnormal Behaviour in the South African Context", are next on the list. Here Proff. Louw are handing a copy of their latest book to the Acting Rector of the UFS, Prof. Teuns Verschoor (middle). According to the Louws, Prof. Verschoor’s support regarding the academic jurisdiction of the book as well as his view that the writing of books should not be neglected by lecturers and researchers, has contributed a lot to the publishing of the book.
Photo: Supplied |