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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.
Unique book on counselling for the youth
2009-03-12
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A unique book on the counselling of youth was recently launched by Heinemann Publishers. The book entitled Handbook of Youth Counselling, has been compiled by a team of experts mostly from the UFS. “This book is extremely relevant in the current period because observers from both within South(ern) Africa and abroad have been increasingly concerned about the South(ern) African youth,” said Prof Johnnie Hay, Departmental Chairperson of Psycho-Education at the UFS and co-editor of the book. The text is aimed at professional people in the field of mental health and focuses on children, adolescents and young adults. “The handbook gives an in-depth analysis of the most recent research done in the field of counselling and theoretical perspectives that are based on intervention. The book supports the positive psychological paradigm and takes a holistic and systemic approach as its point of departure,” added Prof Eugene van Niekerk, editor. He is also a consultant psychologist.
Here are, from the left, back: Dr Richard Nichol, Department of Psychiatry at the UFS, Prof. André Venter, head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the UFS, Ms Annette Weyers, consultant social worker; front: Prof. Hay, Prof. Van Niekerk, Dr Lyzette Hoffman, Department of Psychology at the UFS, and Dr Luzelle Naudé, Department of Psychology at the UFS. Dr Annette Prins, Divisional Head of Wellness at the Centre for Higher Education Studies and Development at the UFS and Dr Henriëtte van den Berg, Department of Psychology at the UFS, were absent when the photo was taken.
Photo: Lacea Loader
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