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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.
UFS students visit schools in Bloemfontein
2011-07-29
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Prof Dennis Francis, Dean of our Faculty of Education, talks to first year students at a diversity workshop presented by our Faculty of Education
Photo: Amanda Tongha |
Education students from our university descended on schools in Bloemfontein during the last two days. Approximately 520 first-year education students, divided into two groups, are visiting schools in the city to get a broader teaching experience. The first-year students are visiting schools in town, Heidedal and Mangaung. Their visit coincides with our Faculty of Education’s annual diversity workshop for first-year students, where they will address topics such as discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes.
The first group of first-year students who visited schools, gave feedback about their experiences at the diversity workshop held on our Bloemfontein Campus. The students were addressed by Prof. Dennis Francis, Dean of our Faculty of Education. He told them that a Kovsie graduate is somebody who is people-centred. Prof. Francis urged the first-year students to let go of prejudice and asked them to reclaim the dignity of the oppressed.