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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 Qwaqwa Campus cross-country team qualifies for national championships
2016-08-30
UFS Qwaqwa Campus’ cross-country team that has
qualified for the SA Championships in the
Western Cape. They are, from the left: Malema Hlubi,
Lesedi Radebe, Moorosi Semase, and their coach,
Boy Soke.
The University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus’ cross country team has had a successful season so far. The team has competed in the Eastern Free State Championships that were recently held in Bethlehem, where they qualified to compete provincially in Bloemfontein and eventually, nationally in the Western Cape.
During the Bethlehem meeting, rising star Moorosi Semase clocked 27:26 in the under-19 8-km category, whilst in the 4-km under-22 section Kovsie team mates reigned with ease as they occupied all four top positions. Malema Hlubi was the fastest in 11:13, followed by Lebohang Miya (11:33), Lindokuhle Miya (11:39), and Lebohang Tsotetsi (11:45). In the senior 10-km race, Lesedi Radebe and Bheki Sishi respectively came first and second. These results qualified them for the Free State Championships that were held in Bloemfontein on 13 August 2016.
In congratulating his charges, their coach and astute runner himself, Boy Soke said: “I am very proud of the achievements of these dedicated athletes. It is through their dedication and hard work that we have qualified for the National Championships in George in the Western Cape on 10 September 2016.”