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Prof Marlize Rabe appointed as Vice-Dean of Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of The Humanities

16 May 2024 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Lutendo Mabata

The University of the Free State (UFS) proudly announces the appointment of Prof Marlize Rabe as Vice-Dean of Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of The Humanities. Commencing her tenure on 1 April 2024, Prof Rabe brings a wealth of experience and a vision for advancing pedagogical excellence within the academic community.

Reflecting on her new role, Prof Rabe expressed enthusiasm, stating, “Being part of this esteemed faculty is an exciting prospect. I hope to add value through this appointment by working with lecturers and students on various levels.”

Previously serving as Head of the Sociology Department at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Prof Rabe’s academic journey positions her uniquely to navigate the responsibilities of her new portfolio, drawing from her extensive experience in undergraduate and postgraduate education.

What this new role entails

The scope of Prof Rabe’s role encompasses multifaceted aspects, including management and administration. She elaborates,’’In many instances, this position offers an opportunity to identify common ground and foster collaborations, thus facilitating the growth of all stakeholders involved.” Such collaborations, she emphasises, are pivotal in propelling the faculty towards innovation and pioneering approaches to teaching and learning.

What to expect in the near future

Looking ahead, Prof Rabe outlines forthcoming initiatives aimed at enhancing the academic landscape. Notably, a colloquium scheduled for the second semester will explore the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in assessments, ensuring relevance and accessibility for both educators and students. As it is, a dedicated task team within the faculty is poised to spearhead these transformative endeavours.

Furthermore, Prof Rabe wants to focus on quality assurance in the faculty. ‘’We must be accountable to our students to maintain the highest standards of education,” she asserts, underscoring the imperative of continual evaluation and benchmarking against global best practices.

In celebration of Prof Rabe’s appointment, the University of the Free State extends its warmest congratulations, anticipating a future marked by innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence under her leadership.

News Archive

Unconditional accreditation for Architecture at the UFS

2008-08-20

The Department of Architecture at the University of the Free State (UFS) is so far the only department of its kind in the country to obtain unconditional accreditation from the South African Council for the Architecture Profession (SACAP) for all three its programmes.

“SACAP has already visited seven out of a possible ten institutions in the country who present Architecture. Of these, only the UFS’s Department of Architecture has so far received unconditional accreditation. This is indeed an achievement for us,” said Prof. Jan Smit, Head of the Department.

According to Prof. Smit, the SACAP’s evaluation of all institutions who offer Architecture takes place every four years. During the accreditation process in 2004, the department also received unconditional accreditation for the two programmes it presented at that stage, namely the B.A.S. degree and the B.Arch. degree. Since then, the B.Arch. degree has fallen away and the qualifications the department now offers are the B.A.S. degree, B.A.S. (Hons.) and the M.Arch.(Prof.).

“The unconditional accreditation serves as proof that the qualifications obtained by our students are of value and that it enjoys local and international recognition. It is also an indication that our students’ training is up to standard,” said Prof. Smit.

The criteria students are evaluated on includes the facilities, degrees and courses presented, the standard of exam papers and assignments of a subject, the style of management and staff compilation. The panel of judges comprise of among others a representative from the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), who reports to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). “This is an indication of the high level on which the evaluation is being done,” said Prof. Smit.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
20 August 2008

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