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16 May 2024 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Lutendo Mabata
Prof Marlize Rabe
Prof Marlize Rabe, Vice-Dean of Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Free State (UFS).

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

Three more Kovsie staff members involved in Olympic Games
2012-05-30

 

Dr Derik Coetzee
Photo: Supplied
30 May 2012

The South African men’s hockey team will practice on our Bloemfontein Campus from 28 May to 8 June 2012, and the team count on the assistance of three Kovsies to prepare them for the Olympic Games taking place in London later this year.  

Dr Derik Coetzee, senior lecturer in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science and Head of our High Performance Centre, has been appointed conditioning coach of the team. He will be assisted by Colleen Jones and Riaan Schoeman, also from this department.

The UFS team and Mr Gregg Clark, the team’s coach, will work out a periodisation programme for the team, which will continue until the hockey finals at the Olympic Games. The programme includes the correct exercises, volume, intensity and number of exercise sessions per week.

This is not the first time that Dr Coetzee has assisted sports teams to prepare for important events. In 2007, he was the conditioning coach of the Springbok rugby team that won the World Cup in France. He was also the conditioning coach of the under-21 Springbok team in 2002 that won the Junior World Cup Tournament. 

Dr Coetzee says it is a challenge to ensure that the team performs well at the Olympic Games. “The joy on the faces of the coach and players when they qualified in Japan cannot be described because many people thought they would not qualify.”

With the addition of Dr Coetzee, Ms Jones and Mr Schoeman, a total of six staff members from the UFS will be involved with the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. The other three are:

  • Dr Louis Holtzhausen, Head of the university’s Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, has been selected as team doctor for the more than 300 athletes that will represent South Africa at this year’s Olympic Games (in London).
  • Ms Ebeth Grobbelaar, Assistant Director of the South African Testing Laboratory for Prohibited Substances at the UFS, was invited to be involved in the Drugs Control Centre in the unit against prohibited substances which will test sportsmen and -women during the games.
  • Ms Hetsie Veitch, Head of the Unit for Students with Disabilities, has been invited to be a member of the Classification Panel at the final USA Paralympic athletics trials.

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