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UFS postdoc brings ecological balance and sustainable living practices for the City of Tshwane

16 May 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo supplied

Dr Yolandi Schoeman believes the project is directly contributing to the regeneration and conservation of biodiversity, innovating towards creating unique urban biodiversity markets, and creating a thriving natural habitat that supports ecological balance and resilience.

Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), recently congratulated the City of Tshwane for the work done on urban greening and nature-based solutions that resulted in its entry: ‘Republic of South Africa City of Tshwane Pretoria East Urban Biosphere Reserve’ being selected as one of 21 finalists in the Living Green for Biodiversity category of the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024.

The list of finalists comprises the three highest-scoring entries in each of the seven categories. The Tshwane project was entered in the Living Green for Biodiversity and Urban Ecosystem Restoration category as well as the Living Green for Urban Infrastructure and Liveability category.

Dr Yolandi Schoeman, Postdoctoral Fellow/Researcher in Ecological Engineering in the centres for Mineral Biogeochemistry and Environmental Management and the Ecological Engineering Institute of Africa at the University of the Free State (UFS), played a critical role in conceptualising and driving the bio-intelligent approach that is integral to the Tshwane SA Biosphere Reserve project.

She states that being part of a project recognised as a finalist for such a prestigious global award is profoundly gratifying. “It underscores the importance and urgency of our work in ecological engineering and biodiversity conservation, validating our efforts to create resilient urban ecosystems that can inspire similar initiatives globally.”

Enhancing urban sustainability

According to her, it is one of the university’s flagship projects in Gauteng. “Our team was pivotal in developing the methodological framework that facilitated the integration of ecological, economic, social, and technological dimensions to effectively address climate change, biodiversity loss, disconnections in coupled human and natural systems, and enhance urban sustainability.”

Dr Schoeman says the project was initiated in the early stages of their investigations into sustainable urban development, with notable developments in 2023, as highlighted during the City of Tshwane Climate Change and Research Conference. She indicates that the project is continuing, with phases that include various baseline research activities, active ecosystem regeneration, continuous monitoring, roll-out of a unique biodiversity citizen science approach, integrated and inclusive stakeholder involvement, creating a unique urban biodiversity market, awareness and capacity building, and moving towards formally applying to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for the formal recognition of the urban biosphere region within the greater Pretoria East area.

She remarks that her inspiration to engage in this project stemmed from a commitment to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change and biodiversity loss, particularly in urban settings. “The most remarkable aspect of the project is its innovative approach to integrating urban development with ecological engineering, fostering a sustainable coexistence between humans and nature that serves as a model for cities worldwide,” she says.

She is excited about the impact of the work that has been done. Not only is the project directly contributing to the regeneration and conservation of biodiversity, creating a thriving natural habitat that supports ecological balance and resilience, but it is also impacting the greater Tshwane community. Dr Schoeman believes that the project significantly enhances community engagement and participation, which in turn fosters greater awareness and responsibility towards sustainable living practices.

Crafting practical, impactful solutions

Besides her instrumental role in making an impact, Dr Schoeman also enjoyed the project, particularly the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders, including local communities, government bodies, and fellow researchers. “This multidisciplinary collaboration has not only enriched the project but has also been instrumental in crafting practical, impactful solutions tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of Tshwane,” she comments.

As a finalist in the Living Green for Biodiversity category of the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024, the city of Tshwane will receive a Highly Commended certificate at an awards ceremony in September in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and will ultimately have the opportunity to win the title of Grand Winner of the 2024 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards.

News Archive

Number of PhD graduates a record for School of Accountancy

2017-06-27

Description: School of Accountancy PhDs Tags: School of Accountancy PhDs

From left to right: Dr Stiaan Lamprecht,
Dr Cornelie Crous, Prof Hentie van Wyk
(Programme Director: School of Accountancy),
Prof Francis Pietersen (Rector and Vice-Chancellor),
Prof Dave Lubbe (Research Fellow: School of Accountancy),
Dr Léandi Steenkamp and Dr Louis Smidt.
Photo: Charl Devenish

This year’s mid-year graduation ceremony for master’s and doctoral degrees saw the School of Accountancy honouring four alumni with PhDs in Accounting on 26 June 2017 at the Callie Human – a record for the School of Accountancy.

Professor Hentie van Wyk, Programme Director of the School of Accountancy and promoter of one of the doctoral degrees, says, “Over the past three to four decades before 2017, no more than five doctoral degrees were awarded by the School of Accountancy.”

Dr Cornelie Crous, Dr Léandi Steenkamp, and Dr Louis Smidt received their doctoral degrees with specialisation in Auditing, and Dr Stiaan Lamprecht with specialisation in Accounting.

PhD candidates’ thesis and personal profiles
Dr Crous, who was born in Bloemfontein on 30 June 1979, is currently working in the School of Accountancy as a Senior Lecturer in Auditing. Her thesis, which is titled ‘Corporate Governance in South African Higher Education Institutions’, influences the application of corporate governance principles in higher-education institutions. It provides a thorough breakdown of the application and disclosure of the application of corporate governance principles in terms of both South African and international best practices in publicly-funded universities in the country.

Dr Lamprecht’s thesis, ‘A Financial Reporting Framework for South African Listed Companies under Business Rescue’, contributes innovative knowledge and insights to the existing body of knowledge on financial reporting. According to his study, with reference to a listed company under business rescue, there is a need for an underlying financial reporting assumption that varies from the recognised going concern and liquidation assumptions. Users of the financial statements of such a company also require an accounting measurement model based on current values, as opposed to the mixed-measurements accounting model employed at present.

Dr Smidt completed both his master’s and PhD degrees at the UFS. This father of two sons is currently a lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology. His thesis, ‘A Maturity Level Assessment on the use of Generalised Audit Software by Internal Audit Functions in the South African Banking Industry’, has already started to contribute to the internal audit profession in South Africa and globally. Due to its existing extension to internal audit functions in various industries in Canada, Columbia, Portugal, and Australia, the value has been enhanced, as it now provides an internationally correlated set of results.

Dr Steenkamp, who completed her Magister in Auditing with a distinction at the UFS in 2013, is a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA (SA)), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Professional Accountant (SA), and member of all the professional bodies. Her thesis, ‘The Sectional Title Industry in South Africa: Enhancing Accounting and Auditing Practices’, makes a significant impact on the sectional title industry and the accounting profession in South Africa. The literature review gave an in-depth overview of risks associated with sectional title for various stakeholders (i.e. owners, trustees, managing agents, auditors and accountants, and EAAB-appointed inspectors).

“Indeed a special day for the School of Accountancy!” says an ecstatic Prof Van Wyk. Professor Dave Lubbe, Research Fellow in the School of Accountancy, was the promoter for three of the four doctoral degrees.

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